For about eight years, architect William G. McCuen, Jr. would walk past an abandoned gas station two blocks from his home on his way to and from work. The 1950s-era building had sat empty for thirty years in the historic Shaw neighborhood, but something about it struck McCuen’s imagination. “It appealed to me that it was just so pathetic. Every time I’d pass it, I’d think, 'Man, that would just be a great house’,” says McCuen.

Before: Front Exterior

Then one day about several years ago, McCuen noticed a sign listing the station as being owned by the city of St. Louis, which would remediate the brownfield conditions. (A brownfield site is defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as a property that may be compromised by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.)

The city was advertising a request for proposals to develop the site as part of a program to spur economic growth and rehab derelict properties that might otherwise attract crime. McCuen immediately and excitedly put together a proposal.

During: Exterior

After: Exterior Courtyard

Before: Rear Exterior Corner

During: Entry Construction

After: Entry

Before: Retail Area

After: Entry Gallery

McCuen designed the three-bedroom residence on the main floor for he and his wife, Maureen, a real estate broker. This home would be a contrast to the historic home they’d lived in previously. They wanted living spaces that flowed easily into one another for entertaining and large family gatherings, as the couple has seven adult children and seven grandchildren. “When people came over for big gatherings, everybody wound up in the kitchen anyway,” says McCuen. “So, we definitely wanted a very open floor plan.”

To start, the large glass doors leading to the walled courtyard lets the interior footprint double. “In our gorgeous old historic house, the backyard was seven feet below the kitchen,” says McCuen. “So, the fact that this was on grade meant that we could go in and out to the courtyards, and so it becomes an extension of the house.”

Before: Service Area

After: Living Room, Kitchen, Dining Room

McCuen designed the layout for flexibility, so that it could comfortably accommodate him and Maureen, or a large group. This entailed separating the master bedroom from the main living areas with four doors that slide open. When it’s just the couple there, the doors can stay closed and maintain the separation.

Yet the master bedroom also has a Murphy bed that folds into a bookcase, so the space can be utilized for a party as well. “When we throw a party, we open the doors up and the bed folds. So, now the living room and dining area is fifty-percent bigger. At a party it flows wonderfully. You've got a place for the band,” says McCuen. “We often have bands and or singers at our parties over the years. We have musicians in the family, so that's a part of our life and the house supports that very well.”

Before: Service Area

After: Master Bedroom

After: The Cafe

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Project Credits:

Architecture: William G. McCuen Jr.

Builder: Nea Construction

Structural Engineering: TAP Engineering

Landscape Design: Bill and Maureen McCuen for majority / Larkspur Landscaping / Marianne Pelot for some plantings

Lighting Design: Bill and Maureen McCuen with Holt Electrical Supply

Interior Design: Bill and Maureen McCuen

Cabinetry Design: Bill and Maureen McCuen with Mike Beck

Appears In

Before & After: A St. Louis Architect Builds a Perfect Party Pad Over a Brownfield