The Pivot Pad by Ignacio Salas-Humara

The Pivot Pad is a small modern dwelling in the Texas Hill Country. The lot has neighbors on both sides but to the back is a creek and a nature conservation area. The owner initially considered buying a prefab house but couldn’t find one that met her limited budget. Instead, she commissioned Ignacio Salas-Humara Architect to design a modest house that could be built for less than the cost of a prefab.

A wooden walkway leads from the street, past a semi-enclosed carport and through a courtyard garden to the front entrance. The entry is the feature that gives the house its name: A six foot wide pivoting section of wall serves as the front door. The 400 pound steel door is perfectly balanced to open easily, and the closing mechanism ensures that it closes softly. The door was given a rusty finish to make it stand out from the Galvalume siding.

Once inside, visitors are immediately presented with a view of the backyard through patio doors directly opposite the entrance. The wooden walkway resumes and extends out to a deck overlooking the creek and nature preserve.

The house itself has two bedrooms and an open living/dining/kitchen space in 1,000 ft² (92.9 m²). The dining table doubles as an extra work surface for the single-wall kitchen. Sliding doors open the living room and master bedroom to the covered concrete patio that runs along the back of the house.

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Photographs courtesy of Ignacio Salas-Humara Architect.

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