e-architect: Side x Side Retreat

Side x Side Retreat Featured by e-architect

We're pleased to share that Side x Side Retreat has been featured by e-architect.

Designed for two neighboring families on adjacent waterfront properties in Erath County, Texas, the project explores how architecture can foster both togetherness and retreat. The two homes share a common design language while responding individually to the landscape, framing lake views and creating a series of indoor and outdoor spaces that encourage gathering, reflection, and a lasting connection to place.

As noted in the feature:

"The design strikes a balance between social interaction and privacy, allowing guests to connect when desired while maintaining secluded spaces."

Many thanks to the team at e-architect for featuring the project.

Read the full feature: https://www.e-architect.com/america/side-x-side-retreat-erath-county-texas

Telesis Journal: Design, Memory, and the Architecture of Intention

I'm honored to contribute my essay, "Design, Memory, and the Architecture of Intention," to Telesis, the annual publication of the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture at the University of Oklahoma. The essay explores architecture's responsibility to preserve memory, respond to context, and create places of enduring significance.

Excerpt from the essay:

"When we build with attention to place, the stakes become clear: history is fragile, communities remember, and every new contribution either enriches or erodes."

Architecture Lab: Elk Edge Retreat

Elk Edge Retreat Featured by Architecture Lab

We're honored to share that Elk Edge Retreat has been featured by Architecture Lab.

Set in the rolling landscape of Somervell County, Texas, Elk Edge Retreat was designed as a quiet retreat that strengthens the relationship between architecture and the land—where natural materials, carefully framed views, and thoughtful site response create a home deeply rooted in its surroundings.

As shared in the accompanying interview:

"The environment is not a backdrop; it generates the design. Every decision has a lasting impact on the land and on the people who will inhabit it." — Jeff Garnett, AIA

Many thanks to Architecture Lab and Anton Giuroiu for the thoughtful feature and interview.

Read the full feature: https://www.architecturelab.net/elk-edge-retreat-jeff-garnett-architect/

Architizer: Bosque Ranch Retreat

Bosque Ranch Retreat Featured by Architizer

We're pleased to share that Bosque Ranch Retreat has been featured by Architizer.

Tucked into the rolling landscape of Bosque County, Texas, Bosque Ranch Retreat was designed as a private family home that embraces the quiet character of the ranch. Native limestone, warm wood, and expansive glass create a simple material palette that strengthens the connection between the home and its surroundings, while generous outdoor living spaces invite year-round gathering and reflection.

As described in the feature:

"Every detail is guided by simplicity and purpose, creating a retreat that feels both elemental and refined."

Many thanks to the team at Architizer for featuring the project.

Read the full feature: https://architizer.com/projects/bosque-ranch-retreat/

Architecture Lab: Interview with Jeff Garnett of Jeff Garnett Architect

Thank you, Architecture Lab, for the interview.

Excerpt from interview below:

For me, architecture has always been about more than just buildings—it’s about creating spaces that genuinely respond to the people who use them and the environments they exist within. Good design isn’t driven by trends or surface-level aesthetics; it comes from a deeper understanding of context, purpose, and longevity. Every project is an opportunity to balance function, beauty, and responsibility in a way that feels both grounded and forward-thinking.

I’m especially interested in work that respects its surroundings—whether that’s the natural landscape, the cultural history of a place, or the day-to-day needs of the people who will inhabit it. When those elements are considered with intention, the result is something that endures beyond style. It becomes meaningful, adaptable, and lasting.

Read more here: Interview with Jeff Garnett of Jeff Garnett Architect – Architecture Lab

Architizer: Frazier Conservatory

Frazier Conservatory Featured by Architizer

We're excited to share that Frazier Conservatory has been featured by Architizer.

Located on a private ranch near Stephenville, Texas, Frazier Conservatory was designed as a place for reflection, gathering, and reconnection with the natural landscape. The project carefully integrates architecture with its surroundings, creating a retreat where buildings, water, and prairie exist in quiet harmony while supporting conservation, education, and community.

As described in the Architizer feature:

"Its primary mission is to offer guests a place to disconnect from daily routines and technology, fostering reflection, social interaction, and a reconnection with the natural environment."

Many thanks to the team at Architizer for showcasing the project.

Read the full feature: https://architizer.com/projects/frazier-conservatory/

Voyage Dallas: Jeff Garnett of Greater Fort Worth on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Thank you, Voyage Dallas for the questions!

Excerpt from interview below:

The difference between a fad and a real foundational shift usually reveals itself in time and intention. Fads tend to announce themselves loudly—they move fast, feel trendy, and often prioritize novelty over substance. Foundational shifts, on the other hand, usually emerge more quietly. They come from deeper questions about how we live, how we build, and what our environments actually need. I look for ideas that respond to the land, the climate, the culture of a place, and the long-term well-being of the people who will inhabit a space. If an idea strengthens those things, it’s probably not a fad.

