FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Shotgun Over and Under: Redefining Residential Architecture

Located in the Lower Heights neighborhood of Downtown Houston, Texas, Shotgun Over and Under is a groundbreaking reinterpretation of the city's iconic Shotgun Houses. The project, led by renowned designer William Price, draws inspiration from the historic Freedman's Towns, where African American communities built long, narrow one-story houses with rooms lined back to back. The design challenges conventional thinking about residential architecture, offering a fresh perspective on cultural and environmental sustainability.

Shotgun Over and Under is not merely a replication of the traditional typology but a bold exploration of its concepts. By stacking two Shotgun houses atop one another, the project maintains access to natural light, cross ventilation, and the economization of framing materials. The innovative design aims to address contemporary ecological and cultural concerns, offering a living space that takes advantage of the attributes of the typology while bypassing its limitations.

The main structure of Shotgun Over and Under features wood framing, laminated veneer lumber beams, steel moment frames, and a concrete structural slab with piers. Architectural finishes include polished concrete, washed and pickled white oak, blackened and white stucco, blackened steel, and galvalume siding, showcasing a blend of modern and traditional elements.

With a plot area of 278 sqm, a landscape area of 92 sqm, and a building area of 278 sqm, Shotgun Over and Under stands as a testament to innovative residential design. The project's unique approach to integrating nature into the living spaces challenges the limited ways of thinking about residential design, offering a thought-provoking vision for the future of urban living.

For more than three decades, William Price has been at the forefront of architectural innovation, with a career that has spanned eleven different countries. As the founding principal of three companies and the current Brown Endowed Chair in Architecture at PVAMU, Price's work has been recognized and celebrated globally. His collaboration with Ai WeiWei in China and the inclusion of his work in Phaidon's 10 by 10_3 Monograph are testaments to his influence on the architectural landscape.

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