4119 Falkirk Lane

Located in a flood prone area in Houston near Brays Bayou, the 3,940 sf house is elevated to prevent flooding. To elevate the house, we took an innovative and sustainable design approach using recycled masonry block as the structural foundation, and as a primary design element to create a strong indoor/outdoor connection. In the front, block is used to create an entry courtyard with breezeblock walls and structural support for the primary bedroom above. The wall turns on the east side and extends up to the next level at the entry. On the east side there are three two-story structural block walls, at the entry, the living room fireplace and at the outdoor living. The scale and size of the exterior massing is designed to reduce the visual height difference from the street and neighbors. As well as masonry block, shiplap siding, thermory pine and metal cladding are used for exterior finishes. Inside the house, the design is an open-concept plan with a central two-story circulation core. The core is clad in oak and contains the mud room, pantry, bar, powder and elevator. A metal stair, within the core, incorporates a light well that brings natural light from the top floor into the lower level of the house. To reduce the massing on the west and create better mechanical efficincy, the game room is half a story up from the main level. The house has a ducted mini-split HVAC system, high efficiency heat pump water heater and spray foam insulation.