Our client had lived on this Houston property for twenty-five years, where a main residence stood alongside a garage and small guest house. When the time came to rebuild, he chose to replace the primary house while preserving the garage/guest house a part of the new composition.

The lot itself is narrow and wedge-shaped, accessed from an alley, with a 12-foot rise from the street to the building site. These conditions presented the challenge of integrating a new home with the existing structure while creating a cohesive whole.

Our solution divides the house into two angled wings, joined by a central foyer. Each wing aligns with a property line, ensuring generous space for the rear yard. The northern wing runs the length of the site and connects to the garage via a covered breezeway. Multiple rooms open to a deep porch that overlooks the swimming pool. The southern wing centers around a dramatic two-story living room with 14-foot glass walls at either end. One frames views of a mature magnolia and a landscaped descent to the street; the other opens to gardens and the pool beyond. Above, a study with its own balcony overlooks the living room, emphasizing the home’s vertical relationship with the site.

The main entrance lies at the link of the two wings, where the central foyer features a projecting bay window that captures views of gardens hidden from the street. This space mediates the site’s change in elevation, providing direct access to both upper and lower levels.

Throughout the house, areas were designed to showcase the client’s collection of architectural antiques—doors, gates, and screens carried over from the previous residence. The garage/guest house was also modified to harmonize with the new home: its roof structure strengthened for clay tile, exterior walls refinished in matching stucco, and its placement visually tied to the main house through a shared patio with an outdoor fireplace facing the pool.