Striking modern home surrounded by a serene woodsy setting
This modern home was designed by Murphy Mears Architects, nestled on a forested property in The Woodlands, a suburb just north of Houston, Texas. This dwelling was designed to open up to its natural surroundings. Perimeter foliage provides an increasingly dense privacy screen as the property widens towards the back. The home spans across the site to maximize connections to this outdoor landscape.
Aside from the study and powder room, all first-floor rooms are open to one another. Spatial definition and circulation are controlled by the placement of three key elements: an entry/living fireplace wall, and two kitchen storage/appliance walls. Exterior openings align across the home, providing extended views of the site, and balanced natural lighting within.
A two-story wing on the east projects into the backyard, providing long-distance views through the landscape from the owner’s bedroom and family room. A central sitting room on the second floor separates the master, children’s, and guest bedroom suites.
Large windows on the front of the house require no additional shading due to their north orientation. Windows along the back on the first floor are protected by a long trellis and a wide master terrace to modulate direct sunlight from the south and west. Second-floor rooms are protected by deep roof overhangs and integrated shades hidden within ceiling pockets.
Durable materials are used inside and out. The cement-based stucco finish is applied over precast aerated concrete plank sheathing instead of typical plywood, allowing for a control-joint-free exterior surface and providing an additional continuous insulation barrier. The standing seam metal roof, with its south orientation, is wired for solar panels.
Windows and doors are oriented to capture prevailing breezes for cross-ventilation. Generous natural light helps minimize energy needs for artificial lighting. Large roof overhangs and shade devices limit interior heat loads and increase the lifespan of the exterior envelope.
What We Love: This modern Texas home features expansive walls of glazing and sliding glass doors that blur the boundaries between indoors and out. This helps to bring in an abundance of natural light, and fresh breezes while capturing the views of this home’s peaceful woodsy setting. Overall, this dwelling has a fantastic floor plan layout with a harmonious flow that will allow for ease of daily living and entertaining.
Tell Us: What details in the design of this home do you find most intriguing? Please share your thoughts in the Comments below!
Note: Have a look at a couple of other impressive home tours that we have featured here on One Kindesign in the state of Texas: This beautiful San Antonio home is built around a majestic oak tree and Tour this amazing rammed earth home nestled in the Texas Hill Country.
Above: Wood and steel fireplace finishes complement the wood and steel stair beyond.
Above: A central island and two storage walls arranged for open flow through the kitchen and generous views of the backyard space.
Above: Open stair with walnut treads and steel stringers floating in the corner of the living-dining space.
Above: The bedroom windows stacked over the family room below offer elevated views of the surrounding green foliage.
Above: Sliding glass doors open up to the wood and steel balcony which overlooks the dense green backyard landscape.
Above: An aerial view of the exterior facade shows a standing seam metal roof, oriented south for solar panels.
PHOTOGRAPHER Kyle Humphries
Above: An elongated first floor layout with generous exterior openings maximizes transparency through the house and access to a large private backyard space.
