Houston, Texas 

A renovation located inside Cesar Pelli’s Four Leaf Towers, provides a family with a work-live multi-functional condominium space. 


Today’s new normal calls for a paradigm shift where programmatic relationships are fluid; a new kind of domestic model that works harder to accommodate the ever-increasing demands of technology and working from home. 

The tower’s 1982 condominium unit found in Houston’s Uptown district was in need of a complete update.  Working from home was a critical component to the design development.  The program required an interior environment that included fresh air integration and the abundance of daylight.  The tower is set in the center of 9.5 acres with large recreational areas and no other adjacent tower obstructing the daylight.  These building traits are distinctive from the recent neighboring multi-family living development, where light and views are often obstructed.  


The renovation utilizes the perimeter of the unit to absorb the program. The perimeter is thickened to become storage, media display, console, bench, kitchen counter, and desk. The thickened storage in the living area also performs as a light shelf bouncing light deeper into the space.  The unit opens up, by pushing the family’s needs against the boundary walls and removing existing walls separating the kitchen from living space. A small storage and wet bar are replaced with a working area that has visual access to the multi-functional living and play areas. The secondary spaces, such as bathrooms and closets, are re-configured into more usable proportions. The closet, bathrooms, and private storage are linked to the living area’s perimeter wall system, allowing the unit to appear as part of a consistent whole.