This story was originally published in Dwell’s November 2013 issue.

Purchased in the 1970s, Sandy and Dudley Youman’s narrow Lake Austin waterfront encompasses five heavily wooded acres with 120 feet of lake frontage. For years the only buildings on the property were a dilapidated shack and a boat dock, until Sandy Youman decided she wanted a modest family-style “cabana that is married to the land.” She hired Austin architect Jared Haas of Un.Box Studio, and the result is a simple mini-house that crams multiple functions (and five grandchildren) into a one-room, 480-square-foot structure.

Though the Youmans initially requested prefab, Haas convinced them that custom might be the way to go, especially since steep terrain and inconvenient access points prohibited off-site construction. “We spent a year just designing the shell,” says Haas. “It became a family process and a huge team effort.” Joining in were interior designer Herb Schoening, landscape architect Tait Moring, and contractor True Build.

Moring kept the plantings simple out of respect for the site’s inherent drama. He added native limestone walkways, plus subtle shrubbery and ground cover—like wavy scaly cloakfern, fragrant mistflower, and moss verbena—of which 90 percent are indigenous lake species.

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A 480-Square-Foot Lake Austin Cabin Fits a Whole Family—Grandchildren Included