Impact on San Antonio

The Spanish Revival House is at the root of San Antonio’s regional architecture.  These early 20th century houses with low pitched clay tile roofs and thick stucco clad walls became fashionable throughout the American Southwest.  Speaking to the city’s Spanish heritage and being particularly well suited for the South Texas climate, the genre was embraced locally for domestic Architecture.  The San Antonio house tends to be elongated, with Porches to the south & east to catch the gulf breeze.  Gardens were limited to Courtyards in the semi-arid context. 

 The Spanish Revival work of several Architects, including Atlee B. Ayers, Carleton Adams, and George Washington Smith stand out as exceptional, but it’s the local craftsmen that make the work especially local.  Hanibal Pianta’s cast stone and plaster work, Redondo’s cement tile and Voss’s unique metal work.

 H. H. Hugmans’ Turner house in Olmos Park, and O’Neil Fords’ Steves House in Terrell Hills are especially unique regional examples. 

The Homes