As population pops, droughts get drouthier, and water resources stop sourcing, we need to be better about about conserving water. Accordingly, the Hill Country Alliance (among others) hosted a developers' workshop on how to develop in the Hill Country with a minimal water footprint. Onera Wimberley hosted the event at their spectacular ridge-top casita hotel just outside of Wimberley, Texas.
The development is Hill Country Modern, but with these delightful "telescopes," tubular cabins that spy the landscape from their circular perches. Designed by Artistree (which includes an old PhD committee member of mine, Joe Yelderman!!!), the Spyglass, despite its seemingly small size, is quite large and comfortable inside with a large bathroom and balcony with sunk hot tub. Everything is covered in wood, giving the unusual geometry hearthy warmth. And the views are spectacular!
On the other side of the ridge are the greenhouses, cubist cabins with green roofs. All of the graywater is harvested and then pumped to the roof for watering. Again, nice design and fantastic views of the Twin Sisters in the distance.
Onera does not water the grounds at all, preferring zeroscaping and using what's already there.
We also heard from Justin Kathan, Founder of Sanctuary Development, about a net-zero water and energy development he's building that I will post about soon.
