Schoenbaum House

400 Torcido Drive

Schoenbaum means ‘beautiful tree’ in German, and the clients here chose to build a house befitting their name. The structure is carefully nestled among native vegetation, with the entry stair and retaining walls creating additional space for plantings. The house folds over its site with double-wythe walls of handmade Mexican brick, highlighted by standing-seam metal roofing and terrace paving of Arkansas ledgestone. The architect designed and made all the light fixtures, doors, panels and other details, giving the house what he called ‘contemporary regional’ detailing.

‘San Antonio Architecture, Traditions and Visions’, AIA San Antonio, 2007