StudioMET: Freedom to Build by Christina Gaona

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StudioMET: Freedom to Build
by Christina Gaona

Comprised of a small group of architects, StudioMET is one of few modern architectural design
firms in Houston that strives to redefine what it means to be modern. The firm aims to make
modern architecture more accessible through strategic efforts to discover alternative and
economical design solutions for any architectural problem. As only a small percentage of
homes in Houston are architect-designed, each StudioMET project is characterized by
spaces designed to be buildable, functional, and livable and that are purposefully
infused with a human element and scale.

Stephen Andrews, one of two registered architects currently working at StudioMET,
emphasizes that the firm’s philosophy on architecture relies heavily on the
individualistic aspect of each design, deriving inspiration from how a client will
inhabit a given space: “We believe that architecture should not only be
beautiful, but also practical. We try not to design toward a preconceived idea
of what the exterior should look like. Rather, we concentrate first on how the
interior spaces will be lived in and allow the exterior form to develop from that.”

For Andrews, projects like the Quenby House are particularly memorable for being
“a unique and ambitious program on a challenging site.” The firm persistently seeks
out different methods of incorporating new materials or using traditional materials in
innovative ways through a budget-conscious lens. When given the design freedom
to discover and apply unconventional solutions, StudioMET-designed projects often
reveal a parallel between a client and his lifestyle – a result of focused collaboration
and an accumulation of a “plurality of ideas” throughout the entire design process.

StudioMET architects purposefully design their homes to be functional, energy efficient,
and environmentally conscious. Sustainability is a design-concept the firm has made
a philosophical commitment to as awareness of the benefits of sustainability continues
to spread: “We believe that every home should be as energy efficient and
environmentally conscious as the budget will allow…Placing solar panels on the roof
and installing a bamboo floor does not mean that the building is sustainable.
Sustainable design begins at the earliest stages of the project and it should inform
all decisions made throughout the process.”

The firm recently received recognition for their design, the Milford Live/Work project –
a dual interior design firm office and single family residence – which was selected
for the 2010 AIA Houston Design Award. StudioMET currently has multiple projects
on the boards or in their construction phase including several single-family
residences and multi-family residential projects.

Current Project on the Boards: The Laurel House in Bellaire, Texas is a single-family
residence currently under construction. Its most provoking feature is the combination
concrete block, metal, and wood siding exterior and its open space relationships.

www.studiomet.net

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