The house is located on the main road that serves as the western entrance to Alamo Heights, and the preservation of this structure maintained its role as a guardhouse not only to the former ranch, but to the city of Alamo Heights. This house stood tall to remind neighbors and inspired a movement that created ordinances for a careful review process by the city to manage demolition requests that began to proliferate as land costs increased due to quality of life and the school district. By re-establishing connections to the exterior and revealing its original character, we created a home visually and contextually connected to its old San Antonio neighborhood.
A porte-cochere accesses the recreated traditional back-door entrance, with access from both the rear alley and front street creating ease of circulation and additional storage for a growing family. This element helps absorb the many objects from kids transitioning from car to house—toys and belongings that naturally collect as children grow up playing various sports. Inside, the front and rear entry foyers link to the central hall via a gallery defined by relocated stairs adjacent to bright living spaces. A second-floor gallery connects bedrooms that open onto generous decks where dense oak tree canopies create a tree-house experience.
A new solarium family room looks out at a stand of live oaks and functions as a sentry lantern, spilling warm light into the yard, the entry, and the road beyond while alluding to the guardhouse roots that connect it to the ranch and the rest of the city.
