Building a New Arcadia, Reflecting on the Work of Miró Rivera Architects

Abstract

For 20 years, Miró Rivera Architects has produced an innovative, refined, and imaginative body of work that blurs the line between art and architecture. Based in Austin, Texas, their diverse practice weaves together elegant craftsmanship with a honed sense of space and materiality. From a delicate footbridge to an iconic observation tower, the firm’s work has shaped the trajectory of architecture in Texas and has brought international attention to Austin. Beyond live music, the city is now recognized as a creative hub where architects, filmmakers, and artists push boundaries. Together they have engendered a unique sense of place—an Austin “state of mind”— that defies stereotypes about Texas. The first from the firm, this volume provides critical insight into their creative process through texts, drawings, and photographs. The book explores Austin as a modern-day “arcadia”— an evocative place of beauty and harmony with nature—and provides a window into why people want to live in Austin and how they live. Featuring essays by Michael Sorkin, Nina Rappaport, Juan Luis de las Rivas Sanz, and Carlos Jiménez— prominent thinkers in urban design and architecture—and images by renowned photographers Iwan Baan and Sebastian Schutyser, this book situates the firm’s diverse portfolio in a global context related to concepts of nature, sustainability, history, and urban design.