Expressive Framework

“Character” is a term rarely used for infill houses, but reincarnated materials instill interest in this San Antonio, Texas, residence.

Mickey Conrad, AIA, of O’Neill Conrad Oppelt Architects (OCO) recaptured long-leaf pine timber framing from a deconstructed mill for the wood flooring, ceiling beams, and columns. “They still have holes from old bolts, so the wood tells a story,” Conrad says.

Salvaged and recycled materials are a hallmark of the 3,300-square-foot, LEED Gold–certified project, which includes a 2,400-square-foot, two-story home and a 650-square-foot studio apartment above a garage. CaesarStone countertops with high recycled content grace the kitchen and bath, and less visible applications include crushed, recycled concrete in the home’s foundation and engineered lumber from scrap wood in the framing.

To conserve energy, Conrad specified 2 inches of rigid insulation in the exterior wall system outside the sheathing for a continuous thermal insulation membrane behind the stucco finish, in lieu of traditional batt insulation inserted between wood studs. Air conditioning units with a SEER rating of 17, CFL lighting, an on-demand water heater, and Energy Star–labeled appliances also help lower energy loads.

An overhead corrugated metal roof deck and trellis covered in evergreen wisteria help cool the outdoor living area. A 1,000-gallon cistern collects stormwater from 50 percent of the house and garage roofs for use in landscaping. Air conditioning condensate flows into a perforated pipe in a gravel trench and is used to water a planting bed. Grasspave2 pavers consisting of interlocking mats protect grass roots below the driveway, while turf-filled slits in the driveway’s concrete portion slow runoff and promote infiltration.

Read more about O’Neill Conrad Oppelt Architects in EcoHome’s profile.

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