Johnson Residence

Private Residence. Houston, Texas. United States. 2006-2009, Recently Completed
Residential Furniture Built Work

The Johnson Residence is located in Houston, Texas and will be completed October 2009. The original house structure was designed in 1955 by Wilson, Morris & Crain, AIA, the same architects who in 1960 designed the Houston Astrodome, the world’s first domed stadium. In keeping with the client’s desire to re-use as much of the original construction as possible, I-A preserved the main portion of the house which contains three children’s bedrooms on the second floor, and a guest bedroom, dining and entertainment area on the ground floor. The new design adds a modern kitchen, butler’s pantry, laundry room, master bedroom suite, salon, sundeck and carport.

Where the addition begins the base geometry of the house skews 9 degrees to the west to fill the vacant southwest corner of the lot and expand the rear garden for outdoor activity. Every detail of the addition conforms to the 9 degree shift. The skew produces a profound optical illusion. After spending time in the addition the natural tendency for the eye is to compensate and correct the disorienting effects of the skew. Upon returning to the original wing of the house the visitor then perceives the original portion of the house to be skewed 9 degrees in the opposite direction.

See below to download Project Sheet (pdf)

Detail at front plug-on bay window and tri-pod column. (Benjamin Hill Photography)

Site Plan - showing shifted site lines. Image from Google Earth.

Floor plans, rotated 180 degrees. (North down)

Front Elevation, South

Side Elevation, East, at Car Court

Front exterior view. (Benjamin Hill Photography)

Interior view at ground floor of existing house. New custom architectural painted steel stair (#1) with steel columns and bracing - replaced existing load bearing masonry wall and solid stair. Terrazzo flooring throughout - replaced existing brick floor. (Benjamin Hill Photography)

Interior view at ground floor of existing house. New custom architectural painted credenza with coat closet and entertainment storage to define entry from living space. Terrazzo flooring throughout. (Benjamin Hill Photography)

Interior view of new stone hearth surround and L-shaped bench that connects with custom architectural credenza cabinet at entry. (Benjamin Hill Photography)

Detail at steel and glass "plug-on" stair enclosure and future green roof with hardwood roof deck beyond.

First Level Floor Plan - Addition with 9 degree shift

Details of 9 degree shift - downspout, window frame, stair treads, drawers

Steel tri-pod column details

Details of tri-pod column at front

Detail of steel columns and bracing in new kitchen

Kitchen Perspective Studies

View of custom architectural kitchen cabinets and built-in banquet seating - between painted steel columns and bracing. (Benjamin Hill Photography)

View of kitchen cabinetry and built-in banquet seating - between painted steel columns and bracing.

View of custom architectural kitchen cabinetry and built-in banquet seating with fixed stainless steel table top. (Benjamin Hill Photography)

Exterior elevations south partial (top) and south (bottom)

Back exterior view of master bedroom with roof deck above (left), kitchen with steel and glass stair "plug-on" above (center), and main living spaces with kid's bedrooms above (right). Stained mahogany siding at base; Swiss Pearl panels to be installed above. (Benjamin Hill Photography)

Back exterior views of master bedroom with perforated exterior rain screen panel at master bathroom (left).

Master Bathroom Axonometric Studies

View of master bathroom (left) with diffuse light from perforated exterior panel. Exterior view of perforated rainscreen panel (right).

View of master bathroom with diffuse light from perforated exterior panel.

Second Level Floor Plan - Addition with 9 degree shift

Details of stainless steel and glass plug-on window at steel stair #3.

Double height space at second level walkway. View north (left) to stair #2 and "plug-on" bay window. View south (right). (Benjamin Hill Photography)

Details of custom architectural stair #3.

Custom architectural millwork in second level study. All cabinets detailed with 9 degree shift.

View from second level study to front "plug-on" bay window. (Benjamin Hill Photography)

Project Sheet (pdf)