This Clever, Affordable Homestead for a Retired Texas Couple Is Two Houses in One
An architect designs a cost-effective home for his parents that allows for multigenerational living and responds to the harsh Texan climate.
An architect designs a cost-effective home for his parents that allows for multigenerational living and responds to the harsh Texan climate.
When architect Ryan Bollom’s parents retired, they approached their son to design their future home in Texas Hill Country. Bollom jumped at the opportunity, seeing it as a way to give something back to his parents after everything they had done for him. His sister and her family were living with his parents at the time, and the main challenge was to create a home that was flexible enough to accommodate two families, while also being climate responsive, efficient, and cost-effective. They also wanted to take advantage of the spectacular views over the hills.
While the home is located in a ranch-style neighborhood surrounded by other houses, the plots are large enough to make it feel like a remote area. "Before we started designing, we brought tents and camped on-site," says architect Ryan Bollom. "You can watch the sun rise over the east hills, set over the west hills, and enjoy the stars at night. The place just brings a sense of calm and relaxation."
Chase Daniel
"My family comes from modest means, and my parents’ starting goals were similarly modest," says Bollom, co-founder of Low Design Office (LowDO). "As an architect, this was a great opportunity to explore some of the core issues our office focuses on—delivering ‘high-end’ design in the most efficient and effective manner in terms of form, environment, equity, and accessibility. We asked ourselves whether we could design and build something for $150 per square foot and have it compared to homes that cost four or five times more."
The design concept is based around an interior space protected by an outer wrapper. The facade is a cement stucco, and the exterior roof structure is supported by durable cedar timbers with a basic Galvalume metal roof over a TPO flat roof. "We tried to use standard materials and finishes to minimize costs," reveals architect Ryan Bollom.
Chase Daniel
Given the primary challenge of housing two families, Bollom immediately began thinking about the idea of "co-housing". A form soon emerged comprising two interlocking, yet independent, homes. The form was also driven by a desire to optimize environmental performance and reduce material costs.
"We always comb through work we really like for general inspiration when starting a project, but usually there isn’t one project we draw from," says architect Ryan Bollom. "I’d consider The Barak House, designed by R&Sie in 2003, a more direct precedent for this home. Formally and conceptually it’s very different, but its core idea is a flexible wrapper over a more rigid home construction."
Chase Daniel
See the full story on Dwell.com: This Clever, Affordable Homestead for a Retired Texas Couple Is Two Houses in One
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