Home Tour | Residential Committee

A 2-day, self-guided tour featuring custom homes in the Houston area designed by licensed architects.
November 2-3, 2024
Noon-6:00 PM
*** LAST ENTRY AT 5:45 PM EACH DAY ***

Presenting Sponsor

Party Sponsors

2024 Submission Guidelines

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The AIA Houston Residential Committee is NOW accepting entries for the AIA Houston Home Tour to be held November 2-3, 2024  

DEADLINE for Submittals: MONDAY JUNE 3, 2024 @ 5:00 pm



LINK TO ENTER VIA SUBMITTABLE

We seek to show the best new residential architecture by AIA members and we’re looking for a variety of architectural styles.  New construction, renovations, and additions will all be considered.



ELIGIBILITY

  • Eligibility is limited to homes located within the Houston metropolitan area, designed by an AIA Houston architect, and completed within the last 5 years.
  • Homes must be substantially complete* and available for photography upon submittal.

  • Architects from outside the Houston area are invited to submit but will be expected to fulfill all requirements of participating architects.



SELECTION PROCESS

A selection committee of qualified industry professionals will review the submittals and make a recommendation to the AIA Houston Executive Committee. As Houston grows and its urban density increases, the variety of housing options and solutions continues to expand. Consequently, location will not be a determining factor in the selection process, and the committee will strive to have a variety of architectural styles represented on the tour. 

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING HOMES
The criteria used to select homes for the tour will include:
  

  1. Design Excellence
  
  2. Quality and Craftsmanship
 
  3. Innovative Design Solutions and Use of Materials

  4. Sustainability of Design



ELIGIBLE PROJECT TYPES

Single Family Home - projects meeting the R-3 Residential definition and permitted under the International Residential Code. May include outbuildings or ADU’s.


Multiple Unit Residential (Condo, Apartment, Co-Op) - Custom-designed units within larger developments with unique homeowners.  Model units or showrooms may be accepted with prior approval from the AIA Houston Residential Committee.


Alternative Residential Projects - Live/work homes with at least 50% of the space dedicated to living spaces.  Other building types with a strong residential focus and identifiable residential function may be accepted with prior approval from the AIA Houston Residential Committee.


Remodels and Additions to the above project types



REQUIREMENTS OF PARTICIPATING ARCHITECTS:

  1. Submittable Form: A submittal form must be completed for each house submitted and must include a 250-word description of the house.
  2. Homeowner Permission: Before submitting a house, you must discuss it with and get approval from the homeowner.
House must be the work of registered architects who are members of AIA Houston and demonstrate the value of using an architect.
  3. Eligibility: Homes are not eligible if they have been on or have been accepted by any other local home tours.
Projects must be substantially complete, as denoted per AIA document A201*, by the date of submission, and preference will be given to houses that are furnished, occupied, and landscaped.
  4. No Submission Limit: There is no limit to the number of home submissions that may be made.  Architects or their firms must send the submittal.  A maximum of two projects by the same architect and/or firm will be selected. The jury will be strongly encouraged to pick no more than one home per firm.
  5. Photography: The home must be made available for photography so that the photographer can make appointments to visit each house. This is typically done between late June and early July.
  6. Sponsorship: The architect will be responsible for securing a minimum of $1,400 per house in sponsorships. Sponsors are generally contractors, consultants, subs, etc.  Each participating architect has the option of securing four sponsors at a minimum of $350 each, paying the sponsorship fee themselves, or any combination of the two totaling a minimum of $1,400.  Sponsorships Deadline: TBD.
  7. Docents: The architect will be responsible for recruiting an adequate number of docents to staff the house during the tour.
  8. The architect must be present at the home during the tour.


*Section 9.8.1 of the AIA Document A201-2007 defines substantial completion as “the stage in the progress of the Work when the Work or designated portion thereof is sufficiently complete in accordance with the Contract Documents so that the Owner can occupy or utilize the Work for its intended use.”

SUBMISSION UPLOAD INSTRUCTIONS:

To submit a home for consideration, please upload the following via SUBMITTAL

  • 250-word house description
  • 8 digital images (4 exterior and 4 interior)
  • Floor plans.
  • High quality photographs that tell the story of the project are encouraged.

NOTE: Please make sure your name/firm name does not appear on your images, floor plans, description, etc. as this is a blind jury process. 

If you would like to recommend a house, please give us as much information as possible, and we will contact the architect.


For questions please contact Ellen Grodjesk.