Natural light and transparencies. Susan's House by Mary English and Xavier Vendrell
10/08/2023.
[San Antonio - Texas] USA
metalocus, ADELA BONAS
metalocus, ADELA BONAS
Susan's House, a home designed by Chicago-based Mary English and Xavier Vendrell Architects, is located on a suburban plot tucked in a historic neighborhood of San Antonio, Texas, USA.
This primary residence for a family of four was built in the neighborhood of Lavaca, an urban area that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the design had to adhere to Historic Design Guidelines that required a front porch, as well a specific roof profiles, window proportions and materials.
The project is a finalist in International Interventions for the next FAD 2023 awards.
This primary residence for a family of four was built in the neighborhood of Lavaca, an urban area that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the design had to adhere to Historic Design Guidelines that required a front porch, as well a specific roof profiles, window proportions and materials.
The project is a finalist in International Interventions for the next FAD 2023 awards.
Susan's House by Mary English and Xavier Vendrell. Photograph by Timothy Hursley.
Susan's House by Mary English and Xavier Vendrell. Photograph by Timothy Hursley.
Susan's House by Mary English and Xavier Vendrell. Photograph by Timothy Hursley.
Susan's House by Mary English and Xavier Vendrell. Photograph by Timothy Hursley.
Susan's House by Mary English and Xavier Vendrell. Photograph by Timothy Hursley.
Susan's House by Mary English and Xavier Vendrell. Photograph by Timothy Hursley.
Susan's House by Mary English and Xavier Vendrell. Photograph by Timothy Hursley.
Susan's House by Mary English and Xavier Vendrell. Photograph by Timothy Hursley.
Susan's House by Mary English and Xavier Vendrell. Photograph by Timothy Hursley.
Susan's House by Mary English and Xavier Vendrell. Photograph by Timothy Hursley.
Susan's House by Mary English and Xavier Vendrell. Photograph by Timothy Hursley.
Susan's House by Mary English and Xavier Vendrell. Photograph by Timothy Hursley.
Susan's House by Mary English and Xavier Vendrell. Photograph by Timothy Hursley.
Susan's House by Mary English and Xavier Vendrell. Photograph by Timothy Hursley.
Susan's House by Mary English and Xavier Vendrell. Photograph by Timothy Hursley.
Susan's House by Mary English and Xavier Vendrell. Photograph by Timothy Hursley.
Site plan. Susan's House by Mary English and Xavier Vendrell.
Ground floor plan and longitudinal section. Susan's House by Mary English and Xavier Vendrell.
Main elevation and cross section. Susan's House by Mary English and Xavier Vendrell.
Mary English and Xavier Vendrell designed the 183-square meter (1,970-square-foot) three-bedroom home for English's sister and her family. The home, centered on a 1,012 square meter lot (quarter-acre), was completed in July 2022.
In this area, typical houses are only connected to the outside from the front and rear, with views from the sides conditioned by the neighbors' view easements (only 3 meters or 10 feet). To improve the entry of natural light, the architects designed a housing typology with three patios aligned along this linear plot.
Four volumes, connected by a larger one located transversally, all gabled, generate three courtyards creating a house that abounds with daylight and layered transparencies. A model inspired by Walter Gropius' 1938 home in Lincoln, Massachusetts, where the courtyards and porches are all "rooms," only some have ceilings and some don't
Susan's House by Mary English and Xavier Vendrell. Photograph by Timothy Hursley.
Susan's House by Mary English and Xavier Vendrell. Photograph by Timothy Hursley.
Outside, is a white stucco house, with a primary porch parallel to the street. Programmatically, the house sits a bedroom on either end with the kitchen and dining room in the center. Perpendicular, separated by three courtyards and crossing the main door, there is another porch inside (that contains the bike storage), after, crossing a second door there is a living room or screened porch (which can be used as a living, dining, or sleeping room), and at the end a master suite.
Three open-air courtyards separate these glazing spaces, generating a spatial continuity, that increases the size perception of the interior and improvement the cross-natural ventilation.
In this area, typical houses are only connected to the outside from the front and rear, with views from the sides conditioned by the neighbors' view easements (only 3 meters or 10 feet). To improve the entry of natural light, the architects designed a housing typology with three patios aligned along this linear plot.
