Contemporary Mediterranean
The owners of this residence desired a house that would be ‘an art object’ in itself. Beautifully crafted masonry, strong natural wood and stone finished and clean open spaces were their priorities. The design concept is an irregular, U-shaped two-story masonry house enclosing an ‘atrium yard’ set on a small (100’ X 150’) corner lot in an older established neighborhood in Houston, Texas.
A curved arched loggia at the front of the house orients the plan to both streets and leaves the existing large established native live oaks intact. The composition with its low wall accommodates the corner site by enclosing the garden, thereby creating the desired private south-facing yard for the lap pool.
A carefully crafted house is the underlying concept for the design of the house. The palette of light beige brick with rust accent coursing and window surrounds is complemented with a rust-colored shingle roof. Copper downspouts and gutters, together with stained decorative Douglas fir roof brackets and mahogany exterior woodwork enhance the earth-tone color scheme.
A privacy wall extending form the house with small square openings echoes the upper north and west clearstory windows of the house and provides the necessary enclosure for the garden and pool. The house has deep roof overhangs to shield the hot Texas sun and a balcony off the upstairs Playroom overlooks the courtyard.
The custom woodwork is a combination of American Cherry and Hard Maple woods with repetitive reveals and is set against a gray slate floor. Maple hardwood floors accent the Juggling and Dining rooms. The warm wood tones unite the interior and exterior of this house creating harmony and flow.
Set in a neighborhood of many other cookie-cutter brick traditional “Georgians”, the massing and materials of this carefully articulated villa conform to the surroundings, while also reflecting the owner’s consistent commitment to quality materials, fine detail and expressive craftsmanship.
