Studio

We’ve built a team of passionate individuals, each with deep experience and a unique take on what it means to create a home.

RIOS Home in the Press

Home is a place you love

Home is so much more than the walls that contain it — it’s a holistic approach to a way of living. Home invites the choreography of everyday life to intermingle with thoughtful spaces, landscapes and gardens, or architectural moments that enhance how its owner aspires to live.

Our commitment to defining a spatial arrangement that perfectly fits our clients lives dictates that no two of our projects share the same style, while they will share a dedication to the highest quality craft and experience.

As we learn about and from our clients, we shape the experiences that will fulfill them — gardens set aglow for an evening walk or early morning coffee; places designed to showcase beloved collections, objects, and art; sequences that allow daily rituals to become small but important ceremonies; spaces that bring together the most important people in the most special ways.

For every place, its own story

Our homes bring to life their owner’s dreams about how they aspire to live. Form and organization are tailored to the client’s lifestyle, working in tandem with the site to frame views and create rich experiences.

Telling a story is key and the narrative is carefully shaped by the site and its residents. Ledge House is about living in a calm, cloud-like space floating over the city, with balmy views that dissolve stress with their warmth. House of Love, built for newlyweds, filters light through the lens of love. The New Barn transforms a dated structure into an open and transparent showcase for art in the garden.

If there is a common thread in our residential designs, it is this process of deep investigation that leads us to a story. The way we think about living and entertaining helps to inform every decision and enrich each moment.

Meet the Team

Mark Rios

FAIA, FASLA

Creative Director

Formally trained in both architecture and landscape architecture, Mark sees the interrelationship of indoor and outdoor environments as vital to creating homes that exude comfort and increase livability. He founded his practice in 1985 with a singular vision: to imagine, design, and build complete environments. Mark works closely with clients to understand their lifestyle so that his designs are an extension of their owner’s sensibilities, tastes, and ways of living.

Sebastian Salvado

Creative Director

Sebastian’s strength as a designer stems from his ability to execute solidly articulated concepts through strong form creation and the sequencing of spaces and experiences. As a Creative Director, he is involved every aspect of design, from the first site walk to completion. His wide range of experience enables him to excel in many areas — from solutions as conceptual as the initial design idea to those as specific as the furniture that completes the project.

Bob Hale

FAIA

Creative Director

Bob brings deep experience in planning and designing residential projects over his distinguished career. He fosters creative endeavors with his clients through an open and collaborative process, while simultaneously harnessing our team’s talent for creating beautiful places. The homes that he creates reflect their owner’s style and story, and have drawn interest from Interior Design, Architectural Record, and The New York Times.

Huay Wee

LEED AP

Managing Studio Director, Architecture

Huay manages the client experience throughout the project, while orchestrating studio teams that elevate design excellence. Her confident presence on the construction site comes from her project experiences and an attitude that craftsmen and builders play an integral role in the fabrication of fine design. All her efforts focus on translating design ideas into exquisitely built forms and pursuing long-term relationships with talented craftspeople and artists to create great design with precision and detail.

Nate Cormier

ASLA, PLA, LEED AP

Managing Studio Director, Landscape Architecture

Nate co-leads the landscape architecture practice with a focus on dynamic natural spaces that view design as a way of storytelling. His projects unearth stories of place as that serve as a backdrop for authentic living in the garden. His collective wisdom in global cultures and environmental topics contribute to inventive ways to make people comfortable in outdoor spaces across different climates.

Melanie Freeland

AIA

Studio Director, Interior Architecture

Melanie brings an infectious enthusiasm for creativity to our residential practice. Her background includes architecture experience as well as architectural interiors, making her a holistic designer with a wide range of skills. Her past experience with prominent artists on site-specific installations as well as her diverse work experience shape her perspective on creating spaces for living.

Peter Emerson

ASLA

Studio Director, Landscape Architecture

Peter co-leads the landscape practice at RIOS. He melds landscape and planning with architecture at all scales of design. Peter is a diligent and thoughtful designer whose curiosity leads to a deep understanding of his client’s needs and how to best solve for them. Peter finds balance in his work by working closely with clients and collaborators to create inspiring places for people to live, work, and play.

Brent Jacobsen

ASLA

Studio Director, Landscape Architecture

Brent