1036 E. 6th 1/2 Residence

This home, for a family of 5 is located in The Houston Heights, a centrally located neighborhood within 3 miles of downtown Houston. The neighborhood’s original single-family homes consist of small bungalows and Queen Anne style homes dating back to the 1920’s. The common components of these houses are front porches, lap siding, exposed rafter tails, and elevated pier and beam foundations. This contemporary home references these design elements, yet is of its own time. The two-story massing is set behind the front porch to allow it to align with neighboring porches along the block-face. The owner’s request for symmetrical features is balanced with elements that respond to site specific conditions of an existing live oak tree and corner property. Introducing “moments of richness”, such as porch louvers, dining room slats, and porch fireplace, enhance the home’s design within an overall modest construction budget. Sustainable design is achieved by low E windows, sealed construction, broad overhangs, and high-efficiency air conditioning equipment.