William Stern House    |    Houston, Texas

Located in a 1920s Houston neighborhood, the Stern house was designed to strongly relate to its climate and place while comfortably accommodating an evolving contemporary art collection. Its site plan adapts the north-south orientation of its early suburban neighbors, which originally relied on prevailing southeast Gulf breezes for natural ventilation. The cypress-clad exterior is enhanced on the south-facing facade with slatted sunscreens that manage light admittance to the interior. Designed for entertaining large and small groups, the plan choreographs movement through a three-story labyrinth of interconnected spaces that provide a variety of views and glimpses of paintings, sculpture, drawings and photographs. The dining, living and kitchen spaces of the first floor look out to landscaped courtyards designed for outdoor sculpture. The plan progresses from these public spaces to the library and guest room/office on the second floor, to the master bedroom suite and gallery spaces of the third floor.

• Exterior Sun Screen
• Honor Award, Texas Society of Architects, 1994
  Honor Award, Houston Chapter A.I.A., 1993
  Interior Design Award, Gulf Coast Chapter of ASID/Houston Chronicle 1993
• Featured In:
  “Architects House Themselves” by Michael Webb, 1994
  The Architectural Review, July 1993
  Elle Décor, May, 1992
  Texas Architect, May/June 1992