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Field Report: Nueces River Ranch

Conceived as a unique blend of old and new, the nearly completed Nueces River Ranch carefully incorporates historical artifacts into a work of contemporary Texas architecture.  As construction on this hill country residence comes to a close, the project has come full circle from early concepts of what the design would be.  Evident in early concept sketches, our intention for the project was to create a design that referenced both Texas hill country vernacular and contemporary formal simplicity.  Furthermore, materiality and heightened connection between inside and outside expressed in the renderings conveyed our desire to integrate the residence with its hill country landscape.  As the construction of the Nueces River Ranch has unfolded, the experience of the design has become more evident. Site Hill Country Site New-1 View of Entrance and Bedroom Wing ClarkPerspectives-3Concept Sketch of Main Living Wing DSC_0862 View of Main Living Wing ClarkPerspectives-4Concept Sketch of Living and Dining Rooms DSC_0873View of Living and Dining Rooms In addition to responding to its hill country locale, the Nueces River Ranch sought to incorporate various historical articles of significance to the owner.  Descendent from a family involved in the early American sugar industry, the owner desired to repurpose materials and elements from a historic sugar mill and use them within the design.  Wood reclaimed from the mill is used for ceilings throughout the residence and clads custom kitchen cabinetry.  An original wooden door from a mill outbuilding was also reused as an interior door.  Most unique to the concept of integrating historical artifacts and contemporary design is the repurposing of sugar kettles for rainwater collection. Reclaimed-Wood-CeilingsReclaimed Wood Ceilings Reclaimed-Wood-Cabinets Custom Cabinets Clad in Reclaimed Wood Reclaimed-DoorSugar Mill Door reused as Interior Door Reclaimed-Sugar-Kettles Sugar Kettles used for Rainwater Collection The Lake|Flato design team for the Nueces River Ranch includes Karla Greer AIA, Rebecca Bruce AIA LEED AP BD+C, Trey Rabke and Lizzie Marrin.
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