Modern Single Storey House Design | Canopy House | Texas | A Parallel Architecture

The design employs a large canopy structure, economically constructed but carefully proportioned and detailed, to provide for a series of outdoor living spaces arranged around a large central courtyard. The home’s roof canopy and overhangs are configured to take advantage of optimal solar orientation and prevailing breezes, while the building footprint is carefully threaded between the towering oak and pecan trees to maximize beneficial seasonal shading. Opposing low slung sleeping wings run parallel with the north and south boundaries, providing sanctuary to a long series of terracing lawns, gardens, courtyards, and a glassy central living space. Wood clad bridges house kitchen and dining program while the thin, structurally expressive canopy structure floats over the lower roofs and offers deep cover to the front entry and western facing rear patio. A second canopy structure occupies the southwest corner of the property, it’s deep overhangs sheltering the pool and lawn from the intense setting sun. Given the hot Texas climate, these deep shaded patios with generous connections to the indoors are enjoyable year-round and nearly double the amount of living space in the home......more

Barn House | Barndominium | Chappel Hill | Texas | Logan and Johnson Architect

The is a contemporary elaboration of a historical archetype, establishing a dialogue between a modern live/work program, and the vernacular barn typology. The project is “floated” above the site as a metric to gauge the subtle slope of the Texas landscape in contrast to typical methods of development, which level the natural topography to pour a slab-on-grade. More than an aesthetic decision, the raised foundation resists problems associated with the high clay content found in Texas soil, developing a “crawl-space” which provides access to underfloor mechanical, plumbing and electrical.......more

Texan Modern Homes | Drake House | Houston | Texas | StudioMET

The plan for the house was developed in response to the proximity of multi-family housing. This residence provides privacy, yet allows for indoor-outdoor living. Connected to the house, a guest suite is available for visiting family..........more

Texan Modern House | Jackwood | Houston | Texas | StudioMET

This 4,400 square foot single family home is located on a corner lot within a flood zone. This elevated, yet inviting home is constructed of concrete masonry walls for the three main elements of the house........more

Modern Texan Home | Mezzacappa | Bellville |Texas | StudioMET

This 2,600 square foot house was designed as the primary residence for a family of five. The clients wanted a single story home that would be low maintenance and take advantage of the views and cross ventilation from the site. The resulting design consists of three main elements: two concrete block enclosures that house the master suite and the children’s bedrooms and a central glass pavilion for the main living spaces...........more

Soaring Wings | Austin | Texas | Winn Wittman Architecture

The home is separated into a public volume, containing the living, eating and entertaining spaces, and a private volume, containing the bedrooms, separated by a two-story glass and steel bridge. Two large wings face the west façade, clad in copper, which provide both sculptural expression, and shading. Motorized mesh shades programmed to an astronomical clock raise and lower with the sun. The home is highly energy efficient, despite the many windows, due to bio-foam insulation, low-e films, and passive solar technologies. There is also has a provision for rainwater collection. There is a three-story elevator which makes the entire house accessible. ......more

Main Street House | Houston | Texas | Robertsondesign

This residence is prominently situated at the convergence of two major streets and fronts the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, which has wings designed by Mies van der Rohe and Rafael Moneo.

Formally, the house is composed of three volumes, which create a u-shaped courtyard to the rear. This

courtyard, which is the heart of the building, is connected to the life of the Museum District through the large, fully glazed walls of the living room......more

Ridgecrest House | Austin | Texas | Cottam Hargrave

This family-centered 3800sf residence is located on five acres in the West Lake Hills area of Austin. The building site is located over 500’ into the property, enhancing both privacy and sight lines. Because of the steep slope and the desire to minimize level changes within the house, linearity dominates, dictating the structure to follow a limestone ledge on the property. This linear arrangement along the ledge forces the garage to be a part of the entry sequence, which indirectly becomes the icon of the house. On the adjacent facades, two very long and overlapping shed roofs further differentiate the form........more

