In Hill Country, Low Design Office uses a simple, industrial palette to create a durable, surprisingly open home that sits lightly on the land.
One afternoon, about three years ago, architect Ryan Bollom was walking around a plot of land near Lake Buchanan in central Texas, trying to find the ideal site for his clients’ house. The couple—a pair of gardening enthusiasts with two grown sons—lived just outside of Houston, and they had recently purchased 23 acres near Burnet, on which they planned to build a home for their retirement years.
Julie and Chris Kelley hired architect Ryan Bollom of Low Design Office to build a low-impact home on a parcel of land near Lake Buchanan in Texas. An integrated rainwater collection system in the roof can harvest 2,510 gallons per inch of rain, and a nearby 29,175-gallon tank is the property’s sole water source.
Courtesy Low Design Office
“We always thought it would be nice to have some acreage,” says homeowner and retired banker Chris Kelley, who explains that he and his wife Julie, a schoolteacher, found the property while out driving around in the area. Located in Texas Hill Country, the Kelleys’ plot is part of the Wolf Creek Ranch development—a former cattle ranch divided into 64 parcels. The topography is beautiful but harsh, with rolling hills, limestone outcroppings, hearty brush, and abundant cedar trees.
The house floats out over the hillside, minimizing its impact on the landscape, while taking advantage of surrounding views. The design, which places the primary living spaces on the upper floor, can be updated with an additional lower-level bedroom in the future.
Courtesy Low Design Office
A workshop and storage space with corrugated metal siding sits at the northeast end of the house, adjacent to the carport. Deep roof overhangs provide shade during the hottest months.
Courtesy Low Design Office
See the full story on Dwell.com: This Steel-Clad Texas Home Is Not Your Typical Ranch House
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