BROOKSHIRE RESIDENCE – ARISTOCRACY AND ARTISTRY

 

While exploring the private residence of Larry Brookshire, it’s clear to see the inspiration of classical French salons and English gardens, and the innovation of modern art. The Brookshire Home unites old-world architecture with cutting edge contemporary art in a uniquely brilliant way.

Originally designed by John F. Staub in 1933, Larry Brookshire, Bruce Budd, and their large team of designers and workers have taken on the challenge of honoring the beautiful, historic mansion while bringing it into the modern era. The palatial monument to Texas aristocracy sits in a picturesque scene of trees and lush grass, reminiscent of the plantation homes of old.

John F. Staub was a transplant with a master’s degree in architecture from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1916. However, by the 1920’s Staub was building some of the most iconic residential and commercial buildings throughout the Houston metropolitan area. Working from the remains of a legend like Staub’s idea, the team had their work cut out for them.

The homeowner, Larry Brookshire, shares with us how the project began and how it has persisted as a crown jewel of architecture and design:

When I started, I did what I knew how to do. I hired the very best people and challenged and encouraged them to do their very best work. We sometimes did things over and over again until the team agreed that this was the best work we could do with a particular issue. I joked with the team that this is the project that would make them famous. We would joke, but at the same time we were serious that our overarching goal was to make this one of the most elegant homes in Houston. That became our standard for which everything was built upon.

We had five stated goals for the project:

Fusion

Modern art is mixed with 19th century antiques throughout the house. We have very chic contemporary art objects mixed with old world craftsmanship to create an interesting blend of the old and the new. The only statue by Georgia O’Keeffe sits in the sprawling lawns, Anish Kapoor’s iconic mirrored sculptures are both outside and inside to produce continuity and a theme of modernity. However, to bring in the old world we also have elements such as the antique-washed walls that were flown in from France, decorated with stunningly detailed molding. The house is all about decade fusion.

Integration

We added numerous doors and windows to open up the spaces to the beautiful landscaping which the house is surrounded by. There are several rooms that now have light from all angles which feels almost like you’re outside. The designer, Bruce Budd, chose soft colors that would accentuate the sea of grass and natural foresting on the property. We created outdoor rooms with the hedge-walls that serve as a seamless link between interior and exterior.

Staub tradition

It was very important for us to uphold the traditional, classic architecture of the home. We maintained the original facade by the great architect and replicated the original limestone border in the roofline of the Great Room. We did not tamper with the original plaster walls or the original wiring. We kept the original Staub design with the back of the house facing the street and the front door where you would normally find the back door. Staub had a great sense of pro- portion, so changing the room size was not necessary. Basically, the timeless architecture stayed the same as it’s original design.

Axis

Staub believed in building with strong axis lines. You can stand in the original foyer and can envision a straight line all the way through the house and allée and terminating at the Great room which is at a 90 degree angle. The same strong lines can be seen on the second floor where you can see all the way through the entire length of the house and beyond. The first floor North-South axis terminates in the imposing Georgia O’Keeffe sculpture Abstraction.

Element of Discovery

When you first pass the entrance gate, you see totally natural parkland untouched by man. The trees form a natural canopy and the front lawn is almost always totally shaded. We wanted to keep that zone entirely natural and capitalize on the beauty which grew organically.

As you turn to enter the motor court, the Profiles sculpture peeking out above the Japanese yew is another shocking juxtaposition between modernity and antiquity, nature and man-made craft. Then you see the hedge-walls and topiaries and realize that the back exterior is fully created by man. As you walk down the allée and look through a parting of the hedge-walls, The Spire, by Anish Kapoor, surprises the viewer and seems incongruous with the foliage – a very contemporary statement residing in old world surroundings that catches one by surprise. Just around the corner in its own garden surrounded by terraced hedge walls is the ten feet high Georgia O’Keefe sculpture Abstraction.

Sanctuary

Our ultimate goal with this project was to create a sanctuary, a resting place where no matter how old or feeble I became this would be a place of comfort to me. A place where I could be surrounded with friends and family in a quiet, serene setting yet close to all the amenities of Houston – an oasis amid the frenetic pace of Houston.


Photography by Greg Swales | Art Direction by Louis Liu Introduction by Benjamin Price | Words by Larry Brookshire