inside look

8 stunning Houston homes showcase creativity and craftsmanship on AIA tour

The AIA Houston Home Tour is back! The annual tour raises funds that support various AIA Houston initiatives throughout the year. Held this Saturday and Sunday, October 18 and 19, the self-guided tour features eight magnificent homes throughout the Houston area.

"The AIA Houston Home Tour is an incredible opportunity to showcase the diverse architectural talent within our city," says Shawn Gottschalk, AIA, principal at studioMET Architects and 2025 Home Tour event chair. "I'm really excited about this year's event because it features a remarkable range of homes: an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) tiny house, a sensitively-restored mid-century modern townhouse which served as a model home for the future, to an expansive campus-style home comprised of multiple structures and an array of homes in between. Each project is unique in its style, size, and design, offering something inspiring for every visitor."

Homes were selected based on design excellence, quality craftsmanship, innovative solutions, use of materials, and sustainability. A juried panel comprised of fellow architects, deans of architecture schools, and other experts choose from the hundreds of project submissions every year. To keep things honest, jury members are from out of town, but not too far out of town.

“We are not looking to put on an AIA home tour of only Texas vernacular architecture,” AIA executive director Rusty Bienvenue tells CultureMap. “We want a wide variety of things because this is a very diverse city, and I’m not sure folks from too far away understand what’s going on here.”

Project architects will be on-site both days of the tour to answer questions visitors may have about the homes, or the process of hiring and working with a local architect. One thing the tour hopes to do is dispel the notion that hiring an architect is something that costs a fortune, when in fact, it can be the more cost effective way to go.

“One of the things we are trying to show is that all people in the area are entitled to good design, no matter what their socioeconomic background is,” says Bienvenue. “Hiring an architect does not necessarily make the price go up when you’re building something. In many ways, it will make the price come down, because they’re able to negotiate with suppliers they use all the time and know what to spec or not. When you go into a builder home, those prices are set.”

This year’s event chair is no stranger to the AIA Houston tour. Gottschalk’s studioMET Architects has received an AIA residential design award, an AIA Firm of the Year award, and has had their projects selected for the AIA Houston Home Tour for 16 consecutive years, with two projects featured this year — Wink Residence, designed by Gottschalk himself, and River Bend, designed by Yoonchul You — and he looks forward to being able to share these projects with the greater Houston community.

“More than just an event for architects, the AIA Houston Home Tour celebrates the simple joy of great design,” Gottschalk tells CultureMap. “It’s casual, inspiring, and welcoming to anyone curious about how thoughtful architecture transforms everyday living.”

One home on the tour is quite the standout example of how good design can transform everyday living. Homes on the tour must have been built in the last five years, or have undergone a significant renovation or addition in the last five years. “Style in Steel” is a project with significant history, and the city is lucky that the home was able to be saved from the fate of so many other quirky Houston homes.

Built in 1968 as demonstration homes for the 1969 National Association for Home Builders (NAHB) show at the Houston Astrodome Astrohall, the "Style in Steel" townhouses were a collaborative effort sponsored by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), Houston Lighting & Power Company (HL&P), and General Electric (GE). Their purpose was to showcase the advantages of the use of steel in moderately-priced residential construction, utilizing steel not just in structural elements but also in furniture, equipment, and fittings. The townhouses were designed in the International Style, taking cues from Mies van der Rohe, by renowned architects Talbott Wilson and Hal Weatherford of Wilson, Morris, Crain, & Anderson, the same firm that co-designed the Houston Astrodome. Designated as protected landmarks in 2007 by the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission, their fate after over half a century became a pressing question.

The townhouses received a Twenty-Five-Year Award from the AIA Houston Chapter in 1998, and the home was awarded a Preservation Houston Good Brick Award in 2023. It has been featured in Architectural Record, Architectural Digest, Professional Builder, Brides magazine, and more recently in Preservation Magazine (Winter 2025) and Texas Architect (Spring 2025).

Full-Tour tickets may be purchased in advance ($35) until Friday, October 17 at 11:30 pm. Single home tour tickets are available for $10 per home, but are not available for presale. Tickets may also be purchased on-site.

"It’s one thing to pass by and admire these stunning homes from the outside, but an entirely heightened experience to step inside and be captivated by the remarkable thought and talent that went into each design,” says Bienvenue. “We look forward to seeing you on the tour.”

Each architect participating in the tour offered CultureMap personal insights into their respective projects, whether that be something special to keep an eye out for, or the thing they love most about the house. Find these insider insights below. Each link includes sneak peek photos and the home’s address.

