Queen Anne Rescued

2016

The new owners decided to rescue the Blazek House, a Queen Anne cottage with classical details built in 1909, from a severe state of dilapidation. Located in the historic district of Houston Heights, the design of the proposed remodel and carport addition were approved by the Houston Archaeological and Historic Commission at a public hearing before construction began. After decades of minimal maintenance, the house needed almost to be reconstructed. However, all the original building material that remained, including the clapboards, trim, doors, shiplap sheathing, floor boards, structural framing members, and brick piers were retained or reused. New elements were only added based on physical evidence of what existed originally or were designed intentionally to be sympathetic, but defer to the original architecture. This was a design-build project. Ben Koush Associates assisted the owner in furnishing the house and worked with landscape architect Travis Peiffer on the design of the gardens. The project won a Good Brick Award from Preservation Houston in 2018.