M Cabana / Bernbaum Magadini Architects

Charles Davis Smith

Architects: Bernbaum Magadini Architects
Location: Highland Park, Texas, USA
Project Architect: Bob Borson
Contractor: John Austin Construction Company
Project Year: 2010
Photographs: Charles Davis Smith

site plan

Located in Highland park, Texas, an affluent township within the city of Dallas, this was a pool and cabana addition to an existing house. Strict setbacks and zoning regulations limited the possible location for this small addition – only 730 square feet. The regulations for the township required that the addition be connected to the main house by "a wall and a roof" while matching the style and material palette of existing home.

Charles Davis Smith

Initially the program called for an exterior toilet room and shower, seating area, and exterior cooking area, but during the course of design development, the program expanded to include air-conditioned space and a bedroom for overnight guests. The decision to add the bedroom occurred after the original design had been framed, sheathed and dried-in. The additional programming presented a challenge of where to locate this additional square footage. Due to the location of the now constructed pool and severe setbacks and adjacency restrictions, a second floor was added with an exterior spiral stair designed to provide access and to minimize the visual disruption to the exterior patio associated with the pool.

Charles Davis Smith

The project is designed on a 48″ module to further broken down into 18″ increments as the grid makes its way out into the landscaping and pool area. The major material for the cabana itself is lueders limestone panels, with the wall that separates the motor court from the cabana stucco in reference to the material on the existing house. The spiral stair that provides access between the two levels is made from stainless steel components to eliminate future maintenance needs while providing a sculptural element to an otherwise utilitarian device.

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