The Leigh Street House and accompanying Shotgun House are located in the Lavaca neighborhood just south of downtown San Antonio. The oldest portion of the house was constructed in 1896. Originally four rooms in size, the house was remodeled and a new master’s suite added by new owners in 2010. Adhering to historic preservation guidelines for the area, the exterior was exactingly restored to its original condition, with the new master’s suite discreetly located at the rear of the original house. Throughout, the house was remodeled to a high level of environmental performance with many sustainable systems and features included. The house was featured on Build San Antonio Green’s sustainable home tour in 2012 as recognition of the high standards achieved during the remodel.
A subsequent owner restored the rear Shotgun House in 2015, and added the new chicken coop and enclosure in 2018, both also designed by Darryl Ohlenbusch.
Original finishes, including wood floors, were retained in much of the original house, while some finish material was salvaged and reused in other locations, such as the beadboard walls in the living and dining areas. The master’s suite features a material palette on both the interior and exterior that complements the original house’s historic materials, but the roof form of the master bedroom is a dramatic formal counterpoint to the rest of the house, with a diagonal gable form over the rectangular plan. The chicken coop roof echoes this roof form, and provides a striking focal point to the back yard.
