Designed for a Houston, Texas, lot that has flooded twice, Intexure Architects and Aura Prefab Dwellings & Hospitality reimagined flood-resilient design with elevated lightness and grounded permanence. The Treehouse on Buffalo Speedway’s primary living spaces with three bedrooms and an office and more are lifted nine feet above grade floating within the site’s oak canopy. The stairs are tucked in the courtyard space keeping them from being dominant on the façade.  

The home’s garage, gym, shop, and storage live in the below massing while forming a resilient concrete base. The home’s floor plan responds to the empty nesters who enjoy gardening, cooking, and entertaining, especially outdoors. A central circulation spine organizes the public and private zones while maximizing light. 

“One of our favorite features we call the ‘skywalk’ is a glass bridge that separates the public and the private realms of the house while at the same time providing views to nature.  It’s a light-filled space that serves to reset your mindset as you move between areas,” says Rame Hruska, AIA, LEED AP, co-founder and CEO of Aura Prefab Dwellings & Hospitality. 

As a sustainable infill project, the home was built with prefabricated modules led by the design team in a unified design-build process. The mature oaks both added value and complexity to the project contributing to the choice of a modular system. The modules were craned in for minimal site disturbance.  

Set within a busy urban corridor, the project team strategically placed windows to screen noise and capture curated views. Inside, a high level of finish and detail were incorporated into the space with Italian cabinetry, skylit spa baths, and warm wood. While a series of outdoor rooms terraces down to the backyard and pool. The sequence softens the home’s scale while providing layers of outdoor living for its owners.  

In keeping with its sustainable, performance-focused efforts, the Treehouse on Buffalo Speedway utilized low-flow plumbing fixtures; low VOC paints, sealants, and adhesives; low-e windows; fire-resistant exterior materials; Energy star appliances; and a tightly sealed modular envelope with high-efficiency insulation.