Port Bolivar Beach House
Situated above the shoreline in a Gulf Coast community, this elevated beach house offers a restful retreat shaped by light, breeze, and expansive views. Drawing from the local tradition of stilt-frame wood construction, the design lifts the main living level to capture sun, breeze, and shade throughout the day while providing shelter below. Inside, vaulted ceilings create an airy sense of volume, a bright sun room frames the shifting coastal light, and a cozy loft offers an intimate perch for reading or watching the water. Warm materials and simple forms make the home both timeless and deeply connected to its place.
Location
Port Bolivar, Texas
Design Team
Kevin Barden and Joe Rivers
Typology
Residential
Date
2020-2021
Process
Explore
Albert Cabin
Albert, Texas
Residential
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.
Sunni Soper
Poet
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.
Sicily Sketch Essay
Kevin Barden
Drawing and Photography
In the summer of 2008, Kevin visited Sicily for two weeks. Traveling by train, car, and foot, various sites ranging in time, material, and typology around the island were observed, explored, and studied. This sketch essay captures a handful of the moments and experiences from the trip.