Design charrette gives local high school students infill architecture experience

The Office of Historic Preservation will partner with the Architecture Foundation of San Antonio to offer area high school students a chance to participate in a unique design charrette on April 30 at the Center for Architecture.

Students will initially receive directions and materials pertaining to the site and neighborhood where they will begin creating their new construction design. Then they will reconvene on Saturday, May 7 at the Center for Architecture to listen to a lecture by two local architects who have experience with designing infill architecture in historic districts. Students will present their designs to the other teams and will be critiqued by a panel of experts.

Generally, designated historic neighborhoods are protected from unwarranted demolitions, although occasionally circumstances will arise that will result in a vacant lot within a historic district. This charrette, or design collaborative session, will be centered on the idea of creating infill architecture that could be placed in one of San Antonio's historic neighborhoods. Infill architecture that is placed in historic neighborhoods needs to follow several guidelines that are directed by the Secretary of the Interior Standards and by local codes. These guidelines and codes focus on the overall exterior appearance, massing, and materials that will be used. The charrette will give students the ability to use these guidelines to create an appropriate design, suitable for a historic neighborhood.

For more information on this project, call 207-7244 or trisha.logan@sanantonio.gov.