Albert Cabin
Stepping through the stone wall portal marks a threshold from city life to the quiet rhythms of the Texas Hill Country. The cabin’s warm wood interiors and expansive glazing open to the surrounding oaks and sky. In the mornings, the southeast-facing bath welcomes the first light; in the evenings, the southwest-facing bedroom frames sunsets and starlit skies. Elevated on a gentle slope, the design balances privacy and openness, offering a serene refuge deeply connected to its landscape.
Location
Albert, Texas
Design Team
Kevin Barden and Joe Rivers
Renderings
Alex Warr
Typology
Residential
Date
2018
Process
Explore
Boulevard Oaks Addition
Houston, Texas
Residential
Listening to the language of the existing historic home, this addition of a new Garage Quarters, Outdoor Living, Pool, and Gardens blends seamlessly with the property’s original character while enhancing its functionality.
Joe Rivers
Architect
Art and Design
In this episode, our resident architect Kevin Barden visits with our other resident architect Joe Rivers from Houston, Texas. Joe Rivers is principal architect at Rivers Barden Architects. Kevin sat down with Joe to discuss his influences in architecture, his interests outside of architecture, and the life lessons he’s learned along the way.
The Architectural Vernacular of Houston
Joe Rivers
Writing
As the architectural historian Paul Oliver aptly puts it, “All forms of vernacular architecture are built to meet specific needs, accommodating the values, economies, and ways of life of the cultures that produce them.” In this article, we will explore the various dimensions of architectural vernacular and why it is essential for crafting designs that resonate with the heart and soul of Houston and the Gulf Coast.