1002 Darcy Street House, Galveston Island, Texas (2015-2019)
Under Construction
The house’s trapezoidal site, shaped by the mouth of Offats Bayou and the end of 103rd. Street, overlooks Galveston’s West Bay and large swaths of protected wetlands to the southwest. The site’s unique coordinates provide multiple, unencumbered views of Galveston Bay’s nature and built scenery. The 2,100 square feet house replaces a previous structure badly damaged during Hurricane Ike. Following more restrictive codes and regulations established after the devastating 2008 hurricane, the new house sits 18 feet above the levee wall that borders the property. The main floor plan is divided into two equally proportioned zones with respective vaulted ceilings. One zone contains the kitchen, dining and living areas as one continuous open space, the other zone houses the main and guest bedrooms. A central area mediates the two zones with the main entry, elevator, guest bathroom and a reading / sleeping alcove looking east. Compact yet volumetrically expansive, the design takes full advantage of the varied, privileged views of the surrounding landscape through ample but discreet, high impact resistant windows. A west facing Ipe wood deck extends the living spaces toward the bay and beyond.
