OUR WORK | RESIDENTIAL
Cat Spring
Location: Cat Spring, TX
Photography: Jill Hunter Photography
Structural Engineer: Insight Structures
Location: Cat Spring, TX
Photography: Jill Hunter Photography
Structural Engineer: Insight Structures
DESIGN BRIEF
When our client approached Dahlstrand Architecture with a vision for their rural property, our goal was to design two new structures that felt both purposeful and harmonious with the surrounding landscape. The result: a custom single occupant suite and an open-air horse barn—each thoughtfully designed to blend functionality with elegant simplicity.
Open air horse barn with central shaded stalls. Both ends have enclosed space to anchor the building and provide hay storage, tack room, and residence for the horse groomer.
Designed for comfort and connection to nature, the occupant suite offers a perfect balance between indoor living and covered outdoor space. Elevated above grade to respect the site’s natural water flow, the structure invites cross-ventilation and uninterrupted views. Whether inside or out, the experience is rooted in relaxation and simplicity.
From the calm of the interior living space, the covered porch opens to wide vistas across the drive and paddocks, with the open-air barn in the distance. Every line of sight was carefully considered to tie the buildings together and celebrate the working nature of the property without compromising on comfort or elegance.
Structural Simplicity Meets Performance
The barn’s shaded central stalls are supported by a custom steel frame designed in collaboration with Insight Structures. We minimized structural bulk to maximize open spans, light, and airflow. A continuous clerestory running above the stalls ensures excellent natural ventilation, creating a comfortable, healthy environment for the horses—and a refined, modern aesthetic for the humans who care for them.
