Meet Jeff Garnett | Architect

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeff Garnett and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeff, how do you think about risk?
Risks are required. Risk taking has shaped every chapter of my life both personally and professionally. Taking risks is not always easy or comfortable, but essential. Our “comfort zones” are great but can also make life much too stagnant. Plan accordingly, but take the risk.

My decision to create my own architectural practice was absolutely a risk — I took the risk because I ultimately wanted to pursue new ideas and test my design skill set to create buildings that were inspiring (both to myself and others). It really came down to those two things. I wanted to be free to design the types of projects I was specifically interested in and explore ideas which had been floating around in my head for several years.

Before I took the risk to create my own design practice, I had worked for an architectural firm in Austin for several years and was involved with a wide range of exciting project types. I loved going to that office each day, and I will forever miss working with the amazing people and friends there. The two business partners who owned and operated that firm quickly became my mentors (and friends) and their work ethic and design skills were incredibly inspiring. I look back at those early years of working in Austin and I realize just how fortunate I was to be surrounded by so many talented and genuinely good people. I remember the thought of leaving was unbelievably scary at the time… I did not want to let my mentors down with my exit, and I selfishly did not want to leave such amazing people. In that office, we had an architecture firm (whom I worked for), an interior design firm, a sole practitioner architect, and a MEP engineering firm and we all shared an open workspace together. So being surrounded by such a diverse and talented group of individuals really helped to shape and expand my knowledge of the building industry at the beginning stages of my career. Leaving that special group of people was one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever made… But in the end, it was the right decision and ultimately had to happen in order to create my own design practice. But knowing I have their support and encouragement in all things is a great feeling.

What should our readers know about your business?
I’m a licensed architect here in the greater DFW area and beyond, and I formed my design practice 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 budget and client collaboration.

In our studio we strive to design projects that are carefully integrated with the surrounding landscape — that idea and design logic is nothing new… However, it is (sadly) an extremely uncommon design approach these days. Driving down the local interstate and seeing new construction sites being fully scraped of life (trees, wildlife, existing topography) is all too familiar… As architects, we need to encourage a different mindset. New buildings no longer have much of a lifespan, and I find that to be incredibly sad on so many levels. We should be designing buildings to last and the development culture must shift back towards that mentality.

We are constantly brainstorming different ideas in our studio to make a larger impact on the community. These days, I have found our studio to be more focused on custom single-family residential projects. I design places for people, and I strive to make each place a “retreat” away from the habitual demands of today’s society – a sacred place for my clients to call home.

We also push to implement sustainability practices and new ideas in all our projects. We encourage the use of local subcontractors, local artists and artisans, local building materials, and native landscaping in order to hopefully make a positive impact in the local community and economy. I’ve had the opportunity more recently to lead various land-planning projects for unique pocket communities here in Texas. This has allowed me to have more of a direct impact on a larger scale footprint. Protecting native trees and habitats, protecting view corridors, and providing designs that encourage creativity and sustainability is always critical to a project’s success.

Architecture is ultimately a collaborative design process between the client and designer. We work together with our clients in creating a place for generations to come. Meeting the client’s expectations is the most important factor for gauging a project’s overall success. However, we try to always go above and beyond in meeting those expectations with each project design. The “brand” must always represent quality in order to stay successful — For our studio, success is putting in the effort and care and finishing the task at hand with positive results. How we find that success varies day to day, project to project. I always have a specific goal in mind… if the goal is reached, I try to take a minute to celebrate that success. But after that minute is up, I create a new goal and move on to the next.

Creating this studio has been an adventure, and I have found that staying true to my passion for design has been the most valuable key to our success -– along with an enormous amount of hard work. I have also learned to never ever give up… but shift accordingly. If something is not quite working right (in business or in life), simply adjust and shift as needed… but always keep the target in sight.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
DFW has so much to offer… selecting only a handful of places to visit is a tough task! I grew up in a small town outside of Fort Worth during the latter half of my childhood but lived in Austin for the majority of my young adult years before moving back to this area. I still feel somewhat new to this area (as an adult) and we enjoy exploring all of the incredible destinations here in DFW. I love Texas BBQ, and Heim Barbecue is some of the best in Texas! Heim always makes the itinerary when entertaining out of town friends and family and we love all of their various restaurant locations. Goldee’s Barbecue in Fort Worth is also insanely good…

Visiting the Arts District in Dallas has to make the itinerary. The Nasher will forever be one of the most inspiring destinations for art and architecture — and the entire Arts District is such a welcoming space to spend an afternoon. Klyde Warren Park (which is such an important component of the city) provides a magnificent green space and we love visiting this park with our kids. Deep Ellum also must make the list — it will always be a special place and I have so many memories from that area both old and new.

