reimer's ranch state park
Studio: Interstitial Spaces
Instructor: Kim Furlong
Semester: Fall 2010
The design development of Reimer's Ranch State Park, 45 minutes west of Austin, consists of two projects: a ranger station and overnight accommodations.
The ranger station is strategically positioned along the only entrance road at a bend where the extent of the park first becomes evident. With storage below, a ramp lifts the visitor in preparation for the event of "seeing" the park for the first time. A glass north wall with extended patio displays the range of activities the park has to offer. From hiking trails on the hilltops to rock-climbing near the banks of the Pedernales River, the visitor becomes quickly oriented with the adventure found within.
Modest overnight accommodations comfortably immerse the inhabitants in the landscape. Each cabin is slightly dug into the meadow, allowing the tall grass to filter light for a unique quality while also providing a higher level of privacy for the inhabitants. The sweeping roofs mimick the swaying grass and captures breezes used for natural ventilation. A short 200 yards along a thin dirt path through the field of grass leads to a shared community space. This area is equipped with full bathing services, open air kitchen, fireplace and gathering platform. The platform is raised to give the occupant a breathtaking view across the meadow to the cabins on the far side. At night, the long, thin strip of light from the fireplace relates to the soft glow emanating from the gap between the cabin walls and lifted roof.
