Guadalupe River House / Low Design Office

Guadalupe River House / Low Design Office - Exterior Photography, Stairs, WoodGuadalupe River House / Low Design Office - Interior Photography, Table, ChairGuadalupe River House / Low Design Office - Exterior Photography, Wood, Concrete, HandrailGuadalupe River House / Low Design Office - Exterior Photography, WoodGuadalupe River House / Low Design Office - More Images+ 21

New Braunfels, United States
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Guadalupe River House / Low Design Office - Exterior Photography, Wood, Concrete, Handrail
© Casey Dunn

Text description provided by the architects. One of the most popular destinations in Texas for rafting and tubing, the Guadalupe River—a serpentine waterscape that interweaves vacation properties with a floating park experience—forms the backdrop for this project. Three siblings sought to create a gathering point for their families. They asked for a design that made connections—between their children, light and the riparian landscape—a place to surface memories.

Guadalupe River House / Low Design Office - Exterior Photography, Wood
© Leonid Furmansky
Guadalupe River House / Low Design Office - Image 19 of 26
Ground floor plan
Guadalupe River House / Low Design Office - Exterior Photography, Wood, Stairs
© Leonid Furmansky

The site is a long and narrow stretch of land, hidden off a back road and punctuated by cypress trees, that recedes down into the Guadalupe River floodway. Although flow rates of the river are regulated upstream by the Canyon Dam, given climate variability the design needed to accommodate extreme flooding as high as four meters above grade. Accomplishing this cost-effectively while preserving intimacy with the site became central to the project. The design leveraged standard materials, details, and components to emphasize spatial configurations that enhance shared moments between the families and the outdoors. 

Guadalupe River House / Low Design Office - Interior Photography, Table, Chair
© Casey Dunn

The house is a compound dwelling consolidated into two rectangular forms—rotated in response to river views and old growth trees. This rotation activates living spaces and niched porches via interplay between common areas and private suites. Bridging these two wings of the house, full-height glazing and sliding glass doors wrap transparency around the living space while exteriorly refracting views of the tree canopy.

Guadalupe River House / Low Design Office - Interior Photography, Living Room, Wood, Shelving
© Casey Dunn
Guadalupe River House / Low Design Office - Interior Photography, Bedroom, Windows
© Casey Dunn

Suspending spaces of congregation, relaxation and contemplation on multiple levels, the design uses cross-ventilation and solar shading to improve building energy performance. Serving as builder for the project, LowDO collaborated with small Texas shops for windows and doors. 

Guadalupe River House / Low Design Office - Exterior Photography, Stairs, Wood
© Leonid Furmansky

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About this office
Cite: "Guadalupe River House / Low Design Office" 11 Feb 2020. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/933505/guadalupe-river-house-low-design-office> ISSN 0719-8884

© Casey Dunn

瓜达卢佩河度假屋,洪水适应宅 / Low Design Office

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