The house and outbuildings at Sweet Lucy Ranch were constructed using "green" building strategies. Blending with and rooted in its surroundings, Sweet Lucy Ranch utilizes "green" building strategies to strike harmony between its structure and the natural setting.

Located in the Hill Country just outside Lampasas, the ranch is an example of sustainable design that combines Texas beauty and the best use of its natural resources.

Architects at dunn+harris architecture traditionally began by researching the site and its essence of place. They gather information that is working within and contributing to the sense of locale to be used as cues throughout the design process. This includes noting the ever-changing aspects -- wind patterns and sun orientation -- as well as those less tangible but deeply rooted characteristics such as history, geography and society.

The owners of Sweet Lucy Ranch wanted the house to recall traditional ranching structures of the region using durable, lowmaintenance building materials.

The architectural firm incorporated both while providing a design that has minimal environmental impact and reduces operating costs.

Tankless water heaters and thick walls allow this ranch house to be more energy efficient. The ranch displays simple gable forms and galvanized metal roofing and siding prolific throughout Central Texas. This cladding, originally selected by ranchers for its durability, has the added benefit of reflectivity to block heat from the sun.

Passive solar design strategies also help reduce operating costs at Sweet Lucy. The architects oriented the house so that most of the sun's heat reflects off the roof while providing an ideal position for solar panels.

The barn building is physically separated from the main house, prohibiting direct heat gain between the buildings and allowing the barn to serve as a shield to late-day sun.

The main house opens itself up through a deep wrap-around porch to prevailing southeast breezes that strike the house after crossing an adjacent pond. These breezes are naturally cooled as they cross the pond and flow into the shaded areas provided by the porch.

To limit disruption of natural drainage patterns and meet water demands in an eco-friendly way, rainwater is diverted from the roof to a cistern. This water supply serves all needs for the house and barn without increasing the burden on the municipal water supply.

Also contributing to reduced costs and lower air-conditioning use, the room sizes were kept to a minimum. Nine-inch exterior walls allow for extra insulation. Hot water is supplied via tankless water heaters, eliminating the need to heat and store water.

In addition, large windows and double doors with high-efficiency glass allow ample sunlight into interior spaces, reducing the need for supplemental electrical lighting.

The electrical system is wired to receive an electricity-generating windmill in the future. Power generation is typically the most expensive "green" element to add to a building, but when added, this windmill will provide a source of renewable energy for the project that will meet all of the electrical needs.

The overall footprint of the structure was minimized, and the building designed as a "kit of parts" that could be purchased from a local metal-building manufacturer and hardware store. Finish materials were left as close to their natural state as possible.

Sealed concrete was used for ground-level flooring and sealed recycled plywood for the second level. Stone for the project was quarried nearby, and salvaged metal barn roofing was used for the ceiling in the living room and on interior barn doors.

Regional strategies developed over years by trial and error are regularly employed by the architects to naturally heat and cool their projects.

Traditional provincial building technologies are combined with modern ones and when possible, materials are drawn from the region or even the site itself.

Each of these practices work to further connect the buildings to specific locations. Sweet Lucy Ranch is one such project, drawing inspiration from and contributing back to the elements that define the Texas Hill Country.