The Peckham residence harmoniously combines the distinctive architectural style of 19th-century German farmhouses with a careful consideration of natural light.
The client wanted to restore and preserve the native flora while creating a structure that blended seamlessly into the land and fully utilized the natural resources of wind, flora, scenic beauty, and sunlight. The goal of the home was to be rustic and cozy, creating feelings of intimacy and comfort, born of smaller scale and beautiful details.
 
To fully partake of the natural landscape’s scenic beauty, the rear courtyard is a partially enclosed outdoor space designed with native landscaping, walks, and low fencing, allowing for a beautiful view out of the courtyard while still separating the space.
The rear courtyard also has a continuous veranda or porch along the house and a connecting wall with an open design between the inside and outside passageways to keep a continuous flow between nature and modern comfort.
 
The ceiling heights in the home varied, especially with rooms that opened into each other, so the relative intimacy of different spaces could be felt.
Each room also has outdoor walls on two sides with large windows so that natural light falls into every room from more than one direction.
 
The house’s interior consists of passageways connecting common areas to private spaces. These corridors are like short galleries, with large windows leading to the outside. They were created to display art and small furniture with shelves for books. The passageways are an extension of the porches or verandas, providing our client with cozy nooks and spaces for quiet reading or reflection with a beautiful view while still comfortable and away from the Texas heat.
 
The house was designed with sustainability in mind. It features a rainwater collection system, which collects and redirects rainwater for irrigation and other purposes. Additionally, the home has a gray-water recycling system that repurposes wastewater from showers and sinks. The photovoltaic (PV) system converts solar energy into electrical power, providing an environmentally friendly energy source. Finally, the house has a Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) system for heating and cooking purposes. Integrating these sustainable systems reduces the home’s environmental footprint, which is near and dear to our client.
Keeping a 19th Century German Farmhouse in mind, the house’s exterior is finished with limestone and a “German Smear” mortar technique, featuring irregular stones and heavy mortar joints to imbue aesthetics with the historical authenticity desired by the client.
The house’s interior pays homage to the land, with Longleaf pine used for all wood accents and the custom-built dining table. Hickory floors provide the only exception to this rule.
Photography: Andrea Calo Architectural Photographs
