FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Houston, TX – September 12, 2011 – The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art Texas Chapter has awarded the Byrd Residence a 2011 John Staub Honor Award in Restoration and/or Renovation. Fort Worth homebuilder and master-craftsman Brent Hull of The Brent Hull Companies collaborated with Virginia-based design firm Christine G. H. Franck, Inc. to restore this historic home to its original charm.
Byrd Residence AFTER renovations.
Byrd Residence BEFORE renovations
Byrd Residence ORIGINAL 1930s condition
Built in 1938 in Fort Worth’s Colonial Addition neighborhood, this once-graceful Colonial Revival style home was insensitively renovated in the 1990s. Modern additions of incorrectly proportioned columns, heavy-cast stone trim, and stripping of the original whitewashing and shutters all compromised the home’s original grace.
In 2009 an extensive renovation and addition returned the house to its former beauty and updated it for modern living. Sensitive façade renovations included replacing ungainly columns and cast stone trim, re-whitewashing brick, and replacing dark green shutters. An addition to the rear of the house expanded both indoor and outdoor living space without unduly increasing the size of the house visible from the street.
Detail of entablature and new columns AFTER renovation
Detail of entablature and columns BEFORE renovation
The subtlest of changes greatly impacted the appearance of this home. In their work together on this renovation, Hull and Franck demonstrate how principles of classical architecture such as proportion and scale, so often misunderstood in today’s typical McMansions, should work together harmoniously.
Brent Hull is a builder of fine residences, master-craftsman, author, and nationally recognized expert on historic millwork and molding design. Christine G. H. Franck is a designer, educator, and author specializing in classical architecture and traditional American domestic architecture.
This and other outstanding works will be recognized at the Staub Awards Celebration at the Bayou Club on October 15, 2011. In 2011, the Texas Chapter of the ICAA launched the inaugural John Staub Awards program for designers and craftspeople based in Texas. These awards honor projects that demonstrate excellence and sensitivity to classical and vernacular traditions and have, in turn, contributed to the legacy of John Staub in Texas.