JRAF Studio

Single-family residence on a Dallas infill lot designed around flexibility and shared living. The plan allows the owner to accommodate a tenant with a private suite, create a dedicated home office, or use the space as an additional bedroom as needs evolve. A series of courtyards serve as shared outdoor rooms, seamlessly connecting the interior spaces and supporting a lifestyle that adapts over time rather than remaining fixed.

The grant process can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.

Last summer, JRAF Studio partnered with Broadway Dallas to apply for and win a Texas Preservation Trust Fund Grant from the Texas Historical Commission.

This grant helps fund HALF the project cost to test and document the Music Hall Domes, the last remaining original elements of the Music Hall at Fair Park. The project team—JRAF Studio, Walter P Moore, Quimby Preservation, and DFWCGI—is currently working with Phoenix 1 Restoration and Construction to conduct testing that will confirm the condition of the Domes and guide next steps for documentation and restoration.

For information regarding the upcoming grant cycle, visit here: https://shorturl.at/6UvGV

Didn’t know we work on historic projects? We do—A LOT, and residential ones too. Reach out to learn more.

Mi Casa es Su Casa is an idea that began to take shape in late 2022 and moved into construction in February 2025. The project consists of an approximately 820 SF addition to an existing 1,550 SF home and was completed in late summer 2025.

The primary goal was to expand the home with minimal impact to the existing structure and backyard, allowing the addition to function independently without disrupting daily life, while remaining flexible enough to adapt to multiple uses over the lifespan of the inhabitants.

Raising the addition off the ground on helical piers with a steel frame foundation minimized disturbance to the existing grade and allowed for a light, deliberate connection to the house. This connection takes the form of a bridge, which becomes an extension of the existing bedroom and reinforces the sense of separation between old and new.

The lower level of the addition accommodates a living space, a small kitchenette, and storage tucked beneath the stair. The stair is positioned along the bridge side to act as a buffer from the existing bedroom and leads to the upper level, which includes a bathroom with a washer/dryer and a generous room capable of functioning as either a bedroom or workspace.

The flexibility of the addition allows it to serve aging parents, function as a private primary suite retreat, operate as a home office, or be rented independently. The latter two options were considered as potential offsets to the overall cost of the addition. Windows and views are carefully placed to balance natural light and privacy while remaining respectful of adjacent neighbors.

A modest cantilever provides shelter for a parked vehicle and doubles as a covered outdoor porch. Red corrugated metal panels wrap the structure, creating a durable exterior that complements the surrounding context while giving the addition a distinct identity.

The backyard remains largely intact and usable, now framed by a vibrant backdrop that supports future ideas, memories, and growth.

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