Sweet Magnolia

Sweet Magnolia is a modest residence situated on a 75′ x 150′ infill lot within an established Hammond neighborhood. The design is defined by a mature magnolia tree located in the northeast quadrant of the site, approximately 20 feet from the street. Rather than removing or minimizing this feature, the home is carefully organized to preserve the tree as a central element of the site.

The plan is intentionally simple and fluid, separating public and private zones to balance active living spaces with more secluded sleeping areas. Above the kitchen and dining space, a loft accommodates the client’s hair studio, integrating a workspace within the home while maintaining a compact, efficient footprint.

To preserve the magnolia, the bifurcated plan shifts toward the southwest, allowing the structure to settle around the tree. A continuous shed roof extends from the eastern sleeping wing upward to the west, creating volume for the loft and transitioning into a single-car carport along the west façade. The corrugated metal roof folds down along the east and west elevations, reinforcing the clarity of the form while supporting passive solar performance. Openings are oriented north and south, paired with generous overhangs that create shaded front and rear porches and protect interior spaces from direct sunlight.

Material selections are restrained and purposeful. Black-painted cement board siding frames openings within the folded metal envelope, while a black-and-white interior palette reinforces the home’s minimalist character. Black-washed antique heart pine is used at the loft and stair, introducing warmth and texture within an otherwise disciplined material approach.