Houzz Tours
Architecture
Modern Architecture
Houzz Tour: Houston Architects' Modern Live-Work Studio
Two architects practice what they preach in a modern, light-filled space amid other homes they've designed
Besides the fact that this live-work studio exists in the midst of Houston's sprawl, a couple things are notable: The architects, of Intexure Architects, actually inhabit the project, and four of their residential projects overlook it, making this part of Houston's Inner Loop an Intexure compound of sorts. The four houses, which are billed as Southmoor Terrace, are all LEED certified and are in the same modernist vein as the live-work studio. These include the Bhutani residence, the Tallichet residence and the Waldrum residence. This article focuses on the live-work studio, since it offers a different typology for its context.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Rame and Russell Hruska
Location: Houston, Texas
Size: 3,000 square feet
That's interesting: Adjacent houses are part of Museum Park Modern, a development also by Intexure Architects.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Rame and Russell Hruska
Location: Houston, Texas
Size: 3,000 square feet
That's interesting: Adjacent houses are part of Museum Park Modern, a development also by Intexure Architects.
To the left of the garage is the stair tower, and beyond that the majority of the live-work spaces. This stair tower is particularly important, as the architects indicate: "As a diagram, the stair tower divides the space. Downstairs is pure studio, above the garage is pure living, while the upstairs above the studio has dual functions."
The long facade faces south and east, so the trees are helpful in shading these spaces.
The long facade faces south and east, so the trees are helpful in shading these spaces.
Finally we see the street facade, as well as a glimpse of a couple of the LEED-certified residences in the distance. The water feature and planting in front of the live-work studio are a nice touch that sets the building apart from its residential context.
The entrance to the building is next to and set back from the glazed stair tower. From inside, the light coming into the latter is apparent, illuminating the steel and wood steps.
Turning left after coming in the front door brings one to the work space. Signage makes this apparent, as does the design of the reception area and the conference room beyond.
Here is another view of the reception area, almost comfortable enough to be a living room.
The workspace, which overlooks the parking area and the other residences, is a double-height space. It appears that the project actually works to blur the distinctions between living and working, both spatially and in design and furnishings. "Boundaries are blurred in the sense that the two-story studio is open to above," say the architects, "with the idea of creating connections and the fact that flexible spaces can adapt to change."
They add, "With additions to our family — a 4-year-old and a 3-month-old — in the six years we’ve been in the space, we’ve sharpened the boundaries a bit with the addition of a sliding door at the pure living zone. It's worked great, and allowing for change was part of the plan. For us architecture is a lifestyle. Instead of commuting or separating our lives, we live what we work and love what we do."
They add, "With additions to our family — a 4-year-old and a 3-month-old — in the six years we’ve been in the space, we’ve sharpened the boundaries a bit with the addition of a sliding door at the pure living zone. It's worked great, and allowing for change was part of the plan. For us architecture is a lifestyle. Instead of commuting or separating our lives, we live what we work and love what we do."
Intexure says that in the live-work studio, "areas are designed with flexibility and dual functions in mind." This is apparent in the second-floor dining area that could easily double as a work/conference area.
The living space proper is fairly informal, very open and filled with light, thanks to generous glazing.
The architects sum up the project and their work nicely: "Having a building that we designed as our workspace is a great way to practice what we preach. The building has many sustainable features and serves as an example of our philosophy — buildings which reflect to their time and place, respond to the site, and honesty in the use of materials."
The architects sum up the project and their work nicely: "Having a building that we designed as our workspace is a great way to practice what we preach. The building has many sustainable features and serves as an example of our philosophy — buildings which reflect to their time and place, respond to the site, and honesty in the use of materials."
The architects described it to me: "We were required by code to have a garage to meet our parking requirements — we have a business occupancy downstairs and residential occupancy above — but we actually don’t park in the garage. Instead we use it as a woodshop/model-making zone and staging for our construction projects." Further, "it has two garage doors at 90 degrees on adjacent walls, so it also can be opened as a covered area for outdoor events, which we like to have in the gravel area when we move the cars away — parking by day and gathering space during nonwork hours."