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Aside from the fact that this live-work studio exists in the midst of Houston’s sprawl, a couple things are noteworthy: Even the architects, of Intexure Architects, really inhabit the project, and four of the residential jobs overlook it, making this portion of Houston’s Inner Loop that an Intexure compound of types. The four houses, which are charged as Southmoor Terrace, are LEED certified and are at exactly the same modernist vein as the live-work studio. These include the Tallichet residence the Bhutani residence and also the Waldrum residence. This article concentrates on the live-work studio, because it offers a different typology because of its context.

in a Glance
Who lives here: Rame and Russell Hruska
Location: Houston, Texas
Size: 3,000 square feet
That is intriguing: Adjacent houses are part of Museum Park Modern, a growth also by Intexure Architects.

Intexure Architects

The building’s long facade faces an internal court with parking, a requirement not only for Houston but also for owning a company in the construction. The garage is visible on the right; this may be the farthest from the street, but it helps to create more agreeable street frontages (without hulking garage doors) and sets a precedent for another residences.

The architects described it to me “We had been required by code to have a garage to satisfy our parking requirements — we’ve got a company occupancy stairs and residential occupancy over — but we really don’t park at the garage. Instead we use it as a woodshop/model-making zone and staging for our building jobs.” Further, “it’s two garage doors in 90 degrees on adjoining walls, which it also can be opened as a covered area for outside events, which we want to have in the gravel area when we transfer away the cars — parking by day and collecting space during nonwork hours.”

Intexure Architects

To the left of the garage is the stair tower, and outside that the vast majority of the live-work spaces. This stair tower is particularly significant, as the architects suggest: “As a structure, the stair tower divides the space. Downstairs is pure studio, over the garage is pure living, while the upstairs over the studio has dual functions.”

The extended facade faces south west and east, so the trees are useful in shading these spaces.

Intexure Architects

Ultimately we see the street facade, in addition to a glimpse of a few the LEED-certified residences at the space. The water feature and planting in front of the live-work studio really are a wonderful touch that sets the building apart from the residential context.

Intexure Architects

The entry to the building is adjacent to and set back in the glazed stair tower. From inside, the light coming in the latter is evident, illuminating the wood and steel steps.

Intexure Architects

Turning left after coming in the front door attracts you to the work space. Signage makes this clear, as does the look of the reception area and the seminar room outside.

Intexure Architects

Here is another view of the reception space, almost comfortable enough for a living area.

Intexure Architects

The workspace, that overlooks the parking area and another residences, is a double-height space. It looks like the project really works to obscure the distinctions between working and living, both spatially and in style and furnishings. “Boundaries are blurred in the sense that the royal studio is open to over,” say the architects, “with the idea of creating connections and the fact that flexible spaces can adapt to change.”

They include, “With developments to our household — a 4-year-old plus a 3-month-old — in the six years we’ve been in the space, we’ve sharpened the boundaries a little with the addition of a sliding door in the pure living zone. It has worked great, and allowing for change was a part of the strategy. Architecture is a lifestyle. Rather than commuting or separating our own lives, we live that which we work and love what we do.”

Intexure Architects

Intexure says that in the live-work studio, “regions are designed with flexibility and dual functions in your mind.” This is evident in the second-floor dining room area that could easily double as a work/conference area.

Intexure Architects

The living room proper is fairly casual, very open and full of light, because of generous glazing.

The architects amount up the job and their job nicely: “Having a construction that we made as our workspace is a great way to practice what we preach. The construction includes many sustainable features and serves as an illustration of our philosophy — buildings that reflect to their own time and place, react to the website, and honesty in the use of substances.”

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It Required seven semi-trailer cartons to ship Ralf Meier and Maryanne Bruno’s prefabricated home from Bad Saulgau,Germany, to the mountains of Boulder, Colorado. Truckers hauled the cartons over dirt roads to eventually reach their plot of land. Meier says, “Ninety-five percentage of the home came from my native state of Germany.” Bruno adds, “The only items we had to purchase were the flooring, appliances, lighting and bathroom fixtures. … And cabinets. I let Ralf choose the programs, forgetting that Europeans use wardrobes rather than cabinets!” The few ordered their home from Platz. Just six months from planning to completion took.

in a Glance
Who lives here: Ralf Meier and Maryanne Bruno and their two dogs, Teddy and Kona
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Size: 4,500 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 1 office, 2.5 baths
That is interesting: The home arrived in seven semi-trailer cartons.

Leslie Bentson

The two Meier and Bruno like to entertain and discuss their “German home in a box” with friends and loved ones. Meier says, “Hands down, the built-in Miele espresso maker was the ideal purchase in kitchen. It’s made thousands of cups of happiness.”

Leslie Bentson

Light lotion and tan-strained granite countertops contrast with the dark cabinetry. Meier set up the stone tile which runs the whole height of the back wall. Above the cabinets is a collection of clay, wood and metal art picked up during the couple’s travels.

Leslie Bentson

All the kitchen cabinetry came as a portion of the home package from Germany. Stainless steel appliances complete the modern kitchen layout and comprise a GE refrigerator, Thermador stovetop, Bosch oven, Miele dishwasher and built in coffee maker. Glass fronts on the decrease hanging cabinets and island cabinets balance the heaviness of this black.

Leslie Bentson

Light beech wood beams and plank ceilings warm the spacious living space and contrast with the Patagonia Rosewood flooring. The same stone tile backsplash seen in the kitchen outlines the wall behind the Skantherm fireplace.

Leslie Bentson

Big windows frame views of the mountains, complementing the minimalist decoration throughout the home.

Leslie Bentson

The heating process is located in the walls. Copper pipes were installed and framed out, and thick particleboard is connected to the frame and Sheetrock at the final layer. An on-demand hot-water unit provides the entire home with heat and warm water. The utility bill has never surpassed $90.

