The Hill Country Comes to North Texas
The Texas Hill Country is always a joy to visit, but sometimes the drive of several hours from the Dallas metroplex just isn’t compatible with today’s busy schedules.
One insightful and entrepreneurial developer had the brilliant idea of recreating the atmosphere of the Hill Country right here in North Texas.
Thus was born the concept for The Laurel, Grapevine’s newest special events venue. Situated on six acres of land on the Cottonwood Creek greenbelt, The Laurel exudes the beauty of the Texas Hill Country–without venturing far from the major highways of the Dallas area.
When it comes to designing buildings that capture the essence of the Hill County, RDDA has a noteworthy track record and reputation. The most well-known project, of course, is the clubhouse at Dallas National Golf Club.
Wanting to capture a similar look for their event center, the developers of The Laurel engaged RDDA.
The Texas Regional architecture melds vernacular building materials, such as the metal seam roof, wooden beams, and rough native limestone stonework with expansive windows, breath-taking views and verdant outdoor spaces to capture the beauty of the Hill Country.
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Positioned at the end of a tree-lined drive, the shape of the footprint of the event center was mostly determined by the zoning setbacks and the topographical features (including a flood plain) of the site. Richard Davis finds that such obstacles demand creativity and ingenuity on behalf of the architect–something which he enjoys and finds usually results in a more interesting design.
The Laurel features two major spaces, the Great Hall and the Chapel, along with two private dressing suites, a catering kitchen, and other support spaces. The roof design proved to be one of the more difficult challenges of the project. Rather than breaking the large floor plan up into wings as is frequently done with large buildings, RDDA devised a large, steeply-pitched roof–similar to a big top tent–with lots of interesting angles and planes in it. This roof design covers the different functional areas of the event center and allows rain water to run off.
Working with the natural beauty of the site, the Great Hall is oriented to capture the spectacular view across the property and down a hill to a beautiful forest.
The Great Hall encompasses over 4,500 square feet and is large enough to accommodate up to 350 guests, but can also be divided into smaller rooms. The elegant space was created through a careful blend of Austin limestone and timber truss detailing that together create the look and feel of a luxurious lodge in the Hill Country–the ideal place to celebrate a special occasion with family and friends or to host a retreat with business associates.
A large, covered patio, with a prominent Austin stone outdoor fireplace, opens out from the Great Hall, providing a congenial spot for cocktails while enjoying the view.
The flagstone patio also leads onto an expansive outdoor green space, where wedding ceremonies, receptions, and perhaps an impromptu game of croquet, can be held–all out under the beauty of the Texas sky.
The Chapel features stone pilasters and a unique design of timber trusses. The view out the windows is upon a sprawling green lawn with oak trees, mesquites and evergreens that surround the building. The Chapel’s soaring wooden trusses majestically frame the view from the window at the end of the aisle. RDDA strives to make the trusses on each and every one of their projects unique, and the trusses at The Laurel are no exception.
If in need of a little privacy, never fear, the Magnolia Suite and Pecan Suite offer a comfortable place to relax, prepare for the big event, or host a small group for a business meeting.
RDDA enjoyed working on this multi-faceted project that will surely become one of the area’s favorite venues for weddings, events, and business retreats.
The project was realized with the help of Michael L Gray | ML Gray Partnership, LLC
Patty Echols | Patty Echols Designs
To see more images of projects designed by RDDA, please visit our website.
Regards,
Richard Drummond Davis Architects