Four volumes, connected by a larger one located transversally, all gabled, generate three courtyards creating a house that abounds with daylight and layered transparencies. A model inspired by Walter Gropius' 1938 home in Lincoln, Massachusetts, where the courtyards and porches are all "rooms," only some have ceilings and some don't
Susan's House by Mary English and Xavier Vendrell. Photograph by Timothy Hursley.
Susan's House by Mary English and Xavier Vendrell. Photograph by Timothy Hursley.
Outside, is a white stucco house, with a primary porch parallel to the street. Programmatically, the house sits a bedroom on either end with the kitchen and dining room in the center. Perpendicular, separated by three courtyards and crossing the main door, there is another porch inside (that contains the bike storage), after, crossing a second door there is a living room or screened porch (which can be used as a living, dining, or sleeping room), and at the end a master suite.
Three open-air courtyards separate these glazing spaces, generating a spatial continuity, that increases the size perception of the interior and improvement the cross-natural ventilation.
More information
Architects
Mary English, Xavier Vendrell
.
Project team
Andreas Förnemark
.
Collaborators
Structural Engineer.- GE Reaves.
Engineering Landscape.- Hillworks, David Hill .
Engineering Landscape.- Hillworks, David Hill .
Client
Susan English.
Builder
Long House Builders.
Area
Plot area.- 1,012 square meter lot (quarter-acre).
GFA.- 183-square meter (1,970-square-foot).
GFA.- 183-square meter (1,970-square-foot).
Dates
July 2022.
Location
Lavaca, San Antonio. Texas, USA.
Manufacturers
Douglas Fir door, Fleetwood Doors, Milgard windows.
Photography
Mary English
Mary English. Practicing Architect who joined the Auburn faculty after teaching at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in the Department of Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Designed Objects (2011–2015).
Mary English is an Assistant Professor of Architecture at the Auburn University School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, where she teaches Design Studio, Materials, and Methods of Construction and Parametric Design.
Interest areas in research and practice: Mary’s research and creative work are centered on the design and fabrication of material structures. Her current material focus is ceramic.
Mary English is an Assistant Professor of Architecture at the Auburn University School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, where she teaches Design Studio, Materials, and Methods of Construction and Parametric Design.
Interest areas in research and practice: Mary’s research and creative work are centered on the design and fabrication of material structures. Her current material focus is ceramic.
Xavier Vendrell Studio
Xavier Vendrell founded in 1999 Xavier Vendrell Studio Chicago/Barcelona, a collaborative practice of architecture, landscape and design.
Xavier Vendrell studied architecture in his native city of Barcelona, where he has been practicing architecture since 1983. His work embraces a range of scales from landscape architecture, urban design, public buildings, housing and interior design.
In 1988, his office won the competition for the Poblenou Park in the Olympic Village of Barcelona. His office (Ruisanchez-Vendrell, Architects) was involved in several other projects for the 1992 Olympic Games. Xavier Vendrell won the FAD Award in 1997 for the Riumar School. He has also taught at the Barcelona School of Architecture (1990-1998). He has lectured across Europe, USA and Latin America. He has been visiting Professor at Washington University, School of Architecture in St. Louis, Missouri in 1994 and 1996, and visiting professor at School of Architecture, College of Architecture and the Arts, University of Illinois at Chicago in 1997, 1998 and 1999 as the Jens Jensen Visiting Professor in Landscape Urbanism. His works and projects have been published in magazines and books, and presented in several exhibitions internationally. He was co-founder, in 1986, of A30 Edicions d’Architecture and he has written numerous articles for journals.
Xavier Vendrell studied architecture in his native city of Barcelona, where he has been practicing architecture since 1983. His work embraces a range of scales from landscape architecture, urban design, public buildings, housing and interior design.
In 1988, his office won the competition for the Poblenou Park in the Olympic Village of Barcelona. His office (Ruisanchez-Vendrell, Architects) was involved in several other projects for the 1992 Olympic Games. Xavier Vendrell won the FAD Award in 1997 for the Riumar School. He has also taught at the Barcelona School of Architecture (1990-1998). He has lectured across Europe, USA and Latin America. He has been visiting Professor at Washington University, School of Architecture in St. Louis, Missouri in 1994 and 1996, and visiting professor at School of Architecture, College of Architecture and the Arts, University of Illinois at Chicago in 1997, 1998 and 1999 as the Jens Jensen Visiting Professor in Landscape Urbanism. His works and projects have been published in magazines and books, and presented in several exhibitions internationally. He was co-founder, in 1986, of A30 Edicions d’Architecture and he has written numerous articles for journals.
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