Renovation of a 1963 Neuhaus & Taylor Residence | Houston, TX | In-Progress
Harwood Taylor of Neuhaus & Taylor designed this one-story colonnaded house in 1963, when the office was increasingly focused on commercial projects. The house and garage consist of two simple volumes, each adhering to a 7′-6″ grid. In the 60 years since construction, the house has maintained the basic organization of a central Living room separating master wing from children’s bedrooms and Kitchen. The Kitchen will shift from northeast corner to northwest to make it a center of activity for the ownersand their two young daughters. Through a new glass wall, the Kitchen will have direct access to the terrace featuring a new steel and aluminum trellis. The perimeter colonnade which supports an overhang shading floor-to-ceiling glass will be left intact except for four columns, removed to include the garden and new lap pool in views from the Living Room. The children will have new bathrooms and shared playroom. The Master suite will have reconfigured bathroom and dressing areas to improve sharing from what were separate “his” and “hers” areas. A new frosted glass wall will provide light to the tub and freestanding shower. The Entry and Living spaces will be separated by a screen wall of vertical planes of millwork containing storage, TV and fireplace.
To extend life to this mid-century modern residence, we propose to allow the house to evolve in a way that pays tribute to the original organization, concept and structure while looking forward to the needs of a growing family.
Specifications (link to bottom of page)
Site Plan:
• Projection of 7′-6″ house grid throughout site
• Manipulation of grid to link existing and new components
• Drivable grass separating vehicle paths and supporting parking when needed
Living Room:
• New fin wall screen towards entry on right | New skylight above
• New doors to outdoor Trellis area on left | New glass wall and Kitchen beyond
New aluminum and steel Trellis shading new outdoor space:
• New glass wall / doors at Kitchen beyond
• New doors on central axis to Living Room
View from Summer Kitchen towards house:
• Central axis through house / site terminates at bench looking back towards green space
Configuration:
• 3,000 sq ft Conditioned Space
• 7,070 sq ft Lot
• 4 Bedrooms / 3 Baths
• Study w/ pre-plumbed Bath
• 2 Stories
Construction:
• Wood frame walls, floor and roof trusses
• Pier and beam foundation with flood vents
• Open joint rain-screen siding
Exterior Finishes:
• Hardie fiber cement siding
• Hardie fiber cement panels
• Aluminum reveal channels
• Composite plank deck & bench
• Metal mesh screen and gate
Interior Finishes:
• Italian ceramic tile 1st floor
• Stained walnut 2nd floor
• Parallel strand lumber (PSL) stairs
• Melamine resin laminate kitchen wall panels