Clear Link House | West Lake Hills | Texas | Cottam Hargrave

The 2800 sf Clear Link House provides expanded living spaces that unite indoor and outdoor living.
 A local architect early in her career designed the original 950 square foot house. We liked the design of the original house and believed it was an asset not only to the owners but also to the community. Maintaining its integrity was important. In addition to attaching 2800 sf which included a large living and office area, two bedrooms and three baths, we sought to take a positive position in the new Westlake paradigm by embracing the original design and minimizing the visual impact from the street.....more

Residence for Art | Dallas Texas | Lake-Flato Architects

Set on a sloping 4-acre site, two long masonry clad wings carve into the slope and create a courtyard on the uphill side with an existing building. On the downhill side, two glass and steel pavilions sit on a level plinth created by the masonry wings. The entry gallery and one of the pavilions display an extensive collection of contemporary art while large openings in the masonry wings frame views to a landscape filled with sculpture.....more

48’ House | Houston, Texas | Interloop Architecture

48’ House is a modest single family residence and workspace located in Houston, Texas. The size and proportion of the house is based upon a 4' x 8' framing module ideal for wood and steel construction. 48' House is sited at the rear of a standard residential lot adjacent to interstate I-59. The interstate is depressed approximately 18' below natural grade affording extended views to the south. Adjacent structures to the east and west, in conjunction with the open carport, draw a steady flow of air through the house and into the open lawn at the north side of the property. The mass of the house blocks the majority of highway sound from the lawn making this part of the site ideal for outdoor activity.

The ground floor contains workspaces (an outdoor covered shop, an office, storage, and a half bath). The second floor contains living spaces (a kitchen, a forty-eight foot long dining and living space, two-bedrooms, and a full bath).....more

1000 Acre Ranch Paige, Texas | Panton Architect Design

A hilltop courtyard formed from cedar and boulders overlooking 1000 acres of grassland and pine forest. Panton Architect Design build project.
This project is the result of collaboration between Henry and TV/Film Director.
The hilltop site offered panoramic views in every direction.
The long narrow floor plan provides each interior space with ample views and natural light, while encircling a protected courtyard on the hilltop.
Along the perimeter, every room has glass doors that open out onto the prairie. Inside the courtyard, a detached studio frames views to the north and east, while a south-facing wrap-around porch invites the prevailing southerly breezes.

3700 sq.ft.
2400 sq.ft. of porches and patios
Principal Materials: Locally grown and milled smooth sawn cedar timbers and siding, mossy boulder masonry columns and fireplace, travertine floors, recycled glass tiles, Oklahoma sandstone patio, integral color stucco......more

Mud House, Marfa, Texas,USA By Rael San Fratello Architects

Project Date: 2009
Project Location: Marfa, Texas
Project Team: Ronald Rael, Virginia San Fratello, Mason Edge

The Mud House is located in Marfa, TX, a town invested in a culture of art and architecture as influenced by the late artist Donald Judd, and situated In the West Texas desert landscape. Ocotillo, mesquite, yucca and sotol serve as the backdrop, and the view of the landscape from the house extends out to the Davis Mountains in the distance.
The Mud House is a large earthen box, designed to be easily constructed of mud brick and plastered with local soils both inside and out by the client himself (who had never built before), contains a smaller box inside that houses the major utilities of the house (kitchen, bathrooms, storage, boiler, etc).
The thick earthen walls keep the interior cool in the summer and in combination with a concrete floor with embedded radiant keep the house warm in the winter.
The contrast between the thick, earthen walls and the concrete lintels that interpenetrate the façade to create openings, as well as the use of stainless steel in contrast with the earth, create a tension between old and new, rough and smooth, and the industrial and non-industrial.
Two types of mud bricks, or adobes, were used in the construction. The lower portion has adobes made in New Mexico that posses a higher compressive strength and resistance to water. Towards the top of the wall, adobes made in nearby Ojinaga, Mexico were used that are lighter in both weight and color.
Inside, a large courtyard opens to the interior and to the sky, bringing in vast quantities of light, while shielding the desert sun....more

