In Houston’s Third Ward neighborhood, many shotgun-style houses were solid in structure but had been neglected, with their interiors compromised or gutted. With Core House, RBW had the goal of providing modern conveniences by inserting a new core (kitchen, bath, storage, and mechanical systems) into one of the original row houses.
By placing the core centrally in the existing 496 square foot house, public and private zones were created. The original markings of past walls and surfaces were preserved on floor and ceiling. In addition to designing and building the core, the students also fabricated furniture using remnants from a local woodworking company.
Core House is used by Project Row Houses for their artists in residence program but, in a broader sense, serves as a prototype for the re-use of numerous existing structures in need of affordable renovation.