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Set against the rugged backdrop of West Texas, this renovation transforms a simple home into a serene retreat immersed in mountain and sky. Expansive glazing captures shifting light and distant peaks, while covered outdoor spaces invite connection to the land’s quiet rhythms. Warm wood ceilings and natural stone finishes echo the desert palette, creating a refuge for reflection and renewal. Designed as an escape from the city, the home celebrates its setting while offering a place to slow down, breathe deeply, and watch the horizon fade into starlit night.

Location

Alpine, Texas

Design Team

Joe Rivers and Kevin Barden

Renderings

WAL Studio

Typology

Residential

Date

2017

Process

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River Oaks Renovation

Originally built in the 1990s, this River Oaks home renovation seeks to take advantage of the existing spacious layout by maximizing daylighting opportunities as well as allowing for ample indoor-outdoor living. The result is a light-filled home where comfort and elegance is prioritized.

Josh Ryan

Art and Design

Josh Ryan is a designer and illustrator who specializes in bringing people together with quirky and humorous works. Joe and Kevin sat down with Josh to discuss his artistic development, one of his biggest successes, and the intersections of comedy and art.

Bruder Klaus Photo Essay

Drawing and Photography

Bruder Klaus Field Chapel stands in the landscape of the Eifel region of Germany. Images are not allowed inside the chapel, however, through small holes from the outside a glimpse can be caught of the atmosphere within. The chapel was designed by Peter Zumthor and completed in 2007.