Nearing retirement, four Texas couples, who have been best friends for more than 20 years, were looking for a quiet escape from their homes in Austin, where they could reconnect with nature and recharge.<\/p>\n
When they found a ribbon of land near Llano River, a nature lover\u2019s paradise about an hour from Austin, they knew the plot \u2013 that needed some work \u2013 would be perfect.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we first looked at it, it was not really that inviting,\u201d Fred Zipp, a former editor at the Austin-American Stateman, told Garden and Gun magazine. Zipp and his wife Jodi are one of the four couples involved in the environmentally conscious project where they can all minimize their carbon footprints.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a magical place, but it\u2019s arid,\u201d Zipp said, adding that herds of wild buffalo can be seen charging across the rough terrain. \u201cWe\u2019re doing what we can to reserve as much water as possible for the native trees and grasses. Fortunately, they\u2019re beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n
First intending on building a shared house, the couples then learned about the exploding tiny house movement and decided that smaller, individual houses, with one communal building would be more suitable.<\/p>\n
And once San Antonio architect Matt Garcia drafted plans for the project, everything came together.<\/p>\n
Working within a $40,000 budget per home, Garcia \u2013 using the tiny house movement as inspiration \u2013 designed four private 350-square-foot cabins, each including a double bed, kitchenette and bathroom.<\/p>\n
\u201cBasically we wanted a place where we could spend a ton of time together \u2013 eating and drinking and hanging out \u2013 but still have privacy and separation when people needed to get away from the gang,\u201d said Jodi Zipp.<\/p>\n