Lauren Rottet, FAIA, FIIDA, internationally celebrated architect, designer and founding principal/president and owner of Rottet Studio, has been honored by the Global Architecture & Design Awards (GADA) for her concept for her new Rottet Studio Houston Office, in the Commercial (Concept) category. The firm also has offices in New York and Los Angeles.
The 15th edition of GADA is hosted by Rethinking The Future, which acknowledge design work by professionals and students across the globe, while using the rubric of sustainability and innovation when comparing and analyzing the project ideas.
Located in Houston’s Briar Hollow neighborhood, the original structure occupying .8 acres along the Buffalo Bayou was built by iconic Houston architect Howard Barnstone in 1960. Noted for his modernist style, Barnstone’s clients included Houstonians John and Dominique de Menil, who funded the Rothko Chapel, which was also designed by Barnstone with Eugene Aubry and Philip Johnson.
During the pandemic Rottet purchased the property with future plans to build a new office. The winning concept featured above includes space that will serve as a showroom, highlighting furniture and accessories from the architect’s signature Rottet Collection. The building is envisioned as a new iteration of a hybrid office comprised of space for Rottet Studio’s design team and administrative staff. While Rottet does not anticipate everyone coming into the office every single day, “We need a desk for everybody, as well as a parking space,” she states.
“We don’t want our new building to look like we’re trying to match a mid-century modernist style, although we intend to respect Barnstone’s original design and transcribe as much of the original detail as possible to maintain the historic nature of the property,” Rottet continues, about the plan for the new structure, adding, “We intend to recreate the glass box while expanding outward and upward so the building becomes one with its natural surroundings on the bayou across from the arboretum.”
