Austin studio Matt Fajkus Architecture has designed a boathouse in the Texas city with perforated metal facades calibrated to balance light and shade throughout the year.
Located on the shore of a ravine in Austin, the Filtered Frame Dock is a two-storey boathouse positioned close to a nearby house built above water level.
Filtered Frame Dock sits on the shore of a ravine
The boathouse has a steel roof arranged in two triangular planes that protect the upper wooden deck from sunlight. The deck is wrapped by glass balustrades and features outdoor lounge chairs.
Filtered Frame Dock gets its name from the perforated stainless steel screens that flank its north and south sides.
Two triangular planes form the boathouse roof
The screens are designed so that the boathouse receives equal amounts of sunlight and shade during the year, with light and shadow perfectly balanced during the equinox. "An instrument for light and ventilation, the structure is calibrated to provide a comfortable balance of sun, shade, shelter and breezes throughout the year," said Matt Fajkus Architecture.
The upper deck is wrapped by glass balustrades
"As the seasons shift, the dock provides greater shade during the heat of the summer and welcomes more sun during the cooler winter months."
The laser-cut perforations on each screen are also organised based on sightlines, so that visitors can enjoy views of the water from the deck.

Other materials incorporated into the project are hardwo...