Laity Lodge Cedar Brake
Leakey, Texas, USA
Renewing a spiritual retreat and nurturing its ecological connections.
Client
Project Size
Completed in
Nestled in the serene Texas Hill Country, Laity Lodge, a spiritual haven established by The H. E. Butt Family Foundation, embarked on a transformative journey with Overland Partners to refresh and expand its sacred mission, harmonizing the natural beauty of their Hill Country property with spiritual renewal. Rooted in the founder’s vision of empowering the “laity”, the people, this project revitalizes the nine-unit Cedar Brake lodging compound, enhancing guest experiences while preserving the Lodge’s cherished heritage.
OVERLAND’s thoughtful design not only elevates the aesthetic allure but also reimagined arrival sequences and sustainable practices including improving the Frio River water quality downstream, deepening the Lodge’s connection to its pristine surroundings. With a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to nurturing spiritual health, Laity Lodge embraces its role as a place of solace and inspiration for generations to come, fostering wholeness and renewal amid the rugged beauty of the canyon landscape.
Awards
2021 Architizer A+ Jury Winner – Architecture + Renovation
2021 Architizer A+ Special Mention – Religious Buildings & Memorials
2020 AIA San Antonio People + Place Honor Award
2019 Stephen R. Kellert Biophilic Design Award Finalist
2019 Texas American Society of Landscape Architects Honor Award – Institutional, Corporate or Commercial
We’re deeply inspired by that idea that this is a place we come to, that in a way recalibrates and reorients us and our relationship to ourselves, to one another, but also to the natural environment.
Stephen Purcell, Executive Director, Laity Lodge
The biophilia and connection with nature, it happens overtly, but also it happens subtly. People were out here for days at a time, weeks at a time in some cases. So it was important that we designed in these opportunities, these little moments that you don’t notice right away.
John Byrd, Overland Principal & Director of Design Performance
Creating places that can’t be built by anyone else
…for anyone else.