Located in the southeast region of Texas, Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States of America. It is the world capital of space exploration and is the home of America’s astronaut corps. With its booming job market and low cost of living, Houston is a preferred location for young professionals and families to relocate. There are also plenty of housing variety options for everyone, as well as affordable housing costs. If you want to build a home in Houston, Texas, check out the list below, which includes 15 of the best residential architects to construct the perfect residence that lasts a lifetime.
Lake | Flato
1224 East 12th St, Suite 430, Austin, TX 78702
Lake | Flato is an architecture firm that has created environments that enrich communities since 1984. It provides architecture, sustainable design, urban design, adaptive reuse, and placemaking services across Texas. It specializes in residential and commercial architecture and believes that architecture should be rooted in its particular place, responding in a significant way to the natural or built environment. The firm teams up with local artisans and uses their materials to create creative, modern, and environmentally responsible structures.
Ted Flato and David Lake founded the firm. Ted is renowned for his straightforward regional designs that connect people to the natural environment. He currently focuses on residential, higher education, and eco-conservation projects. Meanwhile, David is a registered architect and is an outspoken advocate for urban development.
Newberry Architecture
6990 Portwest Dr, Suite 190, Houston, TX 77024
Newberry Architecture is a full-service architecture firm headquartered in Houston, Texas. The firm was established on the founder’s belief that architecture should reflect clients’ personal styles and enhance their daily lives. Thus, it assembled a team of individuals that understand the value of listening and recognizing that architecture is about what clients envision and not what architects want to design. Established in 1997, it specializes in a wide range of services, including architecture, residential, new construction, remodels, restorations, renovations, additions, commercial feasibility studies, master plans, and specialty designs, serving national and international clients.
Ken Newberry is the firm’s founding principal, a licensed architect in Colorado, Maine, Montana, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming. He has over 24 years of experience in custom residential, commercial, restaurant, and retail architecture. Under his direction alongside Clint Johnson with 19 years and Jorge Carranza with 18 years experience, the firm garnered several awards, including the 2022 Gold List Honoree in Architecture – Luxe Interiors + Design.
CONTENT Architecture
3221 Milam St, Suite 1, Houston, TX 77006
CONTENT Architecture is a company committed to its clients’ goals while proposing innovative and atypical solutions. For 13 years, it has focused on creating responsive properties within its clients’ spatial and budgetary needs. It opened its doors in 2009 and has provided commercial and residential architecture services to clients across Houston and surrounding areas. The firm comprises talented professionals with diverse educational and architectural backgrounds to approach projects from different perspectives. As a result, it is easier to identify clients’ individual goals and smoothly guide them through the design process.
The firm operates under the leadership of Jesse Hager. He has been working in the architecture and construction fields since he was 18 and has been involved in designing everything from affordable housing to hospitals, luxury residences, and office buildings. CONTENT Architecture was featured in numerous media outlets, such as ArchDaily and Houston Chronicle.
Brickmoon Design
1438 Campbell Rd, Ste. 202, Houston, TX 77055
Brickmoon Design is an award-winning residential architect and interior design firm headquartered in Houston, Texas. For 13 years, the firm has become an expert in various architectural styles and strives to develop residences that reflect its belief in the importance of comfort, creativity, collaboration, and sustainability. With two more offices in The Woodlands, Texas, and Wimberley, Texas, the firm extends its services across the Greater Houston, Austin/Hill Country, Woodlands/Conroe areas, and surrounding Texas lakes and properties.
Jeremy McFarland is the founder of Brickmoon Design. He has been in the architecture industry for 25 years. He continues to lead the firm up to this day and remains passionate about practical, beautiful, and creative design. In 2019, the firm received the Gold List Honoree in Architecture from Luxe Interiors + Design.
Intexure Architects
2301 Eleanor Tinsley Way, Houston, TX 77023
Intexure Architects is a company specializing in residential and commercial architecture with a focus on contemporary design and sustainability, serving Houston and surrounding areas. Since its inception, Intexure Architects has strived to create architecture that speaks of its time and place but yearns for timeliness at the same time. For 20 years, it has successfully delivered over 350 projects and received 12 national design awards, including the 2019 Design Award from the National Association of Homebuilders and Systems Building Council.
