The Valenti-Dissen House reflects the First Ward’s mix of working-class bungalows and immigrant history. Built in 1921 by Sicilian grocer Jacob Valenti, the home was purchased in the 1930s by Della Dissen, daughter of Houston cattleman and real estate developer Julius Settegast. The Dissen family owned the property for decades before FW Heritage carried out a sensitive rehabilitation. Their work repaired damaged elements, reconfigured the kitchen and dining spaces for modern living, and added a rear primary suite that complements the bungalow’s original scale.

Location chair: David Putz

Known as the “Queen of Sabine,” this circa 1906 Classical Revival house is one of the Old Sixth Ward’s most distinguished residences. Architect Olle Lorehn designed it for brickmaker William H. Lighthouse, who showcased his craft with honey-colored fire brick, red mortar, stone accents and an imposing double-height porch. The Lighthouse family called the house home for decades, and it remains a neighborhood landmark. More recently, designer Marisa Janusz created a discreet addition linked to the main house by a copper-and-glass bridge. Built to allow the owner to live fully on one floor after a change in health, the addition harmonizes with the historic structure and ensures the property can continue to serve its occupants well into the 21st century.

Location chairs: Pier & Beam

Architect Anderson Todd designed this steel, brick and glass residence in 1961 as a home for his family and a study in how modern architecture could serve everyday life. Published in Architectural Record and honored by the AIA, the house balances openness with privacy through a central walnut-paneled core that organizes living spaces around it. From the street, it reads as a quiet brick wall; inside, it opens to terrazzo floors, walls of glass and carefully proportioned courtyards. More than six decades after it was built, the house remains remarkably intact thanks to the Todd family’s thoughtful stewardship.

Location chairs: Martin Gollwitzer and Kate McCormick

Built in 1968 as a demonstration project for the National Association of Home Builders, the Style in Steel Townhomes were designed by Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson — the same firm behind the Astrodome. Sponsored by the American Iron and Steel Institute, the trio of townhomes was meant to showcase the potential of steel in residential design. More than 50 years later, they stand as a rare survival of that experiment, and for the first time since 1969, all three will be open to the public.

The center unit has recently been restored with an eye to reviving its midcentury character. Alterations that had obscured the home’s modernist clarity were removed, its shaded patio reopened, and original design features thoughtfully brought back. The result is a striking example of how preservation can breathe new life into an innovative housing type while honoring its place in Houston’s architectural history.

Location chairs: Ann Davin and Kathleen Nuzzo