I also pay attention to durability—both in materials and in thinking. Real shifts tend to hold up when you strip away the stylistic surface. They work on a practical level, an environmental level, and an emotional level. Fads fade when the excitement wears off, but foundational ideas keep proving themselves the more you work with them.

Read more here: Jeff Garnett of Greater Fort Worth on Life, Lessons & Legacy - Voyage Dallas Magazine | Dallas City Guide

Fort Worth Magazine: Architect Jeff Garnett Wins Two AIA Fort Worth Design Awards

Thank you, Fort Worth Magazine!

Excerpt from article below:

Elk Edge Retreat shows Garnett at his best with private family getaways — a house that seems to grow from the land itself. Animal Sanctuary, by contrast, imagines how that same careful attention to place and people can extend beyond private walls, creating spaces that nurture both humans and animals. Taken together, the projects suggest a new chapter for his work: Texas modern architecture that doesn’t just sit on the land, but engages with it and the communities that inhabit it.  

“For me, these awards are encouragement to keep pushing the same questions about refuge and place into more public work,” Garnett said. “Whether it’s a family retreat or a gallery, museum, or community space, the goal is the same: to make architecture that feels inevitable in its setting and generous to the people who use it.” 

Read more here: Jeff Garnett Wins Two AIA Fort Worth Design Awards - Fort Worth Magazine

2025 AIA Fort Worth Design Awards

Animal Sanctuary & Elk Edge Retreat have both received AIA Fort Worth Design Awards!

The American Institute of Architects Fort Worth held their annual Excellence in Architecture Design Awards jury on Friday, November 14th, at The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. Of the 25 projects submitted by local architects, jurors singled out 7 projects to receive awards. Among projects of varied size, function, and budget, 2 Studio Awards (unbuilt), 3 Merit Awards, and 2 Community Impact Awards including 1 Honor Award were presented. The Animal Sanctuary project received a Studio Award, and Elk Edge Retreat received a Merit Award. Truly an honor, and thank you to AIA Fort Worth and the design jury for the recognition.

Read more here: AIA FW Design Awards

Artsy Scoop Magazine: Frazier Conservatory

Artful Travels: The Frazier Conservatory

Thank you to Mouty Shackelford and Artsy Scoop Magazine for the cover feature! We had a great time providing a tour of the Frazier Conservatory project.

Excerpt from the article below:

“My goal was to make it feel as though it had always been here,” says Garnett. “When you’re working with land this beautiful, you don’t want to overpower it. You want the buildings to feel delicate, like they belong.”

The site, a former family farm, includes a 50-acre lake and pastures that have been lovingly preserved for generations. Garnett oriented the buildings to follow the land’s natural contours, letting the lake guide his design. “We discovered that part of the site was in a flood zone,” he explains. “That dictated how the structures rotated and where they sat. In the end, it actually gave us the perfect buffer between the architecture and the water.”

Each building, which include the main lodge, guest casitas, and outdoor pavilions, is crafted from materials sourced close to home: locally quarried Texas stone, board-formed concrete, and white stucco that gleams against the fields. The interiors are equally grounded, with polished concrete floors embedded with fossils and soft, filtered light that moves across the rooms throughout the day. “You can literally see time in the floor,” Garnett says with a smile. “It connects you to the history of the land.”

Read more here: Artsy Scoop (November Issue)

The Albany News: New Museum Plans Revealed

History in the making: New museum plans revealed (By David Waller)

Excerpt from the article below:

Plans for a new museum in downtown Albany were formally presented last week, with local stakeholders gathering Thursday afternoon to review architectural renderings and discuss next steps for what promises to be a major new attraction for the city.

The museum, which will spotlight the legacies of both the Buffalo Hunters and Buffalo Soldiers who once lived and worked in the Fort Griffin region, will be constructed on the lot just east of the historic T.E. Jackson Warehouse. Local rancher and historian Cliff Teinert is spearheading the project, working with a group of community advisors and architect Jeff Garnett. Garnett’s design draws on the materials and proportions of surrounding buildings, including the neighboring T.E. Jackson structure, the oldest wooden building in town.

Read more here: History in the making: New museum plans revealed | Albany News

The Citizen Magazine: Before the Blueprint, There Was Silence

Thank you Ashton Gustafson and The Citizen for stopping by the studio for the interview!

Before the Blueprint, There Was Silence (By Ashton Gustafson)

Excerpt from the article below:

Jeff Garnett is not your typical architect. He listens before he draws. He lets the land speak before he lifts a pencil. He calls it “letting it breathe,” and it’s not just poetic—it’s his process. And in a world addicted to renderings, rush orders, and carbon copies, amid the endless repetition of design, his work feels like a rare breath of something honest.

