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Mansfield Dam

Lake Home

Type

New Construction 

Location

Lakeway, Texas

Year

2022 - 2023

Team

Motif Architects

Alaska Engineering

Size

2,195 SF House

795 SF Garage 

Features

  • Garage Workshop

  • Efficient Floor Plan

  • "Flex" Space

  • Sound and Privacy Barrier

Services

  • Site Planning

  • Architecture

  • Permitting

  • Consultant Coordination

  • Construction Support

The outdoor spaces of this residence are made for entertainment and recreation. Each space has a unique function. You can hike down to the lake, restore a classic car or build something in the workshop garage.

This home is ideal for a location that has a beautiful scenery between two lakes... and it suits someone who is a hobbyist and has an active lifestyle.

The primary objective was to create a cost-efficient home that can support a client who spends their free time in a workshop and has a future family in mind.

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This modern project located on a hill next to Lake Austin. The project displays as a bold, modern hill country home that harmonizes with the surrounding nature. The metal standing seam roof lines are organized in tiers and slopes, to mimic the terrain and give a dynamic impression to the house.

 

The plan demonstrate a functional arrangement of the areas based on 1) privacy and acoustical barriers 2) entertainment and 3) the clients lifestyle and future ambitions for the home.

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"Escape to the lake, where life is better."

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Interior Design

The interior design of this project is based upon a spacious and open layout, with a high ceiling and large windows that allow natural light to fill the room.

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The overall theme of this home reflects the modern farmhouse style by using a neutral color palette of white, gray, and beige, with some accents of blue and green.

 

The interior design also mixes rustic and refined elements, such as wood, metal, ship lap, and fabric. The ultimate goal was to create spaces that have a warm and inviting atmosphere, blending old and new styles.

Acoustical and Privacy Barrier

Living near a highway can be noisy and disruptive for homeowners. That’s why acoustical and privacy barriers are essential for houses near highways. Acoustical barriers are walls or fences that block or reduce the sound waves from the traffic. Privacy barriers are structures that prevent the drivers from seeing into the houses or yards. Both types of barriers were designed into the floor plan layout, to improve the quality of life and comfort of the client. The massing of the garage was placed between the highway and living room, and no windows face the highway.

Site Challenges

Designing a home on a property with multiple challenges requires creativity and flexibility. The home must comply with the building line setbacks, utility easements and building restrictions that limit the available space and shape of the structure. Planning of the site and locating the home also requires respect of the natural environment, to minimize the disturbance of trees and existing landscape. To achieve this, the home was located within an area on the site to minimal impact. The home can also adopt a compact  and vertical design that maximizes the use of space and reduces the footprint (restricted by multiple building setbacks).

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Existing Utilities

Designing a home on a new site that has existing utilities can be a difficult task. The team at Motif had to consider the availability and accessibility of the utilities, such as existing 24" diameter water supply lines, electricity, gas, sewer, and fiber runs, and how they will affect the layout and orientation of the home. We also had to balance the needs and preferences of the owners with the site constraints and regulations.

Another challenge with designing this home was collaborating and communicating with the utility suppliers. Part of our site studies included obtaining accurate and updated information about the location, ownership, and condition of the existing utilities, and how to seek approvals during the permitting process.

Modern Farmhouse Styling

Modern farmhouse is an architectural style that combines the simplicity and functionality of traditional farmhouses with the sleekness and elegance of contemporary design.

 

We find that our clients prefer modern farmhouse architectural styling because it gives them a sense of comfort and nostalgia. Modern farmhouses reminds them of the simple and honest life of the countryside, but also offers them the convenience and elegance of the city.

 

The design of Modern farmhouses aim to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere that blends rustic and refined elements. Often feature open floor plans, large windows, natural materials, and neutral colors.

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Some of the architectural features that are characteristic of modern farmhouse style are:

  • Vertical board and batten and shiplap siding - These are types of wood siding that create a textured and linear appearance on the exterior walls. Vertical board and batten consists of wide boards with narrow strips covering the joints, while shiplap consists of overlapping boards with grooves along the edges. Both types of siding add a sense of warmth and charm to the modern farmhouse.

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  • Standing seam roofing - This is a type of metal roofing that consists of long panels with raised seams that run vertically from the ridge to the eaves. Standing seam roofing provides a durable and weather-resistant protection for the modern farmhouse, as well as a sleek and minimalist contrast to the wood siding.

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  • Texas limestone - This is a type of natural stone that is quarried in Texas and has a beige or gray color with subtle variations. Texas limestone is often used as an accent material for the modern farmhouse, such as for the foundation, chimney, columns, or fireplace. Texas limestone adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to the modern farmhouse, as well as a connection to the local landscape.

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Fiber Cement Board Siding

Masonry is often required on exterior homes by Home Owner Associations and Architectural Design Committees. Masonry is available in many aesthetically pleasing forms, including stone and brick veneers, stucco, marbles, granites, concrete blocks, tiles, and others. The masonry is held together with mortar (sand bonded together) and the binding can be accomplished with cement, lime, dirt, or other substances to provide a cohesive appearance to the overall design.

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Wood is a natural and renewable material that can create a cozy and comfortable atmosphere in any interior space. It also has thermal and acoustic properties that can improve the energy efficiency and sound quality of a room.

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To gain approvals by governing design boards, Motif generated simple exhibits, showcasing materials and percentages that often gain instant approval by HOA's.

Engineered for longevity and sustainability, fiber cement material stands up to the test of time. A strong and robust material, its remarkable durability allows it to resist harsh climates and does not crack or expand in extreme weather.

 

Fiber cement siding is designed to perform - it can withstand UV rays, snow storms, freezing temperatures, strong winds, hail, windblown debris and even blizzards and extreme heat. In the case of more acute disasters like a fire, fiber cement boards are non-combustible, and won’t ignite with direct flame exposure.

 

The siding also offers little appeal to critters and will not be eaten by termites. Due to its robust nature, many insurance companies offer a discount for homes containing fiber cement siding. Finally, opting for this siding material can be more economical and will improve the aesthetic value.

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Application of Masonry and Wood

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"Lake houses: the ultimate destination for living and enjoying the lake year round.

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Residential BIM 

Building Information Modeling (BIM) not only benefits the architect, it helps design coordination with other subconsultants, engineers and contractors. Select an an architect who uses BIM, otherwise you may miss out on its benefits. 

Blog

As a design firm, we take pride in the fact that our process integrates clients and their vision throughout the entire project.

 

To showcase the exciting design work our firm creates each day, we have a blog series to feature what we currently have ‘on the boards,’ construction progress and pro tips.

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Stay tuned as we share construction progress of this exciting project. 

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