Menil House Renovation    |    Houston, Texas

Designed by Philip Johnson, the 1951 Menil house is the most significant post-war International Style house built Houston. For many years it housed the de Menil family’s extensive art collection and was left to the Menil Foundation upon Mrs. de Menil’s death in 1997. By then its electrical wiring, roof, deteriorating wood windows and asbestos-containing plaster ceiling were in dire need of attention. Because the house was nearly in its original condition, Stern and Bucek approached the renovation as a project of preservation and conservation. Selected walls with original paint color were conserved and protected during the renovation. New mechanical or electrical systems were introduced without altering the patina or fabric of the structure. A semi-tropical garden courtyard, protected by a 1961 canopy addition, was restored, as were the colorful and quirky furnishings, fabrics, and wall coverings selected for the house by famed couturier Charles James. The preservation of this landmark is a significant contribution to the legacy of Houston’s modern architecture and the de Menil’s unique contributions to the cultural life of the city.

• Honor Award, Renovation/Restoration, Houston Chapter AIA , 2005
  Honor Award, Texas Society of Architects, 2007
  Good Brick Award, Greater Houston Preservation Alliance, 2005
  Design Excellence Award, PaperCity/Decorative Center of Houston, 2005
• Featured In:
  Texas Architect, September/October, 2007
  New York Times, June 3, 2004
  Metropolis, August/September, 2004
  Houston Chronicle, June 2, 2004