Artist-Designed Houston Habitat Gives New Meaning to ‘Urban Jungle’
Artist-Designed Houston Habitat Gives New Meaning to ‘Urban Jungle’
realtor.com
The Texas capital’s unofficial motto may be to “keep Austin weird,” but over in Houston, one property is doing its best to create an oasis of eccentricity in the state’s largest city.
The three-bedroom home, currently on the market for $749,900, started life as a grocery store. The business eventually shut down, leaving the property abandoned until artist Jeff Law purchased it in 1997. With the help of found objects, art, and antiques, Law transformed the building into something entirely different.
“He took what was a dilapidated, abandoned store and created this Gaudí-inspired masterpiece,” says listing agent Bill Baldwin, referring to the Spanish modernist architect.
Natural stone and wood features complement a wall of windows made from reclaimed doors, corrugated metal siding, and a functional clay fireplace. You can enjoy the sound of rainfall on the metal roof from an open loft area, stash your belongings in the cleverly arranged storage spaces and cubbyholes, or take a bath next to a tree trunk. The building was so popular that even NBC News journalist Linda Ellerbee stayed there for a time.
Law sold the property to its current owner, model Lizzy Hargrove, who has continued its transformation. Now, it’s an enclave not only for found objects, but also for some found friends. Hargrove has taken in all manner of creatures, from dogs and cats to possums and geese.
“So many people are trying to keep the birds and butterflies out, she’s trying to keep them in,” says Baldwin. “She’s trying to give them a safe harbor and some respite from cars and mankind and danger.”
The bamboo and water features surrounding the home make it an ideal habitat for these adoptees, who roam freely inside and out.
“There’s a lot going on it; it’s a little overwhelming for some people, but it’s great,” says Baldwin. “The way that you piece it together, everywhere you look there’s something that’s unique about it.”
Hargrove is looking to sell to someone who will appreciate the property and its distinctive character, not just a buyer with an eye on the up-and-coming neighborhood.
“She wants it to remain the same enclave for those that need help flying and walking around on four legs,” says Baldwin. “It’s unlike anything else in the city. It will speak to just the right person.”
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