Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1538826
William Curtis and Russell Windham Curtis & Windham Architects, Houston Vintage design books in your library. Bill Curtis: Russell and I have collected books for 33 years, both of us having learned the importance of an architectural library from the practices where we apprenticed before our partnership. We use books daily to explore and test ideas, to be inspired, and to help us relate appropriately to the differing regions in the world to which our clients take us. While we have many copies one would expect in our library — Palladio, Adam, Soane, Lutyens, as well as the American greats McKim, Mead & White; Goodhue; Platt; Mellor, Meigs & Howe; and, of course, our own John Staub — we also are not limited to architecture. Books on gardens and decoration fill our shelves, but more curious texts are also useful: gentlemen's clubs of London, stables and kennels, golf-club structures, and small Italian farmhouses. Russell Windham: We have an original set of McKim, Mead & White, of course. The set on Lutyens' work, Percier and Fontaine's original set, John Staub (How could we not have that book), John Russell Pope, and the list goes on. This question is like who to thank if one were to win an Oscar. The list is too long! Must-tour gardens or historic home. BC: Recently, I visited the great sculpture garden landscape of Storm King Art Center in Upstate NY — a great creation for many reasons, but The Wave Field by Maya Lin is a phenomenal vision and beautiful execution of ocean-like waves of earth and grass. RW: To do what we do, one must have visited as many of Lutyens' works as possible, where the gardens were designed by Gertrude Jekyll. Favorite design or antiques shops. BC: Pimlico Road, with many of the great English design shops. RW: Jamb is a great one now. Next for you. BC: Our new book, Building on Tradition, is out in September from Rizzoli. We're traveling to some design events this winter where we'll have the opportunity to share the work with old and new friends. RW: More great work around the country and abroad. We're doing more diversified work in terms of style and type, and that sort of change is exhilarating. And as Bill said, our new book with Rizzoli coming out this month. These sorts of endeavors are good for the soul and give me new energy moving forward. From top: The Branard House by Curtis & Windham Architects. A ribbon-like staircase in the Reba House by Curtis & Windham Architects. TO SEE THE COMPLETE TEXAS DESIGN WEEK SCHEDULE AND TO PURCHASE TICKETS, GO TO TEXASDESIGNWEEK.COM. ADRIAN GAUT MAX KIMBEE