The Tour

River Bend
“What I love most is how the design unfolds across the site in a long, single-story plan. From each space, the river is experienced and revealed in a new and surprising way.” - Reynold Scott Magnuson

Wink Residence
“The Hammam is one of my favorite elements of the home because it brings a touch of Moroccan heritage, turning a simple bath into a moment of ritual and tradition. Sharing a commitment to fitness and longevity with the homeowner, it’s rewarding to see the modern home we designed come alive through daily wellness routines — morning laps in the pool, cold plunges, and sauna sessions.” - Shawn Wesley Gottschalk

Style in Steel
“The trellised entry forecourt at the ‘Style in Steel’ Townhouse is the most featured and photographed space of the townhouse. Our goal in restoring the original architect’s intent for the townhouse included the removal of the added roof and glass window coverings to reveal the intended open trellised and light-infused forecourt space. A subtlety we appreciate is the visual engagement from inside the townhouse looking out to the forecourt through the two-story window wall, bringing the volume and light from the forecourt into the house.” – Rodolfo R. Fabre

Gibbs House
“Ironically, my favorite part of the home is the view from the exterior, looking north from the pool along the east-facing side of the house. I love how the long stretch of landscaping leads into the rich ebony wood exterior, connecting naturally with the porch and flowing into the living space. This side of the home is filled with natural light. Large windows brighten the interior, the stairwell glows through its vertical glass panels, and skylights above the bedrooms bring in soft, overhead light. As a corner home, we wanted to create a strong connection to the side yard that faces both streets, making the most of its unique position.” – Brett Zamore

Backyard Bungalow
“The thing I like most about the Backyard Bungalow is how good I feel when I am in the space. The quality of light, the cozy backyard setting, the playful forms all give me the feeling of comfort and possibility.” – Bradly Hirdes

Hunterwood Residence
“I am especially interested with how the design balances openness with intimate, personal spaces, such as the cozy spot tucked between the kitchen and family room. It’s a home designed to evolve with the family, offering flexibility in how each space is used while always feeling grounded, warm, and connected to its natural surroundings.” – Dillon Kyle

Northwood Residence
“The design of this home came from a desire for peace, and it was scheduled for construction during an incredibly uncertain time. Built entirely through remote collaboration at the height of the pandemic, it became a reflection of a strong sense of trust and shared purpose. What makes it truly special for the owners is the sense of calm that fills each room. Carried by the light, the materials and simplicity come together to create a quiet, restorative space for a young family.” – Chase Stanley

Hunters Creek House
“The design is intentionally minimalist, but the craft runs deep. I personally built many of the details, so every reveal and surface carries the mark of handwork and precision that you don’t always see at first glance. What makes this house special to me is how much of it I built myself. It’s minimalist in form, but every inch reflects hours of handwork, detail, and a love of craft that doesn’t shout…it whispers.” — Kam Biazar.

Photo by Leonid Furmansky

Style in Steel, designed by Rodolfo R. Fabre Design + FORMATION.

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Compound Returns

Houston building's restoration balances modern touches with historic details

Courtesy of NewForm Real Estate

The 1904 Commercial National Bank building has undergone an extensive restoration by NewForm Real Estate.

An undisputed downtown darling of Houston’s early skyline shines once more, thanks to a yearslong, multimillion dollar restoration project. Chipping away a not-so-sensitive 90s renovation, the Commercial National Bank building at 917 Franklin Street has been returned to its former architectural vernacular, while simultaneously appealing to the modern gaze.

Completed in 1904, the six-story building stands at the prominent intersection of Main and Franklin streets, an area that served as the center of Houston’s financial activity from the turn of the 20th century through the Great Depression. Often regarded as the heart of early banking and commerce in Houston, the district remains one of the city’s most historically significant urban environments.

The Commercial National Bank Building is designated a City of Houston landmark and is a contributing structure within the Main Street Market Square Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building is one of only two remaining structures designed by architecture firm Green and Svarz.

The restoration is a continuation of the Main & Co. development by NewForm Real Estate. Stretching from Commerce to Franklin Streets, Main & Co. includes the Raphael and Dorrance buildings at 110 and 114 Main Street — the Dorrance building being the second remaining design by Green and Svarz.

Interestingly, what sets Main & Co. apart from other developments is that the restoration of all three buildings has been a labor of love. NewForm Real Estate president Dan Zimmerman purchased the first building after a trip to New York in 2010, and the rest — as they say — is history.

“I fell in love with the building just because of its history and its charm,” Zimmerman tells CultureMap. A nightclub on the first floor paid the rent, while Zimmerman and his now wife built and occupied a third floor loft space.

“We literally lived downtown, on top of a bar, which was fun before we had kids. Over the course of that project, I got to know my neighbors, and that’s how I came to buy the other two buildings in 2016.”

During the restoration of those two buildings, Zimmerman met and “courted” the owner of the Commercial National Bank building. It took four or five years, and when it came time to sell, Zimmerman was the logical — and trusted — choice.

“It was a much lighter lift than phase one of Main & Co., which was a shell when I bought it,” he explains. “It had a lot of the bones, it just needed — I don’t want to say a facelift, because it was some pretty major work — but it wasn't a gut job, so to speak. We just brought it up to the level we did the other buildings."

Zimmerman enlisted interior designer Margaret Naeve and, together with Andres Construction, revitalized the lobby, corridors, restrooms, and first floor anchor space that is now intended as a restaurant.

