On the Waterfront: A Boathouse in Texas

Located on the steeply sloped banks of Lake Austin, in Austin, Texas, this Andersson-Wise-design–a combination boathouse and screened porch–provides the ideal setting for winding down.

Approached by a narrow, elegant footbridge spanning a deep ravine, the structure appears to hover over the water, offering a respite from the heat (and concerns) of life inland.

Images courtesy of Andersson-Wise.

Above: The structure floats above the water on stilts and is clad in screened panels that open from the top like wings. The main living quarters are situated across the footbridge.

Above L: The boat is docked between the stilts. Above R: A walkway on the side of the boathouse leads to the entry.

Above: The screened panels keep the mosquitos away, while the all-wood interior creates a cool, dark space as a respite from the summer heat.

Above L: The wood siding extends to become a shelf for a lantern that stands in a window. Above R: When open, the screened panels are held in place by wooden rods–easy to use and maintain.

Above: At night, the lantern shines and beckons to those in the main house.

Above: Concrete panels create an enclosure for a grill.

Above: The joys of summer!

Above: The plan of the simple temple to downtime.

Above: A section through the ravine illustrates the narrow footbridge approach to the boathouse.

Above: A view from the bridge.

For more ideas, see 5 Favorites: Summer Boathouse Roundup, The Once and Future Boathouse (a Gardenista find in Norway), and 5 Favorites: Screened Sleeping Porches. And if you’re heading to Austin, take a look at our City Guide for recommended hotels and design destinations.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on June 19, 2013 as part of our Summerhouse issue.