Podcast Summary: Talk Shop with Ariel Okin

Episode: Building on Tradition — A Conversation with Bill Curtis & Russell Windham

Date: October 29, 2025
Host: Ariel Okin
Guests: Bill Curtis & Russell Windham (Founding Principals, Curtis & Windham Architects)

Episode Overview

In this season’s premiere, Ariel Okin sits down with acclaimed Houston-based architects Bill Curtis and Russell Windham. The conversation traces their 30-year partnership, the roots of their new book Building on Tradition, the evolution of their firm, and enduring principles of classical architecture. The episode is rich in stories about mentorship, inspirations drawn from history and travel, client collaboration, and the realities of sustaining creative energy over decades. Listeners also get a peek into the duo’s approach to partnership, their favorite design resources, and the ever-changing process of creativity in architecture and design.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Defining Their Aesthetic and Approach

• Bill’s Style in Three Words: Appropriate, Mannered, Disciplined. (03:00)
• Russell’s Style in Three Words: "Old Lady English." (03:15)
• Mutual recognition of how their contrasting personalities balance and complement their practice.

Career Origins & Forming the Firm

• Bill’s Early Inspiration: Exposure to construction sites and his father's building project at age six set him on an unwavering path to architecture. (05:49)
  • “I honestly can't remember ever thinking about any other path in my life than being an architect.” — Bill Curtis (06:05)
• Russell’s Roots: Grew up in a tiny farming town; a brother’s encouragement sent him to architecture school. (06:41)
  • “Basically grew up on a farm... we just were makers, you know, if you needed this or that, you figured out how to make it...” — Russell Windham (06:53)
• Founding in Houston: Both drawn to the city—Bill through friends, Russell after returning from England. Their partnership was forged in a city ripe for risk and reinvention post-oil bust. (07:53–11:28)

The Value of Naivety and Idealism

• The architects credit their longevity to an “idealistic naïveté”—having only big ideas and the courage (or lack of experience to worry) to pitch them. (11:51)
  • “It sounds, I'd like to think that it was courageous, but I think it was more naive that we just... that's all we knew how to do and so we did it.” — Bill Curtis (11:51)
  • “I think one of the reasons that after 30 years we still enjoy this and thrive in it is that we were so naive. We were idealistic.” — Russell Windham (12:01)
  • “To be an architect and not be idealistic, it has to be the worst job in the world.” — Russell Windham (12:14)

Early Breakthroughs & Growth

• The importance of taking risks and offering big ideas in a receptive city, meeting influential clients, and early works that established their reputation. (13:35–16:02, 15:21)
• “We got our first two buildings started in the ground, and they were good ones, and that's what got people's attention.” — Russell Windham (14:42)

Partnership Dynamics

• Their partnership is rooted in mutual respect, communication, and complementary strengths.
  • Each worked side-by-side from the start (Bill on plans, Russell on elevations). (16:39)
  • “Bill and my wife are so similar. They are the steady, the steady part of my life... I really do consider Bill my first wife.” — Russell Windham (18:22)
  • Open, argument-free collaboration: they compromise, seed ideas with each other, and quickly conclude projects due to the high-paced environment.
  • “We don't argue.... We do have to know when to compromise and what's important to each other.” — Bill Curtis (19:29)
  • The importance of interviewing clients as much as being interviewed, to ensure a good fit. (20:16)

Mentoring, Education & Classical Advocacy

• Both deeply engaged with the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA) and mentorship, seeing it as essential both to the profession and to preserving classical traditions. (20:53–23:32)
  • “Architecture... right now in the state of the world are devastating and making the world ugly and a horrible place to live. And so there's a way to not do that. And it's through building beautiful places.” — Russell Windham (21:52)
  • Joy in seeing their proteges found their own firms and push the field forward.

Favorite Parts of the Job / Process

• Bill loves the early stages: strategizing, conceptualizing, the flow of ideas, and iterative problem-solving. (24:19)
• Russell enjoys the entire creative chain, from courting clients through construction — and even the satisfaction of “fighting with a contractor” when necessary. (25:22)
  • “Whatever I'm feeling that day, if I'm feeling inspired and creative, I can go do that. If I want to go fight with a contractor because he's done something wrong, there's just some days I like a good fight and, you know, it's therapeutic.” — Russell Windham (25:22)

Architectural "Rules" and Inspirations

• For them, there are few fixed rules; the essential elements are “scale and proportion," which are both foundational and infinitely adaptable. (26:41–27:31)
• Both value deep architectural history and their personal libraries as springboards for creativity. (27:31)
  • Traveling and experiencing historic buildings in person deeply influences their work. (30:29–32:39)
  • Painting (for Bill) offers a different, gestural understanding of architecture.

