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.
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
West Texas Retreat
Alpine, Texas
Residential
Residing outside the town of Alpine, this renovation opens up the existing home to mountainous views, vast skies, and the unique sun of West Texas, creating a secluded escape from the city for the clients to relax, reflect, and recharge.
Reid Kennedy
Musician, Composer, & Teacher
Music and Performance
In this episode our resident architects Joe Rivers and Kevin Barden visit with Reid Kennedy, a drummer and composer from St. Paul, Minnesota. Reid Kennedy is a percussionist and pass drummer from St. Paul, Minnesota and a standout example of the modern working musician. In addition to being a top-call drummer in the Twin Cities, Reid teaches percussion and music theory at McNally Smith College of Music in downtown St. Paul. He composes, performs, records, and produces his own music in groups such as the Reid Kennedy Jazz Trio and Big Villain, and is the co-founder of the neo soul modern jazz darlings of Minneapolis, Nooky Jones. Joe and Kevin talk with Reid about his path to becoming a full-time musician, having passion for creating, and the ins and outs of collaboration.
Site Dwelling Competition
Joe Rivers and Kevin Barden
Competitions
“The Site Dwelling, located on the cliff of the bay, in the village of Salir do Porto, aims to create a secluded destination, a place of retreat to engage with the landscape while providing shelter from the natural elements. This is a place to stay and inhabit for a few days, offering visitors a unique experience in a very special setting; visitors must leave the space as they found it, empty.” Rivers Barden Architects was…