Butterfly House

Butterfly House

The concept was to group all the service spaces -- kitchen, pantry, utility, bathrooms, closets, and mechanical room -- into a long "core" wall on the public side of the house that provides privacy and is punctured by the main entry. The two parts of the house -- public and private -- are separated by a "dog run" or breezeway that also acts as the main entry into the house. A boardwalk perpendicular to the "core" organizes the parking, the entry, and the rear deck and pool.

Butterfly House

This is the finished floor plan that more clearly shows the layers of zones (from bottom to top): the parking zone, the service zone, the living zone, and the outdoor living zone. The plan is super efficient, with no hallways or other wasted space. IMAGE: Ignacio Salas-Humara

Butterfly House

This sketch shows a section through the house. The "core" is on the right. The electrical, plumbing, and AC ductwork (circle) run the length of the house above the service spaces in the core. IMAGE: Ignacio Salas-Humara

Butterfly House

Finished section. You can clearly see how the house is organized. Simple and efficient. IMAGE: Ignacio Salas-Humara

Butterfly House

Side view of the house showing the carport and connecting breezeway. IMAGES: James Rode

Butterfly House

The windows cantilever out from the stone face, creating sculptural elements along the long, stone facade. IMAGES: James Rode

Butterfly House

Main elements of the house are the solid "core" that houses the service spaces, the glass boxes that comprise the main spaces (living, dining and sleeping), the outdoor decks, and the all-encompassing roof that provides shade to the glass walls as well as covered porches on three sides of the house. The butterfly shape collects the rainwater to both sides of the house which is stored in galvanized steel tanks. IMAGES: James Rode

Butterfly House

Exposed 2x6 roof rafters create a wonderful rythm and recall traditional front porches of farm and ranch houses. The huge roof overhangs protect the 12-foot-high glass walls from the Texas sun. IMAGES: James Rode

Butterfly House

Butterfly House

Butterfly House

View from Office/Guest Bedroom. The lower glass is operable for natural ventilation of the entire house.