“I never start sketching on the first visit,” he tells me. “I go with the client, walk the site, soak it in. I don’t want to pollute my imagination too early. I let the land breathe. Then I come back. That’s when I start.”

We’re sitting in his studio—a sanctuary of steel, glass, exposing and showcasing the neighbor's rock wall —with windows that seem to frame the Texas sky like paintings. It’s clear he built this place with the same intention he brings to his work: reverence for space, light, and the story a building is supposed to tell.

Read more here: The Citizen Vol 8.pdf

Living Magazine: Jeff Garnett | Modern Ranch Architect

Thank you Melissa McBride and Living Magazine for the interview!

(HOME ON THE RANGE) Jeff Garnett | Modern Ranch Architect (By Melissa McBride)

Excerpt from the article below:

For each new design, Garnett draws inspiration from the specific site and region, immersing himself in the landscape and the natural world before sketching any designs on paper.  “Experiencing the breeze, the sunset, the surrounding wildlife – all of these things must be taken into account to properly integrate a home into its site.  My designs are modern, but I almost always use local materials: stone, wood, and glass. I’m trying to create timeless architecture that seamlessly blends modern aesthetics with the natural elements of the ranch landscape.”

With native wood and stone, glass, leather, steel and concrete, Jeff Garnett speaks the language of the wide-open spaces of the west.  For those lucky to find a place in the handful of projects he takes on every year, Garnett designs ranch homes and rural compounds that perfectly match those spaces.

Read more here: Winter 2024 2025 Ellis County Living Magazine by Ellis County Living Magazine - Issuu

Western Art & Architecture Magazine: Elk Edge Retreat

Thank you Western Art & Architecture Magazine for the interview!

Elk Edge Retreat: A comfortable Texas home revels in the vastness of its surrounding landscape (By Christine Rogel)

Excerpt from the article below:

“You want your buildings to speak to their place because I think that that’s how you create longevity and their interest and artistry,” says Garnett, a sixth-generation Texan with a firm in Glen Rose. “You want them to be an extension of their location.”

For Garnett, integrating the home with its environment was an immersive process. Before sketching the layout, he spent hours on the property, observing how the sun shifted across the hillside, feeling the breeze, and watching the elk wander into view from a neighboring ranch to the south. Once these initial impressions settled, he returned with his sketchbook and large rolls of paper. “I have a Jeep pickup truck, and that’s kind of my makeshift desk while I’m out there,” Garnett says. “It’s great to be fully immersed in the site while I’m sketching, just because I can see things in real-time and make sure I’m capturing those views. … And if you really get out there and just listen, the site truly does speak to you, to anybody that’s out there. ... It’s a fun back and forth between architecture and landscape.”

Read more here: ELK EDGE RETREAT - Western Art & Architecture

Fort Worth Report: Garnett Receives Design Award for Frazier Conservatory Project

Thank you Fort Worth Report for the interview!

Excerpt from the article below:

Frazier Conservatory stands as a stunning example of Garnett’s design ethos, an example that the Frazier family hopes to share by making the Conservatory available to host retreats, special events, and overnight stays for individuals and groups, particularly community non-profit organizations. With its secluded setting, serene atmosphere, and abundant natural life — the ranch is also a nature preserve and birder’s paradise — Frazier Conservatory can serve as the ideal location for workshops, artist residencies, educational activities for nearby Tarleton State University, and environmental or conservation-focused events.

As for Garnett, his work on Frazier Conservatory demonstrates his ability to create spaces that are beautiful, functional, and profoundly connected to their environment. With the 2024 AIA Fort Worth Design Award, Garnett solidifies an already impressive reputation as a leader in Texas modern and modern ranch architecture.

Read more here: Garnett receives design award for Frazier Conservatory project | Fort Worth Report

Fort Worth Inc: Architect Jeff Garnett Honored with American Institute of Architects Recognition

Thank you Fort Worth Inc. for the interview!

Excerpt from the article below:

“It’s such an honor to be recognized by my peers at AIA Fort Worth,” Garnett said. “Frazier Conservatory has been a special project to me — a ranch retreat where people can step away from the rush of life and find connection, to each other and to the land around them. I’m so grateful to the Frazier family for trusting me with this beautiful location, which has been part of the Frazier family history for generations.”

Read more here: Architect Jeff Garnett Honored with American Institute of Architects Recognition - Fort Worth Inc.

Fort Worth Inc. Magazine: Best Draw in the West

Thank you, Fort Worth Inc. Magazine!

