Baker Sanctuary
Groundbreaking day with representatives from Travis Audubon
Results
A warm and welcoming 1,747 square-foot family home with three bedrooms, office, two baths, wide front porch, and screened rear porch
5-star green rating
2019
“The design/build team collaborated with us to refine our vision into a tangible plan and deliver a project that met all our goals. Teamwork works!”
Setting
Travis Audubon's 715-acre Baker Sanctuary near Leander offers a mature hardwood-juniper woodland habitat for the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler. Adjacent to the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve, it's a stunning piece of land.
A 7.97 kW grid-tied solar photovoltaic system provides most of the home’s energy needs. The barn was sited so that the roof best captures the sun’s energy.
Banding a Golden-cheeked Warbler
A clean, simple aesthetic that suits the property’s location and history.
Architectural design by Select Home Design
A focus on design and construction for sustainability and longevity
A 30,000-gallon rain water system collects water from both house and barn. The rain water tank was filled to the brim by the time the family moved into their home.
Goals
A sustainable residence and barn for the land steward and family at the nature sanctuary. Minimal land disturbance and future planning. Key features: rainwater, solar photovoltaic, sewer, electrical, and roads.
1,800 square foot maintenance and equipment barn
The home was designed and oriented for breezes and natural light. Front and back porches and wide eaves offer protection against solar heat gain. The result is a comfortable, pleasant, light-filled home.
Process
A collaboration between Travis Audubon and an integrated design-build team of Solluna and Select Home Design, honoring shared values:
Respect for the land
Careful planning.
The team spent many months working closely with Travis Audubon to plan every aspect of the project.