ST. D EN
SITE PLAN WITH FIRST FLOOR 1 DINING 2 KITCHEN 3 BEDROOM 4 TREEHOUSE 5 STORAGE 6 AUTO PAVILION
NIS
UP
ALLEY
ENCINO AVENUE
2
1
3 4
5
6 3
Resources
POROUS
PAVING: Vulcan Materials; RECONSTRUCTED STONE :
Caesarstone; RAILINGS: Oscar Iron Works; LUMBER: Campbell Lumber Company; WOOD TREATMENTS/HIGH PERFORMANCE COATINGS: Sik-
kens; RECLAIMED ROOF TILES: Ludowici Roof Tile ; WOOD WINDOWS: Jeld-Wen Windows
& Doors; SOFTWARE: Architectural Revit (DC CADD)
Indoors, the architects approached the project as a renovation and modernization, rather than an historical restoration of what was once there. The spaces are consistent with the exterior’s restrained approach to color and materials. While the floor plans of the original two-family residence were barely altered, the house might well be converted into a single-family residence in the future. are white, and they reflect, bounce, and magnify daylight. The walls also provide the perfect backdrop to the owners’ intensely colorful Southwestern art collection. The floorboards in the new addition are reclaimed 1x6 white oak from another house in the neighborhood. The planks were first pre-wet, in order to open up the wood’s grain, prior to stain application. It is worth noting that many of the materials used in the reconstruction of the house are either reclaimed materials, or are surplus materials from the owner’s general contracting company. A brushed-steel, spiral staircase leads from the second-floor apartment to a third-floor addition, which contains a single, square room. Against the white walls, washed in bright, natural light, streaming from the windows in the room above, the dark and spiraling form of the staircase adds an artistic dimension to an otherwise functional purpose. As one ascends the stairs to the third-floor room, a growing sense of calm emerges. The room is very simple. Three large, awning windows occupy a large portion of each side, and have their frames painted white. All the interior walls
Against the white walls, washed in bright, natural light, the dark and spiraling form of the staircase adds an artistic dimension to an otherwise functional purpose. Below the windowsills are built-in bookcases, also painted white. The ceiling is low, but rises from four sides to form a higher ridge line in the center. Reflected light softly accentuates every ceiling surface. This space is symbolic of the architects’ philosophy, their approach to the project, and their project’s accomplishments. Sparsely furnished, it is the kind of room that does not seek undue attention. Through its minimalist palette and details, it directs attention to the surrounding natural beauty, as if to establish a hierarchy of reverence and import. Adjacent to this third-floor room, yet not seen from the street below, is a small and intimate roof deck. The views from the rooftop, especially toward downtown, are splendid. In present times, when much of what grabs architectural headlines is the relentless and often mindless quest for “the new” and “the original,” John Grable Architects has deftly demonstrated the power of restraint, reverence, and grace in producing timeless architecture. Dror Baldinger, AIA, is Design Director at Marmon Mok Architecture in San Antonio.
5/6 2012
Texas Architect 37