A COLLECTION OF FINE DESIGNJolie Carpenter

SPECTACULAR OUTDOOR LIVING

is an exquisite coffee-table book featuring stunning

outdoor living spaces captured in bold photography. This collection of fine design will

showcase the most talented design professionals and their most unique creations—from gorgeous

pool houses and outdoor kitchens to lush gardens appointed with beautiful furniture.

has quietly created

projects that exemplify design excellence. As industry leaders and organizations

began recognizing the talent of this relatively young firm, Miró Rivera Architects

simultaneously received national and international acclaim. With more than 30

design awards including upward of 20 AIA design awards, firm principals Juan

Miró, AIA, and Miguel Rivera, AIA, continue to pursue architecture with the

same passion and dedication. Born in Barcelona and educated at the School of

Architecture of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Juan earned a Fulbright

scholarship in 1989 to complete a post-professional master’s degree at Yale

University in 1989. As a licensed architect in Spain, he worked on a wide range

of projects with his father, architect Antonio Miró, as well as Fernando Higueras,

Felix Candela and Santiago Calatrava. This valuable experience helped launch

his career, and its influence is evident in his work today. Further bolstering

his knowledge in the architectural industry, Juan has lectured and published

extensively on the work of Miró Rivera Architects, the role of architects in civic

life and issues within Mexican architecture and architectural history. Together,

Juan and Miguel approach architecture as an endeavor where the realms of

ideas, aesthetics and technology harmoniously intersect. They see their roles as

multifaceted: citizen, thinker, artist and builder.

ABOVE: The pool house takes advantage of the commanding canyon views while providing a destination for entertaining within the residents’ own backyard. Photograph © Paul Bardagjy

FACING PAGE: Large sliding doors provide a generous indoor-outdoor connection. The barbecue area is elegantly incorporated into the design.Photograph by Paul Finkel

Juan Miró & Miguel Rivera

ABOVE LEFT: Floor-to-ceiling windows provide spectacular Hill Country views.Photograph by Paul Finkel

ABOVE RIGHT: The custom copper pivot door allows for grand entrances.Photograph by Paul Finkel

FACING PAGE: The negative-edge pool doubles as a relaxing waterfall, while deep overhangs provide shade from the harsh Texas sun.Photograph © Paul Bardagjy

created 150 homes in 1972 following the benefit concert

held by The Rolling Stones following the devastating Nicaragua earthquake. Only

using $300,000 to work with he built each house at a mere $2,000 Though

basic in form and function, the homes provided protection from the sun and

invited breezes to keep the temperature as cool as possible. Designing with

utmost regard for a site’s natural topography, the region’s climate and the local

culture—these were the most important lessons that Dick wanted to impart

to students in the exchange program he was running in Central America for

The University of Tennessee. Whether designing in Texas or a foreign land, Dick

believes in creating site-specific architecture that feels right on its site and in the

greater locale. Residential architecture is definitely the firm’s heart and soul, but

resort, restaurant, civic, boutique hotel, entertainment and condominium work

adds to its breadth of knowledge. Because of its stature and leadership in myriad

commercial and private projects, the firm continues to expand its geographic

boundaries, which reach from New Mexico and Colorado, throughout Texas and

east to Louisiana. From revitalizing the warehouse district of Austin, to proving a

dedication to renewable resources in earning Austin’s first Green Building Design

Award, to creating thoughtful, site-specific residential projects, Dick Clark

Architecture clearly embraces a forward-thinking, holistic design philosophy.

ABOVE: The pool house takes advantage of the commanding canyon views while providing a destination for entertaining within the residents’ own backyard. Photograph © Paul Bardagjy

FACING PAGE: Large sliding doors provide a generous indoor-outdoor connection. The barbecue area is elegantly incorporated into the design.Photograph by Paul Finkel

Dick Clark

aBoVe: clad in leuders limestone, the town lake estate includes a number of buildings visually linked by a series of waterfalls.Photograph © Paul Bardagjy

facing Page: the town lake residence enjoys Hill country views and glimpses of the austin skyline.Photograph © Paul Bardagjy

left: clad in leuders limestone, the town lake estate includes a number of buildings visually linked by a series of waterfalls.Photograph © Paul Bardagjy

facing Page: the master shower space leads to a private second-floor terrace.Photographs by Paul Bardagjy

was sneaking through houses as they were

being built, and it came as no surprise when he chose to attend texas a&M to

earn a Bachelor of environmental design. His first job led him to gain experience

with an architectural firm that focused mainly on non-residential projects.