Hill Beach House June 2010 Port Aransas, Texas | Sprinkle + Company Architects

Completion Date: June 2009
Like a hermit crab scurrying across the dune, the 1,690-square-foot house sits on numerous tiny legs and has a hard protective shell facing the neighborhood while its opposing side opens to the Gulf of Mexico. Because of the family’s desire to spend most of their time outside, the vacation retreat has more covered patio areas than conditioned space. Design concept and solution: Typical of beach houses in the area, the dwelling uses modest but long lasting materials such as hardiplank, treated timbers, and cedar. The house’s orientation, shape, and space arrangement allow for maximum passive cooling by shading the patios and large expanses of glass during the hot south Texas afternoons and early evening. Inside, natural ventilation is enhanced by the 2-story open staircase that draws air from every room and vents it out through the roof. Broken concrete was salvaged nearby and used for paving around the pool. Environmentally friendly materials inside include linoleum flooring, “paper stone” countertops and ceramic tile with high-recycled content. The segmented shed roof peels away as it slopes to the ground revealing the windows and elevated patio areas that orient east and south towards the dune and the ocean. .....more

Agave Green Roof House | Rick Black Architect | Austin, Texas

The house floor area is 1479 ft with 2.5 bedroom and 2.5 bath.
It is located at nine sixty nine, Austin, Texas and was completed in 2008.
The living area, dining and kitchen of this house are organised 'shotgun' style with storage tucked to the side to maintain openness. A small room at the back of the house serves as an office, guest bedroom or media room. The second floor features a master bedroom that looks onto a terrace with a garden roof in the foreground and a city view in a distant.
More at Rick Black Architect

House On Evans Avenue | Austin, Texas | Rick Black Architect

This very compact house was pushed up against the zoning setback of its found half lot in central Austin. The opportunity to build small gave us the chance to explore some ides about relationship between relative scale and absolute size, such as the balancing of intimate space with monumentally.
The house achieved a Five Star Rating from The Energy's Green Building Program. It is constructed with combination of structural steel and light gauge steel framing, clad with autoclave aerated concrete and metal siding. Interior finishes including stained, painted pine siding,carrera marble and magnesium oxide wallboard.
A ground source ( geothermal) heat pump air conditions the house with two wells of 190' deep each.
House Data:
Description: 1073 sf /3 bed/1.5 bath residence
Completed:2008
More house designs at Rick Black Architect

House with a Dance Studio | Austin, Texas | Rick Black Architect

Area:2520 sft
Location:Long Beach Valley,Austin,Texas
Completed:2008
This project is a result a lengthy and close collaboration between Rick and the artist Jose Luis Bustamante. It serves as a place for work,solitude and contemplation of the land. The building accommodates Jose's living quarters and his 'laboratory' for the exploration of video projection and dance. At ground level, the large open rehearsal space has the proportion of a stage. The upper level wraps around two sides of the rehearsal space and has sliding doors that create a mezzanine from which to observe the project.
The living quarters is air conditioned but operable steel panels provide passive cooling most of the year. From the second floor, turkey vultures are often seen at eye level, gliding on the thermal of the ravine.
The artistic intention of the project is a feeling of lightness achieved with mass.

Text and images from:Rick Black Architect

Contemporary Home Design | Annie Residence | Austin, Texas | Bercy Chen Studio

The house was built for two families in Austin and therefore is split into two living areas. The house consists of two pavilions connected by a glass hallway.

The design was greatly influenced by different regions and cultures. Both the use of the roof as an outdoor living space and the shading devices are derived from Moorish architecture. The body of water and the spatial continuity between inside and outside was inspired by Asian architecture. while the structural transparency of the volumes and the minimalist aspect of the interior was derived from Japanese pavilions.

The house is constructed of a modular steel frame. The frame is infilled with prefab thermasteel panels to minimize construction on-site waste. The structural frame is exposed, showing the construction process and articulating the house's facades. The repetitive modular method, as well as the prefabrication allowed for greater efficiency during construction.

Bercy Chen Studio