Project Details

This idyllic ranch is located deep in the heart of central Texas and commands a long view over the Bosque River. The site of an historic stone cabin and barns and the burned out remains of a mid-twentieth century ranch house, this complex of buildings evolved over more than thirty years of collaboration between the client and architect.

The first phase of construction was conceived as a classic “napkin-sketch”, restoring the Cumberland plan cabin as the ranch headquarters and using the remnant stone walls of the burned house as a spine for a new two-bedroom residence and courtyard. Later additions greatly expanded this first modest move but remained true to the idea of anchoring the architecture in the heritage of the site.

At the same time, the client took significant steps to restore the pastureland to its nature prairie state, reintroducing the specific native grasses and wildflowers original to the site and stripping the land of invasive species. As consequence, the seasons bring spectacular vistas and the stands of trees and river bottom host a vast variety of indigenous and migratory birds. Sunsets and sunrises are literally breathtaking.