However, sensing that he wanted to apply his talents in a more personal,

client-driven design tactic, Jim then worked for a builder/architect and learned

the design-build processes for the next five years. from there, he established

James d. laRue, architecture design and 20 years later, Jim has an established

architectural reputation across the state. through the years, the firm has seen

its fair share of high school and college students soak in the world of residential

architecture. While their technical and drawing knowledge might not be at the

level of an experienced architect, Jim says the depth of their technological

savvy keeps him and the others on their toes, pressing them to learn the latest

tools. Years of in-the-field experience have given Jim a unique appreciation for

what it takes to not only design a house but also see it built successfully. this

sensitivity and mutual respect for their fellow craftsmen, paired with an innate

ability to envision the uncreated, is just one of the many attributes that sets

James d. laRue, architecture design apart.

aBoVe: this l-shaped home wraps a tennis court on the uphill side and overlooks a beautiful, heavily treed lot on the downhill side.Photograph by Coles Hairston

facing Page: a tennis court overlook at the right connects to the upper balcony and game room. the lower-floor terrace connects to the multilevel swimming pool.Photograph by Tre Dunham

James d. laRue

aBoVe left: a large timber beam cantilevers to protect the entry door that opens to the glassed living and dining spaces, which feature views of downtown austin.Photograph by Coles Hairston

aBoVe RigHt: the cozy outdoor rotunda overlooks the texas state capitol building in the distance.Photograph by Coles Hairston

facing Page: a 65-foot lap pool wraps the outdoor living and starlight terrace of this hillside home.Photograph by Coles Hairston

Dallas

is known for his hands-on modernist approach to

design, but time and experience have taught him that trends come and go while

the basics of good house design always remain. When a living space has well-

proportioned rooms that facilitate a variety of furniture placements, when

fenestration patterns allow natural light to enter spaces from a multitude of

directions and especially when operable windows provide natural ventilation, a

home is truly successful. all the inner workings of a house should provide its

symbolic meaning—and ultimately define and translate exterior forms. skilled at

working with a wide range of materials and budgets, dan sees each project as a

new opportunity to create architecture that is both logical and unpredictable—

preferring that his projects be thought of as places rather than buildings. By

walking alongside his clients, guiding them toward their specific aesthetic

leanings and obtaining a complete understanding of the site and the program,

dan creates special places with each new home he designs. for more than a

decade dan has enthusiastically produced homes that are a unique translation

of the interaction between client, architect and site.

aBoVe left: large sliding glass doors and transoms give the master wing the quality of an outdoor camp.Photograph by Charles Davis Smith

aBoVe RigHt: the interior fixtures are minimal and appropriate for the surrounding hardscrabble landscape.Photograph by Charles Davis Smith

facing Page: the metal-clad master wing is connected to the original house by an enclosed ramped bridge.Photograph by Charles Davis Smith

dan shipley

louisiana lays claim to some of the country’s most appealing

gardens—lush, intricate, and enchanting. so it only makes sense that the founders of

one of the country’s top residential landscape architecture firms hail from shreveport.

in 1934, brothers Joe and Henry lambert arrived in dallas to plant the city’s first

azaleas for a local oilman, but the emerging town made a mark on the pair and they

remained to expand their established practice to the area. today, 90 years after the

company’s inception, lambert’s is still composed of the most dedicated and well-trained

landscape architects, horticulturalists, and production staff. led by landscape architect

Paul fields, the firm creates respites reflecting the owners’ desires, the site’s needs, and

the aesthetics of the home while demonstrating sensitivity to the environment through

organic procedures. Whether it’s classic french, english country, or new orleans-

style, each garden is thoughtfully designed and deliberate in its purpose. Well-ordered

and undoubtedly elegant, a lambert’s garden reveals the intricate art form of garden

design. lambert’s remains committed to the single objective of improving the relationship

between its clients and their natural environment. in keeping with our commitment to

the environment, lambert’s has practiced organic gardening principles in all its services

since the late 1980s. With a staff of over 150 talented and experienced individuals, the

firm has been and continues to be recognized nationally as leaders in the renaissance of

great garden building.

aBoVe: large, well-placed doors and windows forge a strong relationship between interior spaces and the landscaped courtyard.Photograph by Casey Dunn

facing Page: the sculptural fireplace enhances the trellised seating area’s intimate ambience.Photograph by Casey Dunn

lambert’s

is a family owned and operated custom gunite pool

and spa company. Pool Quest was founded by Walter Meek. Walter Meek is

a native texan and a Professional engineer who is a graduate of texas a & M

University. Walter’s expansive knowledge and engineering expertise has been

sought after by various large corporations, and his past projects include work on

the Boeing 777, the lockheed Yf-22, and the Joint strike fighter. Just as times

have changed, so has swimming pool technology and construction techniques.

