TWIN PAVILIONS
San Antonio, Texas | Residential
This project reimagines a North San Antonio residence that lost its towering oak canopy to Oak Wilt, leaving the site exposed and the existing pool feeling adrift in an open landscape. While the client, originally from West Texas, appreciates the vast sky, functional shade is essential for making the outdoor spaces livable during the summer heat.
The design introduces two carefully positioned cantilevered pavilions that provide shade without overwhelming the space. One pavilion anchors an outdoor kitchen and lounge with a fireplace, while the other serves as a flexible, multi-use area. A separate outbuilding integrates a restroom, changing area, outdoor shower, and a vegetable wash station, seamlessly connecting to the adjacent family garden.
To restore cohesion, the landscape design ties the pool into its surroundings while a reconfigured lawn creates a defined space for active use and the family’s dogs. Transitional zones blend native desert plantings, a vegetable garden, and natural fire pit areas, enhancing structure while keeping maintenance low.
Addressing site drainage challenges, the design transforms an existing sump into an artificial arroyo, allowing water to be redirected, naturally filtered, and absorbed into the landscape. To bring back the sense of an enclosed, shaded retreat, carefully placed cedar elms and honey mesquites provide filtered shade and structural depth, echoing the presence of the lost oaks while ensuring long-term resilience.
Project Team | Blane Potts, PLA, ASLA, CLARB – Landscape Architect