Little Rock Architects Jennifer Herron and Jeff Horton are much like the structures they create. Artistic and intricate, they fit together perfectly. Theirs is a love story that extends beyond each other and into the community they call home.
Their story began while attending the architecture program at the University of Kansas School of Architecture and Urban Design.
“Jennifer had this mysterious quality to her. I could tell she was creative,” Jeff says. “She has a great sense of humor, loves to laugh.”
“I remember thinking he is really worldly, talented and creative, and he’s kind,” Jennifer says of Jeff. “He was a person you could just comfortably be with and always have a good conversation with many laughs.”
Though Little Rock was only meant to be a short stop on their professional journey, it became home to the couple, who have lived here for more than three decades. During that time, Jennifer and Jeff formed the immensely successful Herron Horton architectural firm and have devoted their professional careers to helping build the city they love.
The two have created some of Little Rock’s most captivating custom homes, but it is their work in the non-profit realm that is most gratifying to them. They are the visionaries behind the Our House campus, the Our House Children’s Center, the Our House Career Center, the Max Milam Library Renovation and Addition and the Birch Tree Hope house - just to name a few.
“Helping our community and working with non-profits was where our heartstrings were and still are today,” Jennifer says. “We have been working with Our House since 2008 and have worked with CALS, THEA Foundation and Birch Tree Communities.”
Jennifer says creating buildings that enhance the lives of those in the community is important “because we are creating the environment we all live in. The built environment has such an impact on our souls.”
The couple also enjoy building custom homes because it brings the opportunity to form one-on-one relationships with homeowners.
But don’t ask them to choose a favorite project, because they can’t. They take pride in each and every one. “There’s pleasure in seeing people in the space, and it’s an extra when they tell you what it is about the space that they like or what their favorite space is or how they feel in the space,” Jennifer says.
Some of their upcoming projects include a new master plan for Christ Episcopal Church, a renovation to Calvary Episcopal Church in downtown Memphis and a Housing and Operations Center on the Our House campus.
Both say seeing a project through from conception to completion elicits mixed emotions.
“You’re so involved with the people and the details of the project, and then you turn it over to the family or clients to use, and it’s over,” Jennifer says. “Sometimes it’s like reading a good book — you don’t want it to end.”
Jeff and Jennifer’s architectural creations are exquisite examples of practical fine art. The two also are artists in the truest sense of the word.
While studying architecture at KU, Jennifer pursued an interest in photography, and still enjoys it as a creative outlet.
Jeff’s first love was art, which eventually led him to architecture. His painting has become a second career. The nationally renowned artist refers to his work as Architectural Abstract pantings. His art is shown at Boswell Mourot Fine Art in the SoMa neighborhood, Michael Warren Contemporary in Denver and Embrace Creatives in Detroit.
“I have been making art since second grade. That’s when I fell in love with creating art. I was painting and drawing figurative work all the way through college,” he says. “I had a breakthrough — or maybe a revelation to combine the architecture and art during my final college painting class. I used my architectural project as the inspiration for my final class painting. This was the first time the idea of merging architecture with painting occurred, which I have been pursuing to this day.
“I love the process,” Jeff says. “I love making something and adjusting it. The process of going back and forth — erasing and remaking. I’ve always enjoyed the process of creating.”
To see examples of Jeff’s work, visit jhortonartist.com. For more information about Herron Horton Architects, visit hh-architects.com.
“Helping our community and working with non-profits was where our heartstrings were and still are today."