at Pool Quest, we have a full time, state registered professional engineer on

staff as well as a pool construction consultant. the net result is over 45 years

of combined engineering and pool construction experience. it is resources like

these that make it possible for Pool Quest to design and build virtually any pool

that you, our customer, may imagine. We do not build pools by trial and error,

the cheapest way possible or the way our ancestors did 75 years ago, as may be

the case with other companies. instead, we first determine your needs and then

design and engineer a product to meet your requirements. finally, we use only

the finest materials and craftsmen available. the result is a pool constructed

without compromise to quality, utility or safety.

aBoVe left: today’s pool experience should offer a fantasy element such as a lagoon-style design or a mountain lake paradise. Water walls offer the ultimate in swimming privacy. Photograph by Walter Meek, Pool-Quest

aBoVe RigHt: We designed the pool to appear like a realistic body of water, a tropical paradise with visual and auditory impact. Hand-laid stonework, trickling waterfalls, tropical landscaping and a shallow beach combine to create an oasis in the city.Photograph by Steve Edmonds, Star-Telegram

facing Page: above: a backyard pool is more than a place to swim. it is an invitation to escape. our luxury pool designs consider many factors. How will the pool be used? Photograph courtesy of Fort Worth Magazine

Pool Quest

creates breathtaking

outdoor spaces is the specialty of designer a.J. Benys, award-winning horticulturist-

artist. the hybrid designer studied horticulture at sam Houston state University

and went on to earn his second degree in landscape architecture from texas

a&M; this cross-pollination has proven to be an amazing formula for success.

even as a young boy a.J. displayed an artistic gift and love of nature. He created

drawings, watercolors and oil paintings of trees and plants, an early indicator

of his future passion and profession. after one college semester abroad, a.J.’s

life was forever changed. the european experience with rich cultural roots and

centuries-old history was fascinating. the high aesthetic of italian and french

art and architecture, the countryside and formal gardens captured him in a way

that would later influence his own designs. in 1982 a.J. founded his namesake

residential landscaping and design-build studio, beginning his journey to creating

some of Houston’s most beautiful private gardens with stunning hardscapes

including garden rooms, courtyards and fountains, natural stone patios and

swimming pools. today, a.J.’s consulting team is comprised of credentialed

landscape architects and designers, a seasoned installation crew and dedicated

staff who consistently demonstrate passion and creativity.

aBoVe: large, well-placed doors and windows forge a strong relationship between interior spaces and the landscaped courtyard.Photograph by Casey Dunn

facing Page: the sculptural fireplace enhances the trellised seating area’s intimate ambience.Photograph by Casey Dunn

aJ’s landscape & design

aBoVe & facing Page: Mature oaks shade the winding pathway that leads to an outdoor kitchen set further into the yard. We flanked the flagstone walk with kettle-style fire bowls on hand-laid stone pedestals for a dramatic nighttime atmosphere. our team is ultra sensitive to existing plant life when adding to an established landscape, and we work to preserve nature’s beauty wherever possible. We built a cabana house and cocktail pool situated just steps from the back door of the home for convenient access. natural stone areas and the walkway are edged with dwarf mondo grass to mesh with existing trees. Hardscape elements are important to the overall design of the courtyard space, but we softened the effect with western white clematis vines to create a lush urban retreat.Photographs by Blair Michener

is designing a custom residence, exploring the

possibilities of design through a speculative home or undertaking an avant-garde

commercial project, he is mindful to distill ideas, details and plans to their very

essence. allen believes that the best designs are born of a cohesive approach,

so he much prefers to guide a project from site planning all the way through

design and construction. His creative process begins quietly as he considers the

site’s offerings and the occupants’ needs and then coalesces them into sketch

upon sketch of a project’s broad strokes. these sketches are collectively used

as a springboard for discussion—people’s reactions fuel each stage of designing

and planning. He has a bent for spaces that are separated yet feel open and

achieves the effect by offsetting rooms and changing levels, thereby creating

an arrival experience with elements of surprise around every corner. finishes

and fixtures are also selected with room-to-room continuity in mind. ities from

Houston to los angeles have benefited from allen’s sense of style and ability to

transform mere concepts into built structures. though the architectural scene is

strikingly different across the country, allen always knows right where to start:

an exploration of the regional vernacular. He never intends to reproduce it, only

to glean a touch of inspiration from it. allen prides himself on the uniqueness

of each design, yet all of them have a universally appealing sculptural quality,

contemporary style and serene ambience.

