Gibbs House

Completed in 2024, this 4,500-square-foot home was designed for an individual with a large extended family. Located on a prominent 65′ x 117′ corner lot in Houston’s Woodland Heights, it serves as a visual anchor to the historic Norhill Esplanade and engages directly with the surrounding neighborhood.

The design draws from the vernacular gabled forms of the Heights and the client’s appreciation for Scandinavian architecture – simple, functional, and light-filled. The material palette reflects this restraint: smooth horizontal cementitious siding ties to neighboring homes, while vertical Kebony wood and standing seam metal roofing add warmth and contrast. The north-facing façade opens to the esplanade with large windows along the dining area, drawing the landscape inward. Inside, spaces unfold around a central stair that subtly organizes the plan. The dining room and bar open to a large living and kitchen area, which connects seamlessly to a screened outdoor patio and the eastern yard with pool.

A service core with pantry, powder room, and garage access supports the main level. Upstairs, the primary suite and office face northeast, joined by two secondary bedroom suites, a game room with full bath, laundry, and a hidden safe room. Skylights over coffered light wells bring soft daylight into the home’s core.

A spiral stair leads to a small meditation room and a roof terrace above the garage with views of downtown Houston – offering a quiet moment above the trees.