"The lobby we kind of brought back to its original grandeur, with a bit more modern style. We brought in plaster workers, we brought in terrazzo workers, we brought in marble workers — we really brought it back,” Zimmerman says. “The materiality is the same, but the composition is a little different. It doesn't look like an old time capsule. In some of these restorations, they like to turn the clock back and make it look just like it did originally. In this particular instance, we wanted to make sure people knew it was modern. Because it's modern with the original stuff, to respect the original materials and use that language throughout the building."

When it came time to choose a designer to help guide the extensive restoration, Zimmerman didn’t need to look too far. Interior designer Margaret Naeve’s former M.Naeve offices at Main & Co. perfectly embodied the historically modern aesthetic he was looking to implement next door.

”Projects like this are incredibly fulfilling because you’re working with something that already has a soul and a history,” Naeve tells CultureMap. “There’s a sense of discovery that happens over time as original details begin to reveal themselves. It never felt like creating something entirely new, but rather thoughtfully editing and layering the building back into relevance in a way that still honored its character.”

The result is a fresh space that takes complete ownership of the original source material, while introducing modern elements that resist feeling forced or anachronistic. The restored brick-and-limestone façade and dramatic, curved-bay corner entrance give way to a light-drenched lobby complete with brass-inlaid terrazzo floors, restored plaster walls, dentil moldings, and a full view of the brass elevator doors.

“The lobby was my favorite part of the project because it really sets the emotional tone for the building,” says Naeve. “We wanted it to feel restrained and timeless while still bringing in a sense of warmth and atmosphere. Restoring the original plaster detailing and moldings while layering in more contemporary elements created a really beautiful tension between old and new, which is always something I’m drawn to.”

Original wood and marble flooring continue throughout most of the upstairs, where exposed brick envelops updated office suites with new lighting and audio-visual infrastructure, kitchenettes, and modern bathrooms that utilize marble countertops and unlaquered brass fixtures to partner perfectly with the restored materials seen throughout the building.

“One of the most rewarding parts of the process was uncovering original architectural details that had been hidden over decades of renovations and modifications,” says Naeve. “Those discoveries always influence the direction of the interiors because the building begins to tell you what should stay quiet, what should become more pronounced, and where restraint is more powerful than over-designing a space.”

Over the years, the Commercial National Bank building has been home to the original offices of Baker-Botts, Western Union, and — perhaps most notably — William Marsh Rice, founder of Rice University, who maintained offices on the third floor. Following his death, the first offices of Rice Institute occupied part of the sixth floor until 1926.

“Historic buildings give a city depth and memory. They tell stories through scale, materials, imperfections, and craftsmanship in a way that newer buildings often cannot,” says Naeve. “In Houston especially, where so much changes so quickly, preserving these structures creates a stronger connection to the city’s identity and allows history to remain part of everyday life.”

The restoration happily coincides with the new Main Street Promenade project that Downtown Houston+ has been preparing in time for the FIFA World Cup. Now dedicated to pedestrian and light rail, the tree-lined promenade will see the addition of enclosed patio spaces that will service the ground floor occupants of Main & Co. Current occupants include Liv Houston, Distrito Federal, Thai Cafe, and the very popular coffee shop The Fifth Vessel.

Those familiar with downtown will recognize the 7,000-square-foot mural that decorates the Main & Co. parking garage on Commerce Street. The mural, by Houston artist DUAL, titled “Produce Row,” was completed in 2018 and pays homage to Commerce Street’s history as the site of Houston’s first farmer’s market in the 1870s.

It will please art lovers to know that Main & Co.’s commitment to public art continues into the lobby of the Commercial National Bank Building. As with any project of this scale, budgets are tight, so Zimmerman borrowed works from his family’s personal collection for this project. Astute Houstonians have undoubtedly viewed some of this collection at the city’s beloved La Colombe d’Or Hotel in Montrose, which the Zimmerman family also owns.

Works by Joanna Ference and Guy Van den Bulcke receive pride-of-place, while a limited-edition Picasso print hangs in the magnificent marble stairwell just off the lobby.

“We didn’t have the budget to acquire new art, and every time I try to acquire new art, it’s kind of silly anyway because we have so much and have relationships with these artists,” explains Zimmerman. “These particular pieces we ended up finding in our private collection, and they fit, so we just hung them, and they look great. That was a collaboration with Margaret, and of course, we’d discuss everything and go back-and-forth, but we just have such a wonderful art collection that’s constantly growing and changing anyway.”

Danielle Rothchild and Thomas Metz of Stream Realty are leasing available office spaces throughout Main&Co. Street-level retail space totaling approximately 3,390 square feet, ideal for a restaurant concept, is represented by Abby Hawkins and Gideon Perritt of Rebel Retail Advisors.

Courtesy of NewForm Real Estate

The 1904 Commercial National Bank building has undergone an extensive restoration by NewForm Real Estate.

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inside look

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Compound Returns

Houston building's restoration balances modern touches with historic details