Constructed over the course of about 18 months by RBC General Contractors, Inc., the three-bedroom residence has a casual but sophisticated vibe, and Rogers successfully developed a relationship between comfortable interior and exterior spaces with a contemporary response to the family’s modern lifestyle.
The home’s entrance is at once dramatic and welcoming. Because of the western exposure that the front of the home receives, Rogers created a wall to protect the interiors from the intense South Texas heat. Perforated stone construction and friendly wooden slat shade screens punctuate an easily accessible but sequential entry path; visitors are lured up and in to discover the Mondrian-esque door tucked behind the wall at the top of the path.
Inside the home, a long central spine is created with a concrete cast-in-place wall that allows circulation around it and organizes the layout of the house. The residence easily combines a playful mood with contemporary architectural details. The client wanted the space to feel easy to live in and informal, so community spaces are distinguished by ceiling height instead of walls, creating an openness that flows directly into the outdoor spaces. “It was designed to reflect the active lifestyles of the young family, and gives the boys seamless access to the outdoors,” says Rogers.
“This was a young family and part of their desire was to be outdoors a lot,” shares the architect. “The house had to take advantage of the outdoor space. It was sometimes challenging because most of the exposure was to the west elevation — there was a slope across the site and some large trees, but we worked with the features of the lot and created the outdoor spaces for the client’s family to enjoy,” he says.
The house started to develop around a southwest oriented living room that they call the “Hammock Room.” This exterior living room works to channel the summer breezes through the shaded hammock room, and offers a connection to the sparkling pool and a sports court/parking area at the rear. This multi-purpose area includes an outdoor kitchen, further encouraging the inhabitants to appreciate the outdoors.
The architect was able to carve out a second courtyard built around three large cedar elm trees, which provides an additional outdoor play space for the kids. The third outdoor living/lifestyle space is the parking area which doubles as a basketball and sports court. The client also enjoys music, so a secondary structure serves as a combination guest house and music studio.
Despite its modernity, the home is relatively low-tech, nicely demonstrating how a good design can factor in sustainability without an over reliance on gadgets. The orientation of the home allowed for a passive solar strategy, and Rogers employed more sustainable materials for construction. The lighting system utilizes energy-saving and cost-efficient LED lighting, and low flow water fixtures are installed throughout, a must in San Antonio’s water-conscious climate. Spray foam insulation, which is more efficient that traditional batt insulation, was specified, and maximizes the energy efficiency of the structure. One of the most important components of the project’s sustainability is good site orientation. Because the lot’s long street-facing side faced west, Rogers was careful to provide ample shade and screening in order to maximize cooling efficiency indoors and reduce energy consumption. The design employs materials that are more sustainable, such as regionally grown cedar siding, zinc metal siding (90 percent of rolled zinc worldwide in recycled) and local limestone.
The most visually arresting green feature of the home is the carport’s (literally) green roof. The sunken structure created a fifth elevation, which is the rooftop — visible from the indoors. Rogers cleverly addressed it by planting the rooftop with native Texas grasses. This substantially cools the area under the roof, where the kids often play and relax, and adds another green focal point in the landscape. In fact, the entire landscape is planted with low-maintenance native or adapted species. Even the driveway minimizes paving, instead using green grasses and soft materials in lieu of concrete.
A recipient of the local AIA’s 2016 Divine Details award, the structure balances minimal finishes with well-executed details. For example, the flat screen TV is masked by an artwork panel on a sliding track. Interior finishes and details are minimized; concrete is used throughout and warm cedar is used on some ceilings. The neutral palette provides the perfect backdrop for the client’s art collection. The perforated stone walls are meticulously executed along with the many other small and intentionally unpretentious details.
When asked how he feels about the completed effort, Rogers reflects, “This is naturally the way a house would want to be; it fosters connection and accessibility to outdoors. It doesn’t scream look at me, and it works comfortably.” We couldn’t agree more.
ARCHItECT Candid Rogers Architect, LLC
210-444-1051 | www.candidstudio.net
BUILDER RBC General Contractors, Inc.
210-828-5199