Cattle Creek Ranch

Cattle Creek Ranch is a weekend retreat located just outside Johnson City in the Preserve at Walnut Springs for a young family seeking a peaceful escape in the Texas Hill Country.  The Preserve is a unique ranch community of thoughtfully situated homesteads centered around a shared 1,500-acre open space.  Managed with conservation practices, the land supports a 22-mile trail system for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, as well as a herd of longhorns that roam the open space. The family’s 6.6-acre property features native grasslands, limestone outcroppings, century-old live oaks, and a small plateau.  Early site walks revealed that siting the house along the east edge of the plateau would provide distant views over the open space to the Hill Country.

The entry sequence follows a crushed limestone path under a trellis which begins at a gravel parking area defined by dry-stacked limestone walls, and leads to a fenced courtyard with drought-tolerant vegetation and a small, native grass lawn. The entry to the home is through a glazed opening between stone masses into a small vestibule which opens up into the voluminous main living area.  Extensive east-facing glass immediately reveals expansive Hill Country views making the landscape part of the home.

The 2,600-square foot home includes a one-car garage, four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and an open kitchen-living-dining area which is ideal for hosting family and friends. A private office and a breakfast nook offer more intimate space while a large porch provides for outdoor lounging. Formally, the house is comprised of simple stone masses with glazed interstitial spaces, a glazed main living area, and metal-clad boxes. The limestone-clad garage and bedroom wings define the courtyard, while the bedroom wing is broken down into smaller limestone volumes separated by small glazed spaces. These glazed spaces house the main entry vestibule and the bathrooms which have an indoor/outdoor feel as the exterior stone walls carry through the spaces.  The smaller stone volumes contain bedrooms which serve as private retreats with punched windows for light and air. The fully-glazed main living area engages the east wall of the bedroom wing but is separated by clerestory windows which provide ample daylight.  This main space is protected from the hot Texas sun by a large shed roof which slopes down to the east and extends south to create a porch positioned to capture the prevailing breezes. Metal-clad boxes house smaller spaces such as the office, breakfast nook, and fireplace. A fenced meadow provides a large cattle-free zone and encircles what is affectionately called the “Family Tree,” a large majestic live oak with a beloved tree swing. 

The materials palette includes native limestone walls, Douglas fir timbers and ceilings, concrete floors, metal clad walls, and a metal roof.  The project prioritizes simple, durable materials to create inspiring and meaningful spaces. Cattle Creek Ranch is a place to slow down, connect with nature, and build lasting family memories in the heart of the Hill Country.

Architecture: