BINARY HOUSE V2

Awards & Publications:  Texas Architect Magazine – Nov|Dec

AIA Houston Home Tour – 2013

Date:  Completed 2013

Size:  Site 5,500 SF | House 3,280 SF

Location: Houston | TX

The Binary House is located in Houston’s Rice University area. The client requested a modification to the standard design offered through Hometta in order to add a ground floor master suite with a unique 3-story, steel and glass closet. Collaborative Designworks agreed to modify the original design they had done for Hometta to accommodate these specific changes. The relationship to the neighborhood was of primary importance to the owners who embrace a refreshing attitude towards community; the open carport/landscaped yard area is intended as a play space for all the kids on the block.

The home explores several simple dualities of modern living: flexible open spaces with user-defined areas, abundant natural lighting without excessive heat gain, and a strong relationship to the exterior without sacrificing privacy. These dualities inform the basic interlocking masses of the building and the spaces within. The house’s interplay of solid and void, coded with specific material designations presents a unique image.

The Binary House is part of the premier collection for Hometta, an online plan sale website whose mission is to provide home designs that are “sustainable, modern in style, and affordable”. Hometta was created by award winning Architects for consumers who would not typically have the means to hire an Architect at normal fee rates, but appreciate higher quality contemporary design. James Evans’ work as a founding member of Hometta encompassed a great deal more than just the Binary House design: the entire project delivery method had to be re-thought – from client education and assistance, to developing documentation standards, and integrating basic constructability that could be handled by different builders in various locations.

The Binary House design has also been built in Trinidad and is proposed for other sites around Houston. All design work for this version and the original Binary House design was completed by Collaborative Designworks.

Photography:Benjamin Hill Photography, Taggart Sorensen