Excerpts from the article below:

“As early as I can remember, I wanted to be an architect,” he says. “I have very clear memories of being in the back of our family car. I was the youngest of three boys, so, I was always in the back seat. That was my happy place as a kid on road trips and even just going to the local grocery store. I just loved to look out the window. I always remember really paying attention to the buildings around me.

“Living in the suburbs back in the day, I remember criticizing some of the redundancy and repetition. I've always wondered what would have happened if I would have never left the city as a teenager. I think I would have absolutely still been an architect, but I feel like I would have probably gone a little bit different route.”

He’s influenced by West Texas, even though “I’m not intentionally trying to do that.”

“I've been told that a lot, that, ‘Hey, your designs have a West Texas vibe.”

His father is from the Marfa-Alpine region, so, the family spent a lot of time out there.

“I guess it just kind of comes out a little bit,” he says. “But a lot of it, too, is just growing up even just around Somervell County and Glen Rose. There’s so many old stone buildings and cedar clad buildings. I really appreciated that because it felt timeless to me.”

Another of his award-winning projects is his office building, which sits on a small plat on the Somervell County Courthouse square. The courthouse was erected in 1893, two years before the Tarrant County Courthouse.

Wacoan Magazine: Bosque Canyon Ranch Retreat

Thank you Wacoan Magazine for the interview and project feature!

Excerpts from the article below:

When purchasing and planning their new house, homeowners Jeff and Cara Price aimed to create a ranch retreat that would become a multi-generational hub to welcome their children and grandchildren throughout the coming years. Working alongside them through the entire process, architect Jeff Garnett wanted to design for them a home that fits seamlessly into the gorgeous landscape in which it is enmeshed, as well as a space that will evolve with them to last generations. Together, they have made a modern masterpiece.

While Garnett designed the perfect interior space for family, he also worked to meld the interior function of the home with the landscape surrounding it. Throughout his many visits to the site, Garnett drew plans to complement the landscape rather than disrupt it.

“Each new home is ultimately a disruption to the landscape and the wildlife, so we want to do it right,” he elaborated. “I respect that and I try to integrate the design as carefully as possible to that piece of land.”

And he designed the home to bring the stunning landscape indoors.

“My design goal was to create a strong interior-exterior connection,” Garnett explained. “ In this situation, the back view is stunning so we have a large wall of glass and a deep porch to take advantage of the amazing views beyond. I wanted to create a visually seamless transition with glass as the only barrier.”

Jeff Price marveled at the execution of this integration, saying: “I can sit at the dining table and literally watch turkey and white-tailed deer go across the lawn. So it is not only the interaction of the people at the dining table, it’s the interaction of the wildlife and the outdoors while you’re sitting there. It is a really unique combination.”

The Prices ultimately wanted a home in which they can create lasting memories with their new grandbaby, and Jeff Garnett brought that dream to fruition.

“Core memories are made in welcoming environments,” he said, “and I tried to create a space that was unique and comfortable for those special moments with family.”

Read more here: Bosque Ranch Retreat | Wacoan® | Waco’s Magazine™

Fort Worth Inc: Minimalist Architect Doing Major-League Stuff From the Town Square in Glen Rose

Thank you Fort Worth Inc. for the interview!

Excerpt from the article below:

Five times his designs have been recognized by professional peer organizations, including three by the Fort Worth division of The American Institute of Architects.

Garnett, 39, went the entrepreneurial route in his industry because it allowed him to get more interesting projects.

“My drive and ambition is just to do exciting work,” he says. "The ambition to design, that's my true passion. That really is what fuels all of this.”

A minimalist architect who focuses on creating designs that emphasize simplicity, functionality, and the elimination of unnecessary elements, Garnett always tries to incorporate natural, native materials into his designs.

“I've always wanted to have an office in the middle of nowhere,” he says. “I also wanted to have an office on a town square. I didn't know which was going to hit first, but I saw an empty lot here on the Glen Rose square. There are not many empty lots on Texas squares. There was a small, narrow lot here. I jumped on it. I bought it and about a year later started construction on it. It was a fun, fun project.”

Read more here: Minimalist Architect Doing Major-League Stuff From the Town Square in Glen Rose - Fort Worth Inc.

UTA Magazine: Award-Winning Escapes

Thank you UTA Magazine for the feature!

Award-Winning Escapes: Alumnus designs havens in surrounding landscapes

Excerpt from the article below:

Garnett’s architectural journey, rooted in a childhood fascination with old barns, stone ruins, and the Texas landscape, has evolved into a practice that spans ranch houses, lake homes, and remote retreats, as well as urban properties and other installations.

“I design places for people and strive to make each place a haven from the demands of today’s society, a sacred place for our clients to call home with a strong connection to the natural environment,” Garnett says.

Read more here: Award-Winning Escapes - News Center - The University of Texas at Arlington (uta.edu)