Leslie Bentson

From the main entrance door, porcelain tile contributes to a sofa in the mudroom and laundry room area to the left, and solid beech-wood staircase on the right lead to the cellar.

Leslie Bentson

The surrounding hillsides reflect off the European glass shower wall at the spacious master bath.

Leslie Bentson

The master bath has a Japanese soaking tub with a stone facade, gray slate tiling and a wall-mounted Toto toilet. The walls are an inviting pumpkin colour with a hand-applied Venetian marble finish.

Leslie Bentson

The basement includes a minibar and lounge area on one side, and a guest bed on the other. Guests enjoy views of wandering wildlife along with a tree-covered ravine.

Leslie Bentson

All the windows came with big outdoor metal blinds that open and close via remote control. In the summertime, closing the blinds is sufficient to keep the interior cool; the home doesn’t have air conditioning.

Leslie Bentson

The home features lots of decks made of durable German metal grates. In the winter, snow falls through the pockets and eliminates the need to shovel. The metal doesn’t require painting, staining or sealing, making it a really appealing substance to survive Colorado’s severe climates.

Leslie Bentson

Just off the kitchen, a balcony seating area offers relaxing views of the Colorado mountains. Ever eager to start new projects, Meier and Bruno state they intend to grapple together with their next home in a box, which will comprise American additions like dormers in the bedroom and office locations.

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While the love of Morocco has drawn travelers to the country for centuries, its distinctive home aesthetic — a combination of Middle Eastern romanticism and French formalism — has arguably become the nation’s greatest ambassador around the globe.

Maryam Montague wasn’t immune to the nation’s appeal. She moved to Morocco with her family for what she thought was a temporary stint; 10 years later, she owns a boutique resort in Marrakesh called Peacock Pavilions and has generated Marrakesh by Design, a fascinating guide to Moroccan house design.

Filled with stunning photography of actual antiques houses, Montague’s recently published book creates the style accessible through a helpful breakdown of crucial design elements — color, finishes, designs and much more — and how-to guides.

Montague’s approach is contemporary: While imparting a profound appreciation for its enduring beauty of Morocco’s traditional architecture and craftsmanship, she provides hints on how the modern house can incorporate touches of Moroccan flair, from installing banquette-style seating in the living space to composing fashionable outdoor lounges. Here is some of her penetration to utilize on your own house.

Artisan Books

Use geometric patterns and hot colors. The traditional Moroccan color palette is composed of warm, saturated colors in blue, red, brown and green, and accents in black and white. Since Islam historically depended upon depictions of humans and animals in art, Moroccan interiors display a dizzying selection of geometric and floral patterns. The tiles are among the best examples of Moroccan artisans’ genius with pattern. Utilize bold-patterned tile as a surefire way to add drama to any space.

Hint: Moroccans love to draw focus on their ceilings, often making a room feel loftier than it truly is. Painted rafters, stenciled designs and plasterwork are some of the gorgeous tactics to ensure that people look upward.

Artisan Books

Layer, and layer more. As Montague states,”Moroccan style is not for the minimalist” The exuberant mixture of colors and patterns in this comfy nook shows the Moroccan bohemian style to complete effect. To do this look, heap a number of fabrics in your bed or sofa and top with a cacophony of cushions. Lay a colorful rug over a patterned flooring. Bear in mind, more is more.

Hint: Poufs are not only a fantastic decorative element; they provide seating and extra surface space in a pinch.

Artisan Books

Produce a Moroccan salon. Publish a low-slung sofa having an eye rug along with a smattering of tea tables, then add floor cushions and poufs. Several hanging arenas grouped as shown here also is a popular Moroccan layout flourish.

Hint: The walls and ceiling of the living room are all covered in tadelakt, a lime-based surface application that infuses rooms using a soft color and keeps walls without any dust. Tadelakt is ideal for those who are desiring to bring a desert languor into their property.

Artisan Books

Install banquette-style seating for small living spaces . Banquettes, as Montague describes,”are custom pieces designed to match a room’s particular dimensions, maximizing distance and providing comfortable seating for a lot of people.” Moroccan rooms are usually limited in size and slim too, therefore banquettes evolved since the predominant approach to configure a comfortable living room. Turn a cramped living space into a cozy oasis by providing a corner with banquette seats, colorful pillows and a plush rug.

Artisan Books

Mix antiques with modern pieces. Moroccan accessories along with clean-lined modern furniture work surprisingly well together. Here, Saarinen tables and seats upgrade a Moroccan room while keeping the focus on the lovely colors and craftmanship of the glass Cabinets, wood armoire and Beni Ouarain carpeting.

Artisan Books

Insert subtle Moroccan touches. A bit Moroccan flair might be all you need to revitalize a space. At Montague’s Peacock Pavilions office, she recently constructed unique shelves from ornamental cinder blocks and wood planks. She stenciled her simple file boxes and folders using geometric designs. And extending the white and black color scheme, she decorated the floor with calligraphy.

Connected: 5 Smashing White and Black Rooms

Artisan Books

Style a Moroccan-inspired outdoor terrace. Along with getting internal courtyards, Moroccans spend time al fresco on rooftop terraces outfitted for eating and lounging. Make your outdoor area a cozy place to spend hours reading or connecting with loved ones by preparing a Moroccan salon. Produce shade by installing a canvas kayak or a rattan roof. Drama is added using a wicker lamp.

Hint: Line hurricane lanterns or votives along a face to serve as decoration throughout the day. In the night, lit lanterns provide a romantic glow.

Artisan Books

Marrakesh by Design, by Maryam Montague – $29.95

More:
Moroccan Style

Bold Moroccan Design for Today’s Interiors

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