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Located in Houston, Texas, this home renovation is for a couple who loves to entertain. Opening up the existing structure between the kitchen, living, and dining areas allows for a cohesiveness of space and interaction. The result is a light-filled home with a strong connection between indoors and outdoors, while utilizing millwork as a way to define the space.

Location

Houston, Texas

Collaboration

Santee Engineering

Design Team

Kevin Barden, Joe Rivers, and Esmer Leija

Renderings

Rivers Barden Architects

Typology

Residential

Date

2021-Present

Process

Explore

Briargrove Park Renovation

The family for this renovation was looking to add a bedroom and bathroom to provide space for family to visit and stay for extended periods of time. Using the footprint of the existing garage for a new primary bedroom suite, a new garage was added help frame the existing swimming pool as well as provide a covered outdoor area for entertaining. Additional areas of the home (including laundry facilities and a coffee bar) were renovated to provide more functionality in how the family lives their life.

Marcus Martinez

Art and Design

Marcus Martinez is a Houston-based Illustrator whose work has reached beyond architecture into diverse areas such as design, medical technology, and urbanism. Joe and Kevin sat down with Marcus to discuss his early influences and experiences in architecture and design, his sketching process, and what excites him about his work as an illustrator.

Bruder Klaus Photo Essay

Drawing and Photography

Bruder Klaus Field Chapel stands in the landscape of the Eifel region of Germany. Images are not allowed inside the chapel, however, through small holes from the outside a glimpse can be caught of the atmosphere within. The chapel was designed by Peter Zumthor and completed in 2007.