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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.

Location

Johnson City, Texas

Collaboration

Phillips & Phillips Design Build, Hill Country Structural

Design Team

Joe Rivers and Kevin Barden

Typology

Residential

Date

2019-2021

Process

Explore

Timbergrove Renovation

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.

Erick Calderon

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.

Principal Spotlight: Kevin Barden

Writing

Meet one of our Principals, Kevin Barden! With the larger vision and ethos in mind, Kevin constantly pursues the evolution of each project’s identity throughout its development. Kevin and his wife enjoy traveling near and far as well as playing with their young son and daughter around the house and at the park.