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Listening to the language of the existing historic home, this new Garage Quarters, Outdoor Living, Pool, and Gardens responds in form, materiality, and atmosphere to create a variety of spaces and experiences for enjoyment outside.

Location

Houston, Texas

Design Team

Kevin Barden, Joe Rivers, and Esmer Leija

Typology

Residential

Date

2021 - 2023

Landscape Architect

Falon Land Studio

Interior Designer

Owen Design Group

Structural and Civil Engineer

Dunaway

General Contractor

Heavenly Homes

Photography

Leonid Furmansky

Process

Explore

Walnut Springs Guest House

Perched on a small rock outcropping in Hill Country, the Walnut Springs Guest House offers a nature driven getaway for a city-dwelling family. Two stone masses frame two porches and a large gathering space while sheltering the bedroom and utility areas. Butterfly and hipped roofs focus views and sculpt light.

Sunni Soper

Music and Performance

In this episode our resident architects Joe Rivers and Kevin Barden visit with Sunni Soper, a spoken word artist from Austin, Texas. Since moving back to Austin, Texas less than a decade ago, Sunni Soper has become a strong voice and contributor to Austin's spoken word scene. Joe and Kevin visited with Sunni to discuss her beginning in poetry, the importance of editing and reflection, and her advice for budding artists.

The Merit of the Mud Room

Writing

Houston, a city molded by the oil and gas industry, is a place of energy, innovation, and, at times, a little dirt. As architects who live within this soiled city, we understand the unique challenges posed by the grit and grime of our surroundings. For this reason, we propose an often underestimated yet invaluable component of home design – the extra-large mud room. Serving as more than just a transitional space, a well-designed mud room offers a multitude of benefits that contribute to the organization, hygiene, and overall well-being of a home here in Houston.