Award-winning designer Christopher K. Travis, the owner and lead designer for Sentient Architecture, LLC and Truehome Design.Build was originally a historic restoration builder and designer who expanded his business to include high-end remodeling a new custom homes over the years as his business matured. He is a recognized expect is the use of recyled antique materials and structures in the construction of new homes and other properties. He is also one of the nation’s leading experts on the applied use of psychological methods to develop design criteria tailored to fit the unique nature of the individuals and families he serves. This project was one of a number designed by Travis, and built by his son, Shiloh Travis.
Travis and highly cited University of Texas at Austin behavioral psychologist Sam Gosling, Phd. have been long-standing collaborators, and are currently writing a book about Travis‘ applied methods and Gosling’s past research on how personality is expressed in living spaces. Their intent in that work is to promote applied psychological methods like those used by Travis, to enhance the psychological wellbeing of individuals and families – or said more simply, to create homes that nurture and heal their inhabitants.
Travis‘s firm was named Remodeler of the Year by the Greater Houston Builder’s Association in 1981, and is a past winner of the T.C. Jester Award for historic restoration in the Houston Heights early in his career. In 2016 his design firm was named South Central Texas Architecture Firm of the Year by Build Magazine.
His work has been published in the New York Times, and widely in other publications in the U.S. and around the world.
Material Used :
1. The majority of the visible materials were recycled barnwood and beams.
2. The floors, trusses and most other interior materials were recycled antique pine
3. The log timbers were aromatic cedar trees harvested on site.
4. The structure was originally intended as a party and guest house as there is a restored farmhouse on the same property adjacent to the new barn-style structure. But as the project proceeded, the client became so enamored of the structure, they decided to make it their primary country home.
