"Families often seek to reflect their rural roots in the design and want to use the local materials, shapes, and forms that are indigenous and emphasize simplicity, whether the custom ranch home design is modern, traditional or a ranch preservation project. The site itself becomes the design’s most important feature and informs us to the extent that it tells what the building wants to be."

Steve Chambers AIAAbove: proposed conceptual design for Austin custom ranch home

Many Texans have ranches that have been in their families for a number of generations, some from the early 1800’s. And, increasingly, many others seek a weekend respite from the large cities, a time to be with family in the quieter, meditative settings where nature is the star. While the design of a custom ranch home structure is quite important, the settings and views are weighty considerations in the development of the concept of the home. It is essential to understand that a ranch home in the country is not a city house. The design doesn’t have the limitations of an urban lot and the activity there is more causal and relaxed. It’s about expanding the view of things, opening up, looking inwardly and outwardly, zooming out or zooming in on details of life and nature. It is intended to enlighten and revive the spirit of the observer. There are things to keep hidden and places to reveal. When we go to quieter places, the goal is often to awaken consciousness and to realize that we have a relationship with all that is around us and it enriches us to understand the connection between us and nature. We also strive to create a disconnection from the noise of everyday life.

Families often seek to reflect their rural roots in the design and want to use the local materials, shapes, and forms that are indigenous and emphasize simplicity, whether the custom ranch home design is modern, traditional or a ranch preservation project. The site itself becomes the design’s most important feature and informs us to the extent that it tells what the building wants to be. Existing trees, topography, prevailing winds, angles of sun, and views, important to any design, become even more emphasized when compared with the scale and starkness of West and Central Texas. This vastness frequently determines the manner in which the forms relate to each other. There are often more terraces, verandas, porches, and areas where the family can appreciate their solitude and togetherness. Private areas like bathtubs/showers can relate to the outside, as well as kitchen and eating areas, taking in the openness with vast areas of glass provided with proper overhangs so the sun doesn’t overheat home’s interior. The nature of the layout of plan can be more casual and the spaces shared: casual finishes, fewer walls where the kitchen/eating/family are open to each other rather than using formal dining rooms, and the use of bunk rooms.

East Texas Custom Ranch Home

Photos above: completed ranch home  in Smith County in East Texas, near Tyler.

Photos below: ranch property for a client near Austin, in Williamson County, on the South San Gabriel River with a 150-ft. cliff near the river.  Schematic design for the ranch is shown at top of page and below these photos.

Ranch property for a client in Jack County, on precipice with fall of 150 ft. to view of the Trinity River valley. When you walk to front door of this new home, you will see a view outside that stretches for 20 miles. 

If you are planning to build a custom ranch home, contact Steve Chambers.