Art and Design
In this episode, our resident architects Joe Rivers and Kevin Barden visit with Falon Mihalic, an award-winning landscape architect and artist from Houston, Texas. Joe and Kevin sat down with Falon to discuss how her childhood influenced her career path, her journey to becoming a landscape architect, and some of her current work.
Perched on a rocky rise in the Texas Hill Country, the Walnut Springs Guest House offers a nature-immersed retreat for a city family. Two hand-crafted stone volumes anchor the home, framing shaded porches and a generous central gathering space while sheltering private rooms.
Art and Design
In this episode our resident architects Joe Rivers and Kevin Barden visit with Erick Calderon, a business owner, entrepreneur, artist, and maker from Houston, Texas. Erick Calderon is the owner of La Nova Tile, a company he started over a decade ago, after graduating from UT Austin with a degree in international business. But it wasn't until a more recently that he started experimenting with artistic sculpture and color gradations. Joe and Kevin visit with Erick about the start of his tile company, the forging of his artistic identity, and how his art feeds back into the business.
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.