Weird Homes Tour – Houston

The Kiam Annex is the tenth oldest commercial building in Houston. When constructed in 1893 it also stood as the tallest building in Houston. Currently the bottom floor houses two bars … Dean’s and NotsuoH (that’s “Houston” spelled backwards). The second and third floors serve as the residence and studios of artists Jim Pirtle, Bronwyn Lauder and Dawn Lerro. It now represents a blend of mid-century retail and early 1970’s New York artist loft.

The environment of the building (both the objects and its social events) act as a “social sculpture.”  They kept most of the left behind objects from previous tenants which now fills the space’s 10,000 sq ft.  These include: 4 Clothing stores, a jewelry store and a pawn shop plus the art brought in by Jim Pirtle from 35 years of object making and collecting! Other artists are also encouraged to engage  with the space. These range from a dance company, to theater groups,  to a local weekly newspaper and art openings

Jim’s grandmother even worked in the building as a salesgirl in 1919 when it was Sakowitz…. almost a 100 years later Jim’s daughter works in the building as a bartender!