low design office has completed a 269 sqm ( 2900 sf) wooden house for three siblings to use as a gathering point for their families in new braunfels, texas, US. the project has been developed based on the clients’ request for a space that promotes and emphasizes connections between the families; to light and the surrounding landscape; and to the river. comprising two generic rectangular forms rotated to weave around existing trees, the residence is characterized by a series of indoor and outdoor spaces that prioritize views of the nearby guadalupe river.

low design office combines two rectangular wooden volumes for river house in texasimages by casey dunn and leonid furmansky

 

 

low design office has built the river house to promote connections between the family members and their surroundings. at the same time, the project needed to be built on a very tight budget – ‘no simple feat for a site within the guadalupe river floodway,’ as the texas-based architecture studio explains. to satisfy these demands, the architects focused the design around standard materials, details, and components while emphasizing dramatic spatial configurations at connection points that would enhance shared moments between the families and the outdoors. low design office combines two rectangular wooden volumes for river house in texas

 

 

the house comprises two rectangular wooden volumes, rotated to weave around existing trees. their geometries act upon one another, defining living spaces and carving out porches in a fashion that strengthens both the connection between the two volumes (guest bedrooms and main living areas) and the relationship between indoor and outdoor zones. floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors and exterior glazing over hardi panel serve as the connecting elements, wrapping the living space with transparency at the interior while reflecting nature at the exterior. additionally, clerestory windows in the double height living room look onto a rooftop deck outside the ‘kids’ loft at the floor above. low design office combines two rectangular wooden volumes for river house in texas

 

 

serving as the builder for the project, low design office took advantage of deals on materials when possible in order to comply with the very tight budget. all the interior wood finishes are off the shelf products from lumber suppliers, and the studio also collaborated with small texas shops for affordable windows and sliding glass doors.low design office combines two rectangular wooden volumes for river house in texas low design office combines two rectangular wooden volumes for river house in texas low design office combines two rectangular wooden volumes for river house in texas low design office combines two rectangular wooden volumes for river house in texas low design office combines two rectangular wooden volumes for river house in texas low design office combines two rectangular wooden volumes for river house in texas low design office combines two rectangular wooden volumes for river house in texas low design office combines two rectangular wooden volumes for river house in texas low design office combines two rectangular wooden volumes for river house in texas low design office combines two rectangular wooden volumes for river house in texas

 

 

project info:

 

 

name: river house

architect: low design office

size: 2900sf / 269 sqm

location: new braunfels, texas, US