Architects of Tradition: Reawakening the Soul of American Homes

By Jennifer Tseng

If houses could speak, chances are your morning jog through the neighborhood would be bombarded with chatter—sometimes joyous, sometimes in jest, but always in a medley of languages. As the world’s greatest melting pot, America’s architecture reflects the diverse paths of its people. From the perfectly symmetrical windows of the colonial houses to the graceful wings of the French Provincial homes, each building has a tale to tell.

As an adult, one of the most imminent questions we face is: “Where shall I live?” Home is where the heart rests, and on average, Americans devote 30 percent of their income each year to housing. It’s only natural that our houses, and the ways we adorn them, reflect who we are.

The Stories They Tell

To uncover the roots of modern American homes, we must backtrack to the pre-Revolutionary era. Brick by brick, British settlers brought their building styles across the Atlantic and turned their nostalgia into hopes for a better future.

They had a fondness for symmetry. In New England, Colonial-styled houses are defined by their rectangular form, balanced layout, and a small central doorway framed by evenly spaced windows. To withstand the brutal winters, settlers built steep, wood-shingled roofs to shed heavy snow. Chimneys were often placed at the center of the home to keep every room equally warm through the night.

Down south, the grand antebellum homes that dotted the rolling hills epitomized opulence and grandeur. These stately residences, popular before the Civil War, were a blend of Georgian, neo classical, and Greek Revival designs.

Set upon expansive landholdings, Southern estates were typically more ornate than their Northern counterparts, boasting wide porches supported by Ionic or Corinthian columns, gabled roofs, sweeping verandas, and grand entrances. Operable shutters and wide roof overhangs were also a must to combat the region’s sweltering summer heat.

As America grew in wealth and territory, waves of immigrants brought with them a rich exchange of cultural influences. New architectural styles—Italianate, Mediterranean, Victorian, Gothic Revival, and more—soon appeared.

Changing Times

The Great Depression and World War II brought American architectural development to a near halt. According to the Historic Landmark Commission, housing starts went down more than 90 percent. America went from building 1 million new homes each year in the late 1920s to just 84,000 in 1933. Forced to adapt to the challenges of the time and to limited resources, people began embracing the principle that “less is more.”

The rise of modernist trends further accelerated this shift, with architects cutting back on decorations in favor of clean, minimal lines. The market, too, favored cheaper, more efficient construction methods. This ushered in decades of utilitarian buildings stripped of the warmth and character that defined earlier designs.

Little by little, Americans grew used to the speed and convenience of modern life. The ornate, traditional homes, along with their craftsmanship and history, faded into the background.

A Beautiful Comeback

Undaunted, a new generation is bringing back buildings filled with heart and soul. Nowhere is this more evident than in Houston’s River Oaks neighborhood, where residential homes are emerging more beautiful than ever.

At the forefront of this movement are Bill Curtis and Russell Windham, co-principals of Curtis & Windham Architects. United by their Texas roots and a love for history and traditional design, the two friends forged a path distinct from their peers. Instead of following rigid stylistic molds or modernist doctrines, they dedicated their work to honoring tradition and reimagining it for modern life.

“What has changed from first generation work to today is how people lived. Maintaining integrity with new work using styles of perhaps a century ago requires some diligence,” Curtis said in an interview with Elite. “With a knowledge and visual memory of history, we can focus on how to move to a new solution without abandoning context and precedent.”

Since founding their firm in 1992, Curtis and Windham have earned multiple John Staub and Palladio Awards, as well as the prestigious Arthur Ross Award for classical architecture. Most recently, they published Building on Tradition, a compilation of their notable works.

As they recount in their book, in the 1920s, prominent Houston businessmen Will and Mike Hogg, purchased the 1,100 acres that would become River Oaks. The Hogg brothers developed an eclectic mix of homes in a variety of striking architectural styles to attract potential homeowners. They believed these bold designs would give each house personality while setting a fresh tone for the community.

True to their vision, River Oaks flourished into Houston’s most affluent neighborhood, and its unique characteristics made it the perfect canvas for Curtis & Windham.

Meadow Lake House

Featured as the cover image of Building on Tradition, this stunning house is a prime example of the architects’ work. The residence was born from a daughter’s desire to create a home that harmonized with her mother’s treasured American Regency furniture collection.

For Curtis & Windham, the challenge of this project was to find the right balance between the formal vibe of the dark, intricately carved furniture while keeping the house feeling warm and friendly, never so stiff that it would feel unwelcoming to those living in it.

To achieve this, they incorporated large, lavishly curtained windows to flood the home with natural light and drew inspiration from the American Federal period. This style is celebrated for its clean, geometric lines, Doric columns, restrained décor, and carefully proportioned details.

“We made the interior rooms appropriately robust architecturally and based them in rigorous geometry, utilizing the square, double square, and golden section,” Curtis said. “These ideas provide a setting for the furniture to exist as it would have when it was originally collected.”

Inwood House

A Tudor-style home, the Inwood residence was originally built in the early 20th century. As the world modernized, the first owner added wings to the sides of the main structure—alterations that, unfortunately, did not complement the home’s original design.
Since the client was open to bold changes, Curtis & Windham chose to remove two-thirds of the house’s massing. In its place, they added two perpendicular structures to the main core. This smoothed out the exterior landscaping and improved the overall flow of the building.

“Throughout this project’s development, we worked with the house—not against it—consciously reassembling the core with its memory still intact,” the architects wrote in the new book. “In doing so, we were able to retain the essence of the original construction, while carefully nudging it into a new era of existence.”

Not every project is about bold, dramatic architectural statements. Oftentimes, it’s about listening closely to the client’s vision and enhancing what’s already there. For Curtis, the most meaningful work comes from being thoughtful and crafting buildings that honor their settings.

“It is so easy to see what was intended if you look and respect history,” he said. “It’s easy to work through a thoughtful process to achieve work that will contribute to the neighborhood fabric for future generations.”

Consummate masters of their craft, Curtis and Windham are eager to share this wisdom and carry the legacy forward. By inspiring and guiding young architects to design contemporary buildings rooted in culture and tradition, they hope to keep the heart of American architecture beating strong for centuries to come.

Featured image on the top credit to Chris Luker