Inside a Texas Home Built Around a 200-Year-Old Pecan Tree

Photography FCharles

A real-life treehouse for adults went on the market last October in Texas. The one-of-a-kind residence, perched 13 feet above the ground in Houston’s artsy First Ward neighborhood, was originally listed for $1.75 million. It’s now $155,000 less, or just under $1.6 million, with all the same unique features that allow its designer to maintain its status as a “livable work of art.”

Located next to American Statesmanship Park (nicknamed Mount Rush Hour for its location along I-10), the home at 1002 Edwards Street offers a close-up view of sculptor and painter David Adickes’ 18-foot-tall busts of four national and local political figures, including Abraham Lincoln and Sam Houston. The city’s famous “Be Someone” Bridge can also be seen.

The home was built in 2023 and designed by Scott Strassers of Strasser Design, who specializes in residential and commercial projects like local boutique Eve France. Two bedrooms and bathrooms are featured in the home, which sits on stilts that position it at tree canopy level and was actually designed to surround and preserve a majestic 200-year-old pecan tree. Christina Rodriguez and Laura Mudd of Douglas Elliman hold the listing.

The façade is primarily made of steel rainscreen, making it energy efficient and resistant to corrosion from the elements, according to the listing. Stacked timber boards form a screen around the back of the carport that is tucked under the house at street level, and a wood and steel staircase leads under the leafy branches of the pecan tree to the front door.

Custom millwork in exotic wood veneers, imported porcelain floors and matching Carrara marble countertops are used throughout the 2,276-square-foot home. You may first notice these details in the living/dining room that sits across from the gourmet kitchen. The bedrooms are in a separate wing, with the master suite’s en-suite bath stealing the show, offering dual sinks and a marble soaking tub under a skylight.

The tree, which balances Strasser’s sharp-edged construction, is undoubtedly the heart of the house, and large panoramic windows allow the leafy canopy to be seen from almost every room. To observe the tree more closely, a wooden balcony is placed in the shade of its ancient branches.

RELATED: This funky $2 million Texas home was designed by a Frank Lloyd Wright protégé

After a decline in March, the Texas housing market appears to have rebounded in April 2024, according to Norda Real Estate Investments, which tracks major growth real estate markets. San Antonio and Dallas saw the strongest recoveries, with home sales up 8% and 4%, respectively. Experts also predict that an influx of homes listed for sale due to rising mortgage rates could lead to a “balanced market” with more options for buyers.

Click here for more images of the modern house.