2001 ODYSSEY | Lake Flato Architects

The design for Odyssey represents a new way of conceptualizing, designing, and building residential homes. The approach was an exploration of modular design facilitated by a library of factory-constructed, living and sleeping concepts that allow an owner to have a custom site-specific house. Modular design allows for a more predictable outcome of quality, time, and cost. The final design developed into a custom, site-specific house where porches and other outdoor areas served as connecting tissue to each area of the house.

Odyssey is thoughtfully placed within the quiet landscape as a compact and economically efficient design. The site conditions – including setbacks, climatic responses and steep topography, created an opportunity for the modules to be arranged and designed around a constricted, buildable area. Located on a hillside of the Blanco River, living and sleeping modules act as treehouse rooms with tranquil views to the river and lush, surrounding trees.

The main axis of the living space points towards the river where the family enjoys most of their time, while a secondary axis includes a series of porches that serve as an entry to each unit.
As critical aspects of the overall sustainable design strategy, porches provide additional shade, foster cross ventilation, and most importantly create pleasant, exciting spaces that maximize the connection with the outdoors. Locally sourced materials forge a common regional palette that naturally cradles the home’s surrounding landscape.