Personal Homes

• Bill’s home was built around a giant tree and reflects his principles of appropriateness and discipline, softened by color and decoration. (28:25)
  • “The tree won.” — Bill Curtis (28:48)
• Russell’s constantly evolving home is “Old Lady English experimental”, humorously in contrast with his accountant wife’s desire for stability. (29:44)

Favorite Design Resources and Their "Shop My" Storefront

• Their curated “Shop My” storefront leans heavily on books, including rare or reissued classics from ICAA, and favorite vendors like Jam and George Smith. (33:16–37:46)
  • Bill highlights a memorable story about sourcing a giant cast foot sculpture from Jam in London. (35:25)
  • Russell admires the subtlety in classics like Liz O'Brien chairs and George Smith furniture, emphasizing the ongoing evolution of traditional design.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Idealism in Architecture:
  “To be an architect and not be idealistic, it has to be the worst job in the world.” — Russell Windham (12:14)
• On Partnership:
  “Bill and my wife are so similar. They are the steady part of my life... I really do consider Bill my first wife.” — Russell Windham (18:22)
• On Mentorship:
  “There's just nothing like a young architect you see yourself in... to mentor them and offer your hopefully a little time honored wisdom. It's just fantastic to see people doing great work.” — Russell Windham (22:38)
• On Rules:
  “The two most important things are free, and that's scale and proportion. There's no way around it.” — Russell Windham (26:41)
• On Design Books:
  “People ask me all the time, what's your favorite book? It'd be like, who's your favorite child? It's just too hard.” — Russell Windham (44:01)
• On Risk and Discovery:
  “You can't really be a good architect unless you've risked life and limb to go kind of see this stuff.” — Bill Curtis (43:19)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |:----------:|:-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:02 | Bill and Russell define their styles | | 05:49 | How Bill and Russell discovered architecture | | 07:53 | Founding the firm in Houston — opportunity, timing, and culture | | 11:51 | On naivety and why idealism matters | | 13:35 | Early breakthrough projects | | 15:21 | Collaborating with notable decorators (David Easton, Bunny Williams) | | 16:31 | Complementary strengths and working side-by-side | | 18:05 | What they admire about each other as partners | | 20:16 | On interviewing clients as much as being interviewed | | 20:53 | Deep dive: mentorship, ICAA, and the responsibility of classical architects | | 24:19 | Favorite aspects of daily work | | 26:41 | Essential 'rules' (or the lack thereof) in architecture | | 28:25 | What their homes say about them | | 30:29 | Travel, history, and art as sources of inspiration | | 33:16 | Shop My storefront: favorite design resources & stories | | 39:05 | 'Take 10' rapid-fire personal questions | | 42:10–44:40| Most valued design book and the importance of studying architectural precedent | | 45:23 | Exciting current projects (schools, Cotswolds, Bahamas, Texas cabin) | | 48:01 | Best advice for those seeking to define their architectural style |

Rapid-Fire "Take 10" Answers

• Favorite Food: Both love Indian food in London; Russell singles out Tamarind’s lamb chops. (39:05)
• Favorite Drink: Bill — red wine, Russell — gin martini. (39:20)
• Favorite Film: Bill — Get Shorty, Russell — Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. (39:33)
• Favorite Hotel: Bill — Claridge’s, Russell — The Connaught. (39:49)
• Favorite City: London (both). (40:08)
• Favorite Bedding: Matouk (both). (40:22)
• Tea or Coffee: Bill — iced tea, never coffee; Russell — coffee, black. (40:28)
• Playlist/Music: Bill — 70s music, Russell — a mix from Parker McCollum to the Waterboys. (40:52)
• Weekend Activity: Bill — painting watercolors or golf; Russell — outdoor activities, especially in Texas. (41:33)
• Favorite Design Book: Bill — monograph on Mellor, Meigs & Howe; Russell — can't pick just one, but reveres using books as precedents. (42:10–44:40)

Closing Advice

• On Defining Your Style:
  • Be passionate and energetic, but remain flexible and open to influences from travel, history, observation, and those you work with.
  • “If you're not in it, I don't know how you get anywhere.” — Bill Curtis (48:46)
  • Collaboration, listening, and enthusiasm are critical.
  • “It really is passion that drives this stuff.” — Russell Windham (49:15)

Where to Find More

• Curtis & Windham Architects: [firm website]
• Their new book: Building on Tradition: The Work of Curtis & Windham Architects — [Rizzoli link in show notes]
• Shop My Storefronts: Curated resources by Bill, Russell, and Ariel (link in show notes)
• Ariel Okin: Instagram and Fenimore Lane editorial site

This episode offers a deep, personal dive into the philosophies, partnership, and process behind a leading American classical architecture firm—creating a valuable listen for architects, designers, and design enthusiasts alike.