Stratford Creek Rambler is a 46 m² (500 ft²) addition to a house in Austin, Texas that was Matt Garcia Design's first major commission. The brief was modest: give the owners a little more room to spread out, and a quiet place to disconnect and unwind in their wooded setting.
The practice turned the steepness of the site to its advantage, setting the new volume a full level below the existing house so it sits close to the active creek running below. Above, the roof of the addition reads as a generous green living area, extending the original timber deck rather than competing with it. An outdoor shower lets the owners rinse off after a run or ride on the nearby Lady Bird Hike and Bike trail.
Matt Garcia Design also acted as general contractor on the project, working closely with some of Austin's most skilled fabricators and craftspeople.
Architect: Matt Garcia Design. Photography: Casey Dunn.