
Chevy Chase Residence
Houston, Texas
This Mediterranean-inspired house is located on a prominent lot in the historic neighborhood of River Oaks. Though this lot is larger than average, much of its street presence is occupied by the large oak tree that sits on the most conspicuous corner of the property. Accommodating this striking natural feature resulted in a house whose siting and massing gave it prominence, without entering into competition with the landscape. On the outside, we chose a pale, earthen palette of bricks to complement the fabric of the surrounding houses. On the inside, the Spanish inspiration that our clients favored fully takes hold: the ornamentation is highly restrained and simplified, warm and tactile in its rendering.
“Above all else, we wanted the massing of this house to remain considerate of the enormous oak tree that sat on the corner of the lot, so we anchored our design around a primary block that was respectfully scaled in proportion to the tree.”
in collaboration with:
Landscape Architect
Curtis & Windham Architects
Interior design
Curtis & Windham Architects
Photography
Paul Hester
Publication:
A Vision of Place: The Work of Curtis & Windham Architects