Design Buy Build Issue 43 2020 | Page 34

Timber Modern Ranch Estate recently completed on Pecan Farm in Texas Kebony-clad home comprises four “pods” and utilises organic materials to complement its surroundings An expansive four-building modern residence recently completed construction on a former pecan farm a few miles outside of Houston. Developed on his family’s 210-acre ranch, David Wersebe, who works in the mineral royalty business in Houston, designed the nearly 6,000 square-foot project himself and hired an architect to draw up the plans for construction. The residence, which is currently on the market, blends elements of its original pecan orchard site with materials complementary to the environment. Hand-cut Texas limestone and hand- hewn beams from a 200-year-old Amish barn frame the expansive entry, and large-scale custom metal windows open to the native landscape. Kebony, a global leader in the production of sustainable modified wood, was carefully selected to clad all four facades, reflecting the organic but modern feel of the house. 34 The home is arranged in four distinct “pods”: the center pod houses the living room, kitchen and other common areas; the north and south pods comprise the guest rooms and master suite, respectively. A separate air-conditioned garage can accommodate four cars and features a hangar door that opens into an awning as well as two elevated workspaces and a rooftop observation deck.