A Contemporary Barn Brings Dutch Coziness to Texas Hill Country

If a Dutch modernist had carte blanche to design their own personal summer camp, it might look a little something like Camp Frio. And that’s the way the homeowners like it.

One partner had lived for a time in Amsterdam, and when he and his wife saw architect Tim Cuppett’s home on an American Institute of Architects tour several years ago, they were struck by its familiar, cozy vibes: It was a place that embodied the Dutch concept of gezelligheid.

So when it came time for the couple to build a warm and welcoming vacation property of their very own, they naturally turned to Tim Cuppett Architects to help them access those gezelligheid vibes in the heart of Texas Hill Country.

The resulting 3,600-square-foot, four-building compound by the Frio River (aka Camp Frio) offers an idyllic getaway for the homeowners, their two kids, and a rotating cast of guests. The main house is just one piece of a beautiful architectural puzzle plotted on the southeast corner of the sprawling, oak-tree-dotted lot: there’s also a pair of guest casitas, and a fourth building with a garage and art studio.