A Victorian Cottage in Houston Finds New Life as a Local Firm's Office

A resident on the street, architect Michael Morrow of Kinneymorrow Architecture, resolved to invest in the storied neighborhood, refashioning 2341 Kane Street as the firm's own workplace on 2219 Kane Street. 

The design solution for Kane Street Office, in addition to the restoration, introduced a thoughtful display of modern design, resulting in a contemporary, communal work space inside the home. The 751-square-foot structure demonstrates a modern intervention that is respectful to the historic nature.

Using a single surviving photograph as inspiration, the exterior of the home was restored to its original form. The missing front porch was reconstructed, and the unique side porch was reestablished as an accent along the side street. Original siding was removed, restored, reinstalled, and painted a bright white. Missing elements were salvaged from demolished buildings of similar type and age.

On the interior, the original shotgun layout was largely respected, but the use was transformed by architectural insertions. A void, cut north to south, allowed for the insertion of a long bar of millwork, incorporating workspaces and a kitchenette in the now open, continuous space. A built-in bookcase accents the opposing wall, complete with a Murphy bed below, allowing the office to be used as a guest house as well.

The relocation and adaptive reuse of the historic home extended the viable life of the materials and resources that were originally used, and is a shining light at the entrance to the small historic district, respectful to the past while intelligently incorporating contemporary design.