While the decision to relocate during COVID was relatively quick, it was not spontaneous. Rottet Studio searched for the perfect place to relocate their headquarters for years so when these two adjacent parcels became available, Rottet jumped at the opportunity. Surrounded by mature trees and natural wildlife in an ideal location just inside the 610 loop across from Houston’s bustling Uptown Park, it was the peaceful retreat within the inner-city the firm had been dreaming of for years. Coincidently, or perhaps by fate, it was not until the due diligence period that Rottet Studio learned each lot had a local architectural history of its own.

The inconspicuous white brick home located at 61 Briar Hollow Lane was designed in 1963 by Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson, the same local architectural firm that would be responsible for the development of the Houston Astrodome (the “Eighth Wonder of the World”) just 3 years later. Perhaps more intriguing, however, was the glass and steel framed Miesian-like structure located at 65 Briar Hollow Lane which was designed in 1959 by Howard Barnstone, a Houston-based architect best known for his work with Mark Rothko on the Rothko Chapel (another iconic Houston landmark and architectural treasure).

Both structures stood idle in time for decades, behind the wild overgrowth of the bayou banks, seemingly waiting for the right new owner to breathe new life into their shells and rewrite the story.

It was here, at 65 Briar Hollow Lane, where Rottet Studio would ultimately establish their Houston headquarters. Due to Hurricane Harvey, much of the original property was destroyed by flood waters and left to rot; however, that did not deter the award-winning design firm from reviving this piece of local architectural history. Using the original blueprints sealed by Barnstone in 1959, Rottet Studio vowed to preserve the legacy of the property and envisioned their future Houston headquarters office in Barnstone’s likeness.

From the elevated glass and steel architectural shell to the voluminous double-height glass living room with the hidden bar behind a secret wall panel, the design team retained as much of the original characteristics as possible when converting the single-family home to a modern workspace that would accommodate the current staff while also planning for future growth. Barnstone’s original design had great circulation so much of the original interior plan on the first level was simply repurposed to accommodate the reception area, conference room, entertainment space and private offices.

The kitchen remained at the heart, central to the plan just off the interconnecting staircase, in order to encourage a fun, relaxed and comfortable working environment that was conducive to entertaining. The entire second floor was reconfigured as a dedicated open workspace for the design team with floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides to allow as much natural light to flow freely through the space and offer unobstructed views over the trees and across the bayou to the arboretum. Expanding the plan vertically, the design team incorporated a third story lounge and indoor/outdoor entertainment space.

Since the third level was not part of the original architectural drawings and the design team vowed to remain true to the original character of the property, they cleverly incorporated mirrored surfaces on the windows and rooftop to reflect the natural environment and create the illusion that the third level is part of the natural environment, invisible. These mirrored panels also naturally reflect light away from the space, which help maintain a more comfortable interior temperature and reduce the need for air conditioning during the sweltering Texas summer months. Further to this green initiative, Rottet’s plans also include solar panels and a hydroelectric wheel that will generate and store enough electricity to power the adjacent “boat house”—a small structure along the bank intended to store paddle boats for leisure cruises down the bayou.