The 3,600 square foot studio is designed to meet the live and work needs of a Houston photographer. Located in a residential neighborhood not far from Houston’s Museum District, the studio is a loft-like setting where working and living flow and intertwine as a cohesive whole. The single slope steel frame structure includes a mezzanine with two bedrooms that face the street and overlooks the main studio space to the north. The latter consists of discreet yet open workspaces such as a library, and a compact services core containing the kitchen, office, and a restroom, as well as the staircase.

From the point of view of construction, the building’s primary structure consists of a custom steel frame system, infilled with modular concrete masonry units finished with stucco and topped by galvalume steel side panels and roofing sheets, enhancing the facade with a variety of textures. The interior finishes are left exposed, sealed, or painted with the objective of providing a workable, flexible, and light infused environment. In this case, the economy of the architecture is echoed in the few but durable materials employed throughout the construction.