Architect behind Stephenville ranch compound earns recognition for seamless integration of modern design into unspoiled Texas landscape.
FORT WORTH, Texas, Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Texas Modern Architect Jeff Garnett Honored with 2024 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Fort Worth Design Award for Frazier Conservatory
Stephenville Ranch Compound Earns Recognition for Seamless Integration of Modern Design into Unspoiled Texas Landscape
(Fort Worth, TX) – Texas modern architect Jeff Garnett recently received the prestigious 2024 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Fort Worth Excellence in Architecture Design Award for his Frazier Conservatory project. Held at Fort Worth's iconic Modern Art Museum, the October 29 ceremony honored extraordinary achievements in architecture, with Garnett's work standing out for its seamless integration of modern aesthetics into the rugged beauty of the Texas prairie landscape.
The 2024 award marks back-to-back AIA Fort Worth recognition for Garnett, who also won the 2023 AIA Fort Worth Excellence in Architecture Design Award for his 110 Walnut Street Studio in Glen Rose. This is the second recognition for the Conservatory as well, which won the AIA Fort Worth Studio Award in 2022, while still in the design phase.
"It's such an honor to be recognized by my peers at AIA Fort Worth," Garnett said of the award. "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."
Located on the 700-acre Frazier family farm in Erath County near Stephenville, TX, Garnett's Frazier Conservatory structures radiate out from a circular drive, and include a 5,000 sq ft main lodge, covered cooking pavilion, guest casita with wood-fired Dutch tub (and plots laid out for future casitas), a pool, firepit, paths, and a fishing pier on a 50-acre reservoir that provides a stunning natural backdrop for the compound.
The centerpiece of the project is the great room in the main lodge, which features barrel-vaulted ceilings and expansive windows offering unobstructed views of the lake. An open fireplace anchors the south side of the room while a combined library / music room opens off the north end. At the request of client J. Todd Frazier — a Juilliard-trained composer and the Director of Houston Methodist Hospital's Center for Performing Arts Medicine (CPAM) — a Steinway grand piano stands proudly in the music room, honoring Frazier's belief in the healing and humanizing power of fine art and natural beauty.
Throughout, the Conservatory design reflects Garnett's modern ranch aesthetic, which prioritizes clean lines, natural materials, and a profound connection to the environment. Garnett's deceptively simple list of materials — locally sourced stone, wood cladding, white stucco, board formed concrete, exposed aggregate floors, and structural steel elements — complement the natural surroundings, while expansive glass walls bring the outdoors inside.
A Texas native who grew up road-tripping around the state with his family, falling in love with the landscape and rural structures at the same time he was discovering modern architecture and design, Garnett explains how he chooses materials and finds design inspiration for each project by first immersing himself in the natural world on each site.
"Experiencing the breeze, the sunset, the surrounding wildlife — all these elements must be considered to properly integrate a home into its site," Garnett said. "Each new build is ultimately a disruption to the natural environment, so the stakes are high. My designs are very modern, but I almost always use local Texas materials: stone, wood, and glass. I'm trying to create timeless architecture that seamlessly blends modern aesthetics with the natural elements of the Texas landscape."
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.
"Receiving this award is exhilarating because it opens doors to explore new ideas and tackle even more ambitious projects." Garnett said. "It's a reminder of the impact thoughtful design can have, and it offers opportunities to continue pushing boundaries — creating spaces that resonate deeply with the people and landscapes they serve. For me, this recognition is fuel for what comes next."
ABOUT JEFF GARNETT, ARCHITECT
Jeff Garnett Architect was formed with the primary goal of creating meaningful, design-driven architecture. Clean lines, thoughtful details, and highly creative design solutions are the foundation of this practice. From schematic design to final construction, every project is approached carefully and uniquely with a sharpened focus on design and client collaboration.
Visit jeffgarnettarchitect.com or follow Jeff Garnett on Instagram for more information.
ABOUT AIA FORT WORTH
Founded in 1946, AIA Fort Worth — a chapter of The American Institute of Architects (AIA) — is a professional organization of architects from the North Texas counties of Comanche, Cooke, Eastland, Erath, Haskell, Hood, Jack, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker, Somervell, Stephens, Tarrant, Throckmorton, and Wise. The premiere voice for the architecture profession in the region and a resource for members in their service to society, AIA Fort Worth celebrates excellence in architecture, works to promote growth and the value of the profession to the public, and unifies the regional membership in service to the craft.
Presented annually, the AIA Fort Worth Excellence in Architecture Design Awards honor projects that exemplify outstanding contributions to the field of architecture.
Visit aiafw.org for more information.
Media Contact
D'Arla Tyler, Jeff Garnett, Architect, 1 817-405-9878, [email protected], https://www.jeffgarnettarchitect.com/
SOURCE Jeff Garnett, Architect
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