In an essay entitled The Hedgehog and the Fox, Isaiah Berlin quotes the Greek poet Archilochus, “The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing” (Berlin 7). The essay was written as a commentary on Leo Tolstoy’s view of history, however, the text can offer an understanding for how one might practice architecture as well. For us, this understanding reveals itself in perceiving the environment as a fox and believing in it as a hedgehog.
Perceiving the environment as a fox requires “plenty of full light” (Albers) and a methodical rigor aimed at exploring forces and processes including climate, culture, economy, atmosphere, and material.
Believing in the environment as a hedgehog requires a confidence and trust that the projects we build and discussions we nurture “feel the pull of life” (Martin 159) and contribute positively to our clients and the world around us.
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Albers, Josef. Poems and Drawings. Ed. Nicholas Fox Weber. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2006. Print.
Berlin, Isaiah. The Hedgehog and the Fox; an Essay on Tolstoy’s View of History. New York: Mentor Books, 1957. Print.
Martin, Agnes and Briony Fer. Agnes Martin. Ed. Frances Morris and Tiffany Bell. London: D. A. P./Tate, 2015. Print.
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West Texas Retreat
Alpine, Texas
Residential
Residing outside the town of Alpine, this renovation opens up the existing home to mountainous views, vast skies, and the unique sun of West Texas, creating a secluded escape from the city for the clients to relax, reflect, and recharge.
Josh Ryan
Designer, Illustrator and Absurdist
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.
Annual Holiday Cards
Rivers Barden Architects
Competitions
Every winter Rivers Barden Architects takes time to draw, sketch, and/or model a Christmas Card image to send to family, friends, clients, and colleagues. Seen here is a collection of these in one place.