A professional couple purchased a two-acre wooded site in an exclusive neighborhood where traditional houses with grand entrances oriented to the street are typical. The clients desired a modern house providing California-style indoor-outdoor living- to the degree possible in Houston’s harsh climate, where summers are hot and humid and winters are wet. 

The mostly one-story plan takes advantage of the large site and creates strong connections to the outdoors with large expanses of glass interspersed with limestone masses. The couple opted for privacy by installing a driveway to locate their house deep within the flat property, making it invisible from the road. Dining and entertaining areas feature floor-to-ceiling glass pivot doors. The master bedroom, master bath and study all open out to the secluded gardens. A two-story children’s wing with playroom, music room and study room area overlooks a double-height family great room.

Summer heat and heavy rainfall are managed with deep roof overhands and slatted sunscreens shielding glazed surfaces. Materials include Texas limestone and Rheinzink, with poured concrete floors and custom back-painted glass cabinets indoors. At the entrance court, a large Rheinzink wall which morphs into the garage doors separates guest parking from the house, ensuring tranquility in the house and gardens.