Neuhaus Residence

The site for this project is Galveston Bay in Kemah. The client desired ample outdoor areas to enjoy the natural beauty. The exterior porches total 2,560 sq. ft., which is roughly equal to the interior conditioned area. The total enclosed area, including the garage, is 4,150 sq. ft. To further invite this natural beauty inside, a two-story gabled space defines the entry and living area and extends to the exterior porches. Timber pilings, a common structural system for this area due to floodplain elevation requirements and their natural resiliency, also became the aesthetic defining the gabled areas. As an exposed structural system, the detailing of the steel plate connectors was critical to the appreciation of this aesthetic.