Memorial Townhome Renovation
Just steps from Memorial Park, this complete townhome renovation transforms a compartmentalized layout into an airy, light-filled sanctuary. Walls and columns were removed to create open sightlines and fluid movement, reflecting the client’s identity and lifestyle. Multiple skylights wash the double-height living space in daylight, shifting like an internal sundial and connecting inhabitants to the rhythms of time and season. A calm palette of white walls and natural wood forms a living canvas for plants, ceramics, and artifacts gathered from travels, making the home both a retreat and a reflection of a life well-lived.
Location
Houston, Texas
Design Team
Kevin Barden, Rafia Imran and Joe Rivers
Renderings
Rivers Barden Architects
Typology
Residential
Date
2022-Present
Structural Engineer
Santee Engineering
General Contractor
Pletcher Construction
Process
Explore
Walnut Springs Guest House
Johnson City, Texas
Residential
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.
Natalie Lin Douglas
Violinist
Music and Performance
In this episode, our resident architects Joe Rivers and Kevin Barden visit with Natalie Lin, a violinist from Houston, Texas. Natalie is a violinist and founder of KINETIC, a conductor-less ensemble from Houston, Texas. Joe and Kevin sat down with Natalie to discuss her upbringing in music and how her ensemble is forging a new path for classical musicians.
Staff Travel: La Alhambra Reflection
Rafia Imran
Writing
In the Fall of 2022, Rafia visited Spain for ten days. Her travels took her to Barcelona, Granada, Toledo, and Madrid. There were many moments that left a lasting impression on her (visiting La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, taking a Paella cooking class, walking through maze-like alleys in Toledo and going on food tours in Madrid), but none left quite as strong of an impression as La Alhambra.