We also love Fort Worth as this city is closer to home. My wife and I love visiting the West 7th area and there are so many exciting renovations and new builds happening in the stockyards. Hotel Drover is phenomenal, and the atmosphere is unrivaled. Rodeo Goat is one of the best burgers in Texas and the Reata Restaurant (Fort Worth) is equally as amazing as it’s counterpart in way out west Texas (Alpine).

Daytripping the surrounding DFW towns is also a must — The historic square of Granbury is always full of life and the Eighteen Ninety Grille and Lounge (located in the historic district) is a great spot for dining. The Brazos Drive In Theater (Granbury) is one of the best spots in all of Texas! The nearby small town of Glen Rose (my hometown) is one of the most unique places to visit off the beaten path — Dinosaur Valley State Park, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Rough Creek Lodge, and the quaint historic square are all great spots for weekenders and families to visit. Sexton Mill (located in historic Glen Rose) has great food and a unique atmosphere and located directly on the Paluxy River. Small town Hico is also a unique day trip destination. Boutique shops and dining are now scattered all over town and well worth the drive from Dallas or Fort Worth. Stop by Wiseman House Chocolates while in town.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people, places, and events that inspired and supported my career in architecture… so I’ll start from the early years.

I have always loved to create. I was the youngest son growing up, and I have two older brothers who were both heavily into sports. I was also into sports in those early days, but I remember my mind drifting to other things even at a young age, and I never quite knew how to make sense of that in those early years. Because I was the youngest, I was able to claim the back bench seat of our family car (think classic style minivan) as my own private domain during family road trips and daily drives… and during those expeditions I remember gazing out our windows and fully immersing myself in our surroundings and trying to make sense and order out of all the beautiful roadside chaos. I studied the trees, buildings, and road systems all while sitting in the back of a 90’s minivan. By the time I was in high school, I had already been studying various architecture books and I signed up for every drafting and graphics course our school had to offer. We had one teacher in my high school who taught all these courses over a 4-year duration, and he fully understood my passion and heavily encouraged and challenged me with each day’s task. He went above and beyond with his teaching, and I owe him for that level of commitment.

Ultimately, my father was my main inspiration for pursing a creative career. His ability to draw and design always inspired me. I also credit him for providing me with the mindset to look at our daily surroundings (and the world) with a slightly different lens. I listened to and absorbed every word he said growing up, and he set the bar for all things. We would talk for hours about big and challenging ideas (and we still do), which looking back was such a positive experience and paved the way for me to successfully pursue creative endeavors. My mother also made such a huge impact on my formative years — her strong will and determination instilled confidence throughout my childhood and into my adult years which has helped me to take risks and be bold in this profession. I was so fortunate to have such supportive parents, and I hope to pass that on to my own children.

My wife and I have four amazing kids all under the ages of seven… so our lives are full and incredibly busy! Our kids are everything to us, so we try to make our big decisions carefully knowing the impacts on our children. Starting my own business has 100% made an impact in their lives, and I hope that impact will be inspiring and positive as they grow older and realize the steps and hard work required to take such a leap. Infinite shoutouts to my wife and kids for their love and support.

These days my wife and children’s happiness ultimately makes me happy. As a father, my kids are my primary source of motivation, inspiration, and the driving force behind living a meaningful and happy life. My wife and I hope our children will look back someday and smile when remembering their younger years… We try to balance having a good time, exploring new adventures, and preparing them for the real world when they are older. It’s a balancing act every single day — but we are constantly trying to improve that balance so our kids can have a fun and meaningful childhood. Finding that balance is also essential with my business and this is often such a challenge for architects… In architecture school, we worked and studied insane hours designing our studio projects and also juggling outside responsibilities. I do believe architecture schools are quickly improving in that area, and time management is becoming a more focused topic. However, architecture is a highly demanding profession in terms of time spent, which can often be difficult for students, interns, and professional architects to try and balance. As a dedicated father, finding that balance is critical — setting boundaries and managing time is key. I was fortunate to have an architecture professor in grad school who luckily understood this balance and encouraged time efficiency — he was also an incredible inspiration as a teacher and a mentor (shoutout). My father was also successful in balancing work and family life when I was a child — I owe him for setting the example and paving the path.

Website: www.jeffgarnettarchitect.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffgarnettarchitect/

Image Credits:
Architectural Renderings: Jeff Garnett (Jeff Garnett Architect) Photography: Michael Lyon Photography