Historically and Architecturally Significant Homes in San Antonio.

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Architectural Historian Analysis- Dr. Roff Revisits Monticello Park

Architectural Historian Analysis -
Dr. Roff Returns to Spanish-American Style Ranch
Greetings!

Don't worry if you missed the first Home Tour of Architectural Styles that I put together last week. Architectural Historian Dr. Shelley Roff will be on hand at 440 Quentin at 3pm on Sunday, November 5th for the Monticello Park Neighborhood Association's 9th Annual "At Home in Monticello" Tour of Homes. The Tour runs from 11-5pm, so you can check out many other homes as well, just be sure to be at 440 Quentin at 3pm for the presentation and walk- through.

During The Home Tour of Architectural Styles last week in Mahncke Park, Beacon Hill, and Monticello Park, Dr. Roff briefly lectured on the architectural style of each of the three homes and what features are characteristic to them. After her presentation, Dr. Roff interacted with the attendees while walking through the homes highlighting key features. I was extremely pleased with how everything went and how much everyone seemed to enjoy the casual pace from home to home.

I have received many inquiries about how the Tour went, so I am including some of Dr. Roff's presentation materials about the impressive home at 440 Quentin, which is available for $259,900.

Right Curve
Architectural Analysis of 440 Quentin

Prepared by Architectural Historian, Shelley E. Roff, Ph.D.

This house is clearly a direct descendant of the late 19th-century Spanish-American ranch house, not to be confused with the southwestern ranch-style house made popular in the 1950's and 60's.

The Spanish precedent is established by a U or L- shape plan formed by single rooms arranged around a courtyard. These single rooms did not connect to each other, but rather, were traditionally accessed only from an exterior portale or covered porch, which wrapped around the interior and/or exterior of the house.

Courtyard

The courtyard at 440 Quentin has now been enclosed and was not designed at a scale that could include a portale, however, the architect does refer to the portale in the residence he designed in this neighborhood at 505 Club Street (see Tour of Straus Nayfach homes).

I think Joe's term 'ranchito' is charmingly appropriate for this house, since it is a small-scale picturesque version of the rambling Spanish Rancho, yet constructed in native Texas materials.

Biflold Chimney Stack

The bi-fold chimney stack gracing the house's front façade the architect's own creative interpretation and a feature unique to 440 Quentin.

Left Curve

Architectural details such as the mission-style curved stonework embellishing the house's front façade and the original mission tile floors enhance the Spanish character already established by the historically significant plan of the residence.

Cat Tile

This residence does embody a few modern American ranch-style features such as fairly open plan between the living, dining and kitchen areas, yet retains some of the more enclosed formality of the traditional Spanish rancho.

Shady Tile

The windows of the house are not the broad expanses of glass that one would expect in a contemporary ranch-style house. Rather, they are proportioned as one would see in an early 20th century bungalow. This kind of window reduces glare and creates a beautiful, subtle aura of light in the afternoon, not to mention interesting patterns on the floors.

440 Quentin is available for $259,900. Please feel free to forward this on to anyone looking for an extremely well-built and spacious historic home located impossibly convenient to downtown and the Medical Center.

In case you are wondering how we did, we had over 45 people join us for at least one of the tours at the three Historic Homes we presented. Two of the three homes went under contract and should close by next week.

Sincerely,


Joe Barfield, e-PRO, GRI
Keller Williams Realty

phone: 210-846-9273

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Joe Barfield, Keller Williams Realty | PO Box 90973 | San Antonio | TX | 78209

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