Page 6 - KWA Newsletter-December

Living on the edge
841 E. Guenther
Carlos Villarreal
Four principles guided the redesign of our home:
1) To follow the lines and form on the original structure; 2) To maximize the use of the space;
3) To see out from any place inside the home; and
4) To have ample outdoor space.
The main design features of the home that allowed us to accomplish the principles were: changing the roof pitch, double hung 3’x6’ windows, a tri-folding glass patio door, and ample decks.
Our home’s roof and exterior siding lines mimicking the roof and exterior siding lines of the original home. The main difference is the roof pitch changed from the original 12-on-12 to a 12-on-7, which allowed for the raising of the second-floor plate. This al- lowed for a front balcony with a view of the Tower of the Americans and a back balcony overlooking the San Antonio River and the Flats at Big Tex. This alone fulfilled three of the guiding principles.
Second, the back first floor exterior wall, facing the river, measures a little over 26 feet. 21 feet out of those 26 feet are covered with glass in the form of a 9’x 6’8” tri-fold door, a 3’x6’ window and a 9’x6’ window. This is most likely the best view of the first floor, standing at the kitchen’s island, there is a 225° panoramic view from Brackenridge Mu- sic Hall, tennis courts, Eagleland Trail Head Plaza with the walking bridge across to the silos of The Flats at Big Tex. •
Photo of Carlos Villarreal, homeowner
Photo of home when purchased in 1996
6 KWA NEWSLETTER
Photo of home today