Marfa Ranch

Living freely in a remote, expansive wilderness is something that will forever appeal to our sensibilities here at The Coolector and these desires are ramped up significantly if the property and setting are as mesmerising as that of Marfa Ranch. Designed by Lake Flato Architects, Marfa Ranch is located in the desert grasslands of Texas and has been made using the rammed earth technique which is becoming increasingly popular in design.

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Wonderfully understated and perfectly in keeping with its surroundings, Marfa Ranch is, as the name suggests, located in the town of Marfa, a small art and ranching community between the Chihuahuan Desert and the Davis Mountains. The aesthetic of this stunning building was directly inspired by the early architecture of the region with rooms that have been positioned perfectly around the home’s central courtyard.

Lake Flato Architects used three million pounds of earth to create the rammed earth walls of Marfa Ranch, which were chosen to reflect a connection to the landscape that surrounds this magnificently minimalist home. This material was used for the structure as well as for the finishes and really does create a relaxing and calming tone for the property as a whole. In addition to the two-foot-thick walls of rammed earth, which help to keep the home cool during the hot summer and warm over the winter, the arrangement of the home was designed in response to the climate.

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This impressive and well-made ranch house is separated into eight different structures that are joined to one another by a covered walkway that is lined with columns crafted from recycled oil field pipes. The rooms act as a wall around the courtyard, which creates an arrangement that Lake Flato Architects describe as being both walled off and open at the same time. The courtyard, which boasts a central fountain filled with collected rainwater, is shaded by local mesquite trees and the sense of serenity is off the charts.

see more at Lake Flato architects

Images: Casey Dunn.