SAN ANTONIO

Our clients purchased a large lot overlooking the Texas hill country near San Antonio and wanted to build their dream home. The design of the home takes advantage of the site with primary rooms located towards the rear of the property to take advantage of the view. They had heard of us through a mutual friend and had seen some of our work and were convinced that they wanted to design a house similar in style to the homes that we have completed in California.

From the parking area, the entrance is reached through a walled garden containing an ornamental pool. Located within the pool is a glass pavilion which functions as a home office for the client. The house is organized with the main living spaces in the center of a modified ‘H’ shaped plan, allowing for a series of gardens and courtyards to penetrate deep into the house and ensure that every space has natural light and both a view and access to nature. The living space and entry span the space between the ornamental and functional pool towards the rear of the property. The main floor program also includes additional service spaces as well as an extensive gym and wellness area that overlooks a tennis court placed further downslope so as not to interfere with the view.

To the right of the living space is the more private bedroom wing of the house, while the left wing hosts the kitchen and family room as well as other service and ancillary spaces and access to the garage. The majority of the program for the house is on the ground level, but a sculptural staircase in the entry hall leads up to an office and guest suite. On the opposite side of the upper level, spanned by a two story curvilinear central roof, is small upper level family space with a large terrace to take advantage of the view. The main bedroom is pushed out towards the view to engage with the pool and water features, the guest and children bedrooms are pushed towards the street to allow for a garden that brings light to the stairwell and entry.

The aesthetic palette of the house features textural warm stones and woods, accented by champagne silver metalwork, to create a balance of sophisticated presence on the site but also an homage to the native color tones of the surrounding area.