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.

When they found a ribbon of land near Llano River, a nature lover’s paradise about an hour from Austin, they knew the plot – that needed some work – would be perfect.

“When we first looked at it, it was not really that inviting,” 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.

“This is a magical place, but it’s arid,” Zipp said, adding that herds of wild buffalo can be seen charging across the rough terrain. “We’re doing what we can to reserve as much water as possible for the native trees and grasses. Fortunately, they’re beautiful.”

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.

And once San Antonio architect Matt Garcia drafted plans for the project, everything came together.

Working within a $40,000 budget per home, Garcia – using the tiny house movement as inspiration – designed four private 350-square-foot cabins, each including a double bed, kitchenette and bathroom.

“Basically we wanted a place where we could spend a ton of time together – eating and drinking and hanging out – but still have privacy and separation when people needed to get away from the gang,” said Jodi Zipp.

Taking it a step further, the roofs of the buildings collect rainwater for later use, honoring the landowner’s requirements for water conservation.

To keep the indoor space cool from the scorching Texas heat, the tiny houses are insulated with spray foam and have large roof overhangs to reduce heat gain during the day.