
May 1, 2025
A San Antonio Market Pairs Sustainable Agriculture With Biophilic Design



Clayton Korte has been at the heart of the Pearl District’s renaissance since 2013, leading the design and restoration of spaces such as Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery, the Bottling Dept. Food Hall, and Stable Hall, a 19th-century stable turned music venue. Like its predecessors, Pullman Market represents the district’s commitment to blending culinary innovation with thoughtful architecture. “Pullman Market offers a symphony of sensory delights,” says Clayton Korte’s Sam Manning. “The building’s original materials show history and patina that provide a stunning contrast to the new elements.”
Manning and team preserved the nearly 54,000-square-foot building’s shell and structure to not only manage waste but “add a layer of grit and texture that enhances the experience of the market.” The industrial facility’s original signage and markers were kept and there are “little relics everywhere.” The building features original clay tile and polished concrete floors, while the former loading dock has been transformed into a light-filled courtyard. The roof was upgraded for energy performance, while new low-E insulated windows reduce heat gain. “The Pearl also does a great job campus-wide,” he adds. “They reclaim water and use graywater for irrigation, which supports the landscape’s long-term sustainability.”


The building’s unusual shape informed the layout. “It starts to get weird and funky in some places, so we tried to react to that,” Manning explains. Double-height spaces were created for key entry points for natural wayfinding and “wow-factor” moments.
Landscape architect Sarah Carr focused on softening the interior edge, while energizing the site at street level. One of the biggest moves? Removing the curb and replacing it with textured pavers that “give the indication of a curb but you can stroll at leisure without paying attention to your feet,” she says.
Indoor plants form pockets of greenery that catch the eye and play to both the “humility of the original materials and grandeur of the place.” A mix of Audrey Ficus, bird of paradise, and a gray-toned variety of snake plant provide both performance and personality. “It’s a lot to ask out of house plants,” she says. “We needed species that could handle the environment and express the breezy warm-weather relaxation vibe we were after.”



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