Rame Hruska and Russell Hruska are the founders of the company. The former is a licensed architect with 20 years of experience in residential and commercial projects. She is a member of the American Institute of Architects and is a Procore Certified Associate. Meanwhile, Russel has 21 years of architecture experience and holds a degree in architecture from the University of Houston.
Stern and Bucek Architects
1610 Commerce St, Houston, TX 77002
Established 23 years ago, Stern and Bucek Architects is a leading design firm in Houston, Texas. Since its inception in 1999, it has embraced thoughtful designs to create beautiful, sustainable, and tranquil spaces that enrich clients’ lives. It offers a wide array of services, including architecture, new construction, renovation, and preservation of residential and commercial projects. The firm has established an impressive portfolio consisting of single-family homes, multifamily housing units, preservation of significant landmarks, and renovations of schools and museums.
David Bucek is the founder of Stern and Bucek Architects. He has been involved in restoring historic buildings and preserving modern landmarks of the post-war heritage. The firm has been featured in Paper City Magazine, Community Impact, Houston Chronicle, and Culture Map Houston.
Natalye Appel + Associates Architects
2523 Bartlett St, Houston, TX 77098
Founded in 1987, Natalye Appel + Associates Architects is a Texas-based firm specializing in civic, institutional, commercial, art-related facilities, and residential architecture. The firm is client-focused and is dedicated to site-specific design excellence. It serves clients across the state and has received significant national and international awards for its outstanding creations. In 2012, the American Institute of Architects, Houston, selected it as the Firm of the Year. Four years later, it received the Design Award for its exemplary project, the Oberlin House, from the same organization.
Natalye Appel leads Natalye Appel + Associates Architects. She is the firm’s founder and has 35 years of experience in the architecture field. She has served on the board and Projects Committee of the Hermann Park Conservancy for many years and is a U.S Green Building Council LEED-accredited professional.
Dillon Kyle Architects
1500 West Alabama St, Houston, TX 77006
Dillon Kyle Architects is a Houston-based architecture firm specializing in residential architecture, commercial architecture, new construction, and remodel services across Houston and surrounding areas. For 26 years in the business, it has delivered unique designs for its clients. It aims to take clients on an exploration journey and create meaningful collaboration. The firm also takes on diverse projects, ranging from residences to educational facilities and commercial buildings. Each project is architecturally refined, spatially rich, and thoughtfully implemented.
The firm runs under the supervision of Dillon Kyle, a native Houstonian who founded the firm in 1995. Before establishing the firm, he practiced in San Francisco and New York, honing his skills as an architect. Multiple presses have featured the firm, including Houston Chronicle and AIA Houston.
GSMA
3815 Montrose Blvd. Suite 210, Houston TX 77006
Established in 1997, GSMA is an award-winning Houston-based architecture firm widely recognized for its notable awards and contributions to the Houston community. It has provided architecture, renovations, additions, preservation, and sustainable design services across the state and specializes in residential and commercial projects. For 25 years, the firm has fostered collaboration within the team and stakeholders to bring outstanding results within budgets and timelines. It has established a portfolio encompassing internationally acclaimed affordable multifamily housing projects, single-family homes, and intricately designed community projects.
Ann Rosenwinkel and Stephanie Pedigo lead the team. Both principals have successfully overseen numerous award-winning projects and have guided the team to deliver projects with the highest level of professionalism and quality. GSMA’s prominent awards include the 2020 Gold List Honoree from Luxe Interiors + Design and the 2017 Good Brick Award from Preservation Houston.
The project pictured is a LEED for Homes Certified Platinum Project completed in the Houston area in 2012.
Murphy Mears Architects
1973 West Gray St, Ste 13, Houston, TX 77019
Operating out of its office in Houston, Texas, Murphy Mears Architects is a residential architect serving Houston, San Francisco, Florence, Italy, and Athens, Greece, for 33 years. It specializes in architecture, custom homes, new construction, and renovation services, taking pride in its design process that promotes the study of multiple solutions early in the development of a project. Its design process is proven to successfully guide clients in their decision-making as it sees the project from the big picture to the smallest details.
Walter D. Murphy is the founding principal of Murphy Mears Architects. When he was younger, he would occasionally tag along with his dad to job sites, influencing his decision to follow his career path in architecture. He previously worked for S.I. Morris Architects in Houston and then for Paolo Riani Associates in Florence, Italy, before establishing the firm.
Collaborative Designworks
4415 Woodhead St, Houston, TX 77098
Formed in 2003, Collaborative Designworks is a full-service architecture firm providing architecture, full house design, programming, drawing design, construction documentation, construction management, and project administration services to Houston, Texas, and beyond. It specializes in modern and sustainable residential design and has received multiple notable recognitions for its outstanding works. For 18 years in the business, the firm has worked with diverse individuals and companies, creating innovative solutions that exceed expectations.
Collaborative Designworks is headed by James M. Evans. He has 25 years of experience in the architecture field and is a member of the American Institute of Architects. In 2012, he received the Young Architect Award from National AIA and the 2010 Young Architect Award from AIA Houston. Under his direction, the firm obtained recognition from the 2013 Builder’s Choice Design Award. He was also the 2018 AIA Houston President and the 2020 Architecture Center Houston President.
Cusimano Architect
4511 Nett St, Houston, Texas 77007
Cusimano Architect is a Houston-based full-service residential architectural firm established 11 years ago. It has specialized in creating refreshing design solutions for new construction, remodels, and additions throughout Houston. Through a linear and collaborative design process, the firm brings every project to life regardless of its size, complexities, and restrictions. The team closely collaborates with creative professional designers and contractors in each phase of the project to unveil one-of-a-kind solutions that bring fulfillment to the team and clients alike.
The team is led by Kelly Cusimano, an architect with 22 years of background in the industry. He landed a job at Jay Baker Architects in college, building models for new houses. Years later, he established his firm, building upon the practices he learned from his previous employer. Cusimano Architect was featured in multiple media outlets, such as Paper City Magazine and Luxe Magazine.
studioMET Architects
2500 Summer St, Suite 3112, Houston, TX 77007
studioMET Architects is a full-service residential design company creating timeless, sophisticated, and modern architecture for 15 years. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, it provides architecture design, interior architecture, design-build, construction administration, and management services. By offering architecture and construction services, it is capable of balancing the budget, quality, and schedule from a project’s conception to completion. The firm aims to bridge the gap between the architect and builder to create cohesive solutions that match clients’ needs and lifestyles.
Shawn Gottschalk serves as one of the firm’s principal architects. He has designed homes for 16 years and shares his knowledge by leading and mentoring a group of architects, craftsmen, artists, and designers working for the firm. He holds a degree in environmental design and a master’s degree in architecture.
McIntyre + Robinowitz Architects
718 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77007
For two decades, McIntyre + Robinowitz Architects has specialized in architecture, custom homes, renovation, and multifamily projects throughout Houston, Texas. It strives to create unique and exquisite custom homes that suit the needs and visions of its clients and architecture that showcases the inherent beauty of materials and structure. Since 2001, the design-build firm has designed over 100 projects, successfully balancing clients’ budgets and the quality of work while streamlining the overall construction process simultaneously.
The firm operates under the leadership of Mike McIntyre and Bob Robinowitz. Both principals are active members of the American Institute of Architects and are committed to maintaining strict attention to detail to ensure the quality of the final product. In 2017, McIntyre + Robinowitz Architects received the Honor Award from Preservation Texas.
Jay Baker Architects
3815 Montrose, Suite 205, Houston, TX 77006
Operating out of its office in Houston, Texas, Jay Baker Architects is a dedicated firm providing new construction, additions, renovations, and master planning services recognized by local, regional, and national award-giving bodies. Since 1991, it has produced multiple works acknowledged for its design excellence and strives to build more projects with lasting values. The firm closely works with clients to create their dream homes and translates their visions while adding necessary functions to enhance their daily lives.
The firm is directed by Jay Baker, the company’s founding principal. His contributions as a practitioner allowed him to be honored as a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 2002. Baker began his involvement as a volunteer directing improvement to Houston’s Hermann Park as President of the Rice Design Alliance in 1992. Today, he serves on the Hermann Park Conservatory Projects Committee, having spent 30 years overseeing $150 million worth of improvements to the Park. Jay Baker Architects was featured in Mansion Global, Dwell, and Texas Monthly.