aBoVe: the minimal outdoor living room of sunset House contrasts with its lush surroundings. essex House integrates a horizontal gas fireplace with a low window. the clerestory floods the interior with light.

facing Page: the industrial materials of stratford House reflect the sky at dusk. a roof terrace connects the house and detached studio.Photographs by Bianchi

allen Bianchi

has set out to unite these fundamental

notions in each of his residential undertakings, ensuring that plans are well-

designed and then crafted, not merely constructed or installed. Most design

professionals like to be involved in the full creative process. craig likes to be

instrumentally involved. He has been known to trek out to prospective build sites

and clear them with his own two hands—and a chainsaw—for the opportunity

to get to know the land more intimately. He has likewise designed furniture

and fixtures and had them custom fabricated simply because the perfect pieces

were nowhere to be found. With bachelor’s degrees in architecture and interior

design; more than a two decades of experience doing high-profile commercial

projects for prominent firms in los angeles, chicago and san antonio; and too

much entrepreneurial creativity to be pent up in a large organization, craig

simply had to launch his own firm. He vowed to keep it small and accept only

the most special of commissions, and he has stayed true to those principles.

though working with residential clients is a privilege, he also enjoys occasional

speculative projects for the carte blanche creativity they afford. He and his

team agree that getting a project almost perfect is easy, but those last few

percentage points that separate great from absolutely perfect are attained only

through a cohesive approach, and it’s worth all the effort in the world.

aBoVe: the ranch guesthouse allows visitors to take in the beauty of texas Hill country. oriented to the meadow and the prevailing breeze, the guesthouse is integrally connected to the site.

facing Page: designed to nestle around the magnificent oak trees, the ranch compound is comprised of a variety of living zones. all of the common areas engage the outdoors, allowing exterior and interior to blend together.Photographs by Chris Cooper

craig McMahon

left: located at the true front door of the ranch, the custom outdoor entertaining area connects to the guesthouse and features a majestic view of the main courtyard. a naturally rusting cor-ten arbor leads visitors up to the main lodge.Photograph by Chris Cooper

facing Page: the master suite engages the surroundings by becoming part of nature. open in all directions, the bedroom affords residents the opportunity to wake up to deer and cattle grazing in the meadow beyond. the gentle southeastern breeze moves through the room via lower clerestory windows while motorized upper windows expel the heat.Photograph by Chris Cooper

left: in the master bedroom, texas limestone walls enter gracefully from the exterior, creating an instant connection to nature. the room is nestled into the landscape and affords privacy while engaging the wildlife.Photograph by Chris Cooper

facing Page: centrally located on the site, the main lodge offers a one-room-wide experience. the prevailing southeastern breeze cools the interior during the warmer summer months. the texas Rumford fireplace is the central feature of the main living room, providing a place to relax after a big day on the ranch.Photograph by Chris Cooper

the four essentials of life—water, fire, shelter, and

land—are basic foundations that award-winning designer Michael logsdon of land

design transforms to create living art. as an associate of the american society of

landscape architects, one of the 32 leading pool designers worldwide to hold society

of Watershape designers status from genesis 3 design group, and a certified Building

Professional as designated by the association of Pool and spa Professionals, Michael was

also recognized as Master of design in 2007 for his creative vision by Pool & spa news.

Michael’s philosophy on creating outdoor living spaces transforms the basic backyard

into the favorite “room” of the home. Whether designing a traditional swimming vessel,

european-influenced biologically filtered pool, outdoor structures, kitchens, water and fire

features, or xeric landscapes, he designs with one approach in mind: water recreated…

green reconsidered. influenced by california landscape architect thomas church, Michael

embraces simple beauty and back-to-basics pools and landscapes that once dotted

the american backyard. He recognizes the importance of bringing back the timeless,

straightforward classics to promote a van der Rohe minimalist, “less is more” philosophy,

which is the inspiration for his vision today. Michael enjoys collaboration and encourages

homeowners, designers, and architects to visit his studio and gallery.

aBoVe: large, well-placed doors and windows forge a strong relationship between interior spaces and the landscaped courtyard.Photograph by Casey Dunn

facing Page: the sculptural fireplace enhances the trellised seating area’s intimate ambience.Photograph by Casey Dunn

land design