Hog Pen Creek Residence is situated on the shady, treecovered confluence of Hog Pen Creek and Lake Austin. Embracing its informal, rural roots, the owners envisioned a space that engaged with the outdoors and maximized the lake’s tranquil views, providing accommodating spaces for their off-season training for Ironman Triathlons.

Much of the building’s design was determined by three oak trees, informing the building’s orientation and L-shaped footprint. The owners liked the idea of accessing much of the house from outdoor covered porches and walkways. The desire to have the main living area closely connected with the water, while respecting the flood plain and oaks, suggested the design’s stair-stepping boardwalk spine.

The main living area, a two-story single width volume with a master bedroom loft and porches on either end, takes advantage of the cool prevailing breezes and shade from adjacent oak trees. A movable, barn-like door serves as a bedroom wall, providing privacy when needed from the living room below and allowing the house to be both intimate and social, effortlessly accommodating guests or individuals alike.