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Residence and studio-office that respects the architectural heritage of an historic neighborhood.
A fiction writer and a doctor came to MC2 Architects with very specific ideas for a residence that would allow them to work from their home—a house with a detached art studio that could easily be turned into an optometrist’s office.
Initially, the couple wanted to build a purely modern house of steel and glass. As they investigated the history of the Sixth Ward, they chose to build what they call “a twenty-first century house that would honor the history of the neighborhood.”
MC2 Architect’s design re-interprets the architectural elements of Houston homes that have been forged by climatic conditions and tradition. Architectural heritage forms the physical and metaphysical foundation from which the Lopez/Harden residence addresses the needs of a modern family.
Two complementary structures evoking the ancestry of neighborhood architecture
A gable-roof composition raised on steel columns forms the core of the residence. Raising the structure evokes the pier and beam foundation of the distinctive Houston cottage and floats the residence lightly above the office/studio. A shed-roof addition to the gabled roof-scape creates a two-story living room. The shed roof recalls another common architectural element common to the history of the neighborhood. The long shed roof extends the view of the living room out to the front porch and the lily pond beyond.
The office/studio is an L-shaped structure set upon a concrete slab to match the storefront structures along the outer edge of the Sixth Ward. The masonry wall of the studio complements the brick building across the street, forming a gateway into the historic Sixth-Ward. An open plan for the office/studio creates a flexible space and allows for multiple uses. The structure encloses a garden toward the house and blocks out unsightly views north of the site. The northern wing of the studio is framed by open wood trusses with clerestories to draw in soft, natural light.
An outdoor living area with a covered porch between the two building masses provides shade from the hot summer sun and encourages contact with neighbors. The porch echoes the Texas dogtrot, a covered space intended to maximize the benefits of the prevailing wind.
"We came to MC2 Architects because we wanted a sophisticated, modern design that would complement the historic character of the neighborhood. We also wanted high-quality construction.
The most significant part of the design is the original mix of open space and private space, great natural light and the highly workable studio for our small business.
We love our house. We love the high-design look of it. But even more we love its warmth and coziness."
--Martin Lopez and Christine Harden
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