For 49 years, this red brick home in Houston’s River Oaks neighborhood served as the parsonage for St. Luke’s Methodist Church. The simple yet elegant 1970s structure was designed by midcentury architect George Smart, and when it went up for sale in 2018, it was purchased by Unicus Developments—who worked with Curiel Arquitectos on a stunning renovation.

The goal for the project was to preserve the single-story home’s core elements—the flat roof, the open floor plan, and the large windows that fill the interiors with natural light—however, the team also wanted to refresh the property for contemporary living. They did this by increasing the ceiling height, adding spacious bedrooms, updating the kitchen, and providing plenty of living space and room for entertaining.

The highlight of the renovation is an upper-level addition that the firm refers to as the “tree room.” The new rectangular second floor houses three of the four bedrooms (the master bedroom is on the lower level), in addition to a bar and a casual family room/lounge space. Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap the communal space and provide lovely treetop views, and full-height glass sliders lead out to the terrace.

“When I first visited the property I made my way to the roof, and as I was standing there, I had this ‘aha’ moment,” explains Francisco Uzcategui, Managing Partner of Unicus Developments. “I pictured a magical gathering space that feels like it is above it all, where a family could celebrate among stately oak trees and serene views.”

From below, the black-framed glass reflects the oak tree in the front yard, giving the addition a beautiful nature-filled effect. “Bringing this addition to life was a really exciting part of this project,” Uzcategui concludes. It’s an addition that feels like it was always meant to be a part of the home.

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Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Curiel Arquitectos / @curielarquitectos

Builder/General Contractor: Unicus Developments

Landscape Design: Dawson Estes

Interior Design: Garrett Hunter

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A Gleaming Glass “Tree Room” Grows Out of a 1970s Houston Home