William Curtis
William Curtis, a founding principal of Curtis & Windham Architects, has a deep respect and knowledge of architectural history. His dedication to the study of the historical and physical context of his buildings produces work that is both beautiful and articulate. Drawing upon the wealth of traditional architectural precedent, he finds appropriate architectural expression while solving the architectural problems of modern life. To Mr. Curtis, a successful design is the sensitive and articulate response to a given context, exercised with control, restraint, and modesty. Formative years in Washington DC and abroad in Australia provided experience with large-scale institutional work and crafting classically literate buildings. Returning to his native Texas, he began his collaboration with Russell Windham in 1992.
Mr. Curtis is a founding board member of the Texas Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, and currently serves on its Board of Directors. In 1999, he and Russell Windham received the organization’s Arthur Ross Award, which honors architects working in the classical tradition. His work has received Palladio Awards and multiple John Staub Awards by the Texas Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art. He has lectured at the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art in New York, Denver, Atlanta, and San Francisco and at the Legends LCDQ Los Angeles, Theta Design Week, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Houston Design Center Fall Market, and at the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture. His work has been published in several books, including, Nice House by Samuel G. White, Creating a New Old House by Russell Versaci, The Art of Classical Details: Theory, Design and Craftsmanship by Philip James Dodd, Traditional Architecture: Timeless Building for the 21st Century – Rizzoli by Alireza Sagharichi and Lucien Steil and The Institute of Classical Architecture, A Decade of Art and Architecture 1992-2002. His work has also gained national attention in magazines, including Architectural Digest, Southern Living, House Beautiful, Southern Accents, Period Homes, New Old House, Luxe National, and Mountain Living. His homes and gardens have appeared on local and national design tours including the Azalea Trail Houston and the national Garden Conservancy Open Days Tour. Mr. Curtis is a graduate of the University of Texas, and currently serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the University of Texas School of Architecture. He participates as a mentor and critic for his alma mater and for various architectural schools in Texas and around the United States.
In 2017, Mr. Curtis completed Curtis & Windham Architects’ first publication; a monograph on the work of Curtis & Windham entitled A Vision of Place. The monograph reflects on more than two decades of his practice of classical architecture. The book provides an expansive view of eighteen representative projects that show a great range of classical styles in residential, commercial and institutional architecture. A Vision of Place documents Mr. Curtis’ versatility of classical ideals and methods and his dedication to the principle that classical architecture should uphold timeless design principles in both historic and modern design.