Site plan
Shelby Retreat, Shelby, Texas
Located on 350 acres of the rolling hills outside Houston, Texas this private retreat will be a model of sustainable design. The central cluster of buildings is made up of a lodge, private residence, guest houses, caretakers house, garden house, meeting house and gardens. The buildings are sited on the brow of the highest point on the site and are positioned along two ridgelines, one running east-west and the other running north-south. This positioning allow for the buildings to catch the prevailing breeze, open to the horizon views and frame an open watershed courtyard. The main lodge is a high performance machine. Its ships hull-like wooden roof is designed to engage the sun, wind and rain. The off-grid retreat is designed to be self-sufficient.
Owner: Withheld at Owners request
Size: 20,000 sf
Cost: Withheld at Owners request
Design Team:
LZT Architects Inc.: Murray Legge AIA, David Carroll, Kenny Grossman
The Center for Maximum Potential Building System
Robert Morris, Architect Houston
Colby Design Houston
View of lodge as seen from entry drive
The garage and utility spaces will be constructed into the landscape
through landforms mimicking the rolling hills of the site.
A subterranean rainwater collection cistern will be open to the sky
View of lodge approaching the entry
The main lodge entry is an open and breezy space inspired by the dogtrot found in Texas pioneer buildings
Roof construction of the lodge will draw on boat building methods
East-west cross section through the lodge shows
the large shady outdoor spaces around the building
The high performance building draws from both aviation and shipbuilding
The lodge is elevated allowing for open views to the horizon
and facilitating cross ventilation from the prevailing breezes
The building walls, windows and doors will allow for an abundance of natural light, controlled ventilation and minimal solar gain.
The roof design and building orientation keep the windows in the shade making for a comfortable and energy efficient interior
View looking east along north porch
Local historical building
View of lodge looking across courtyard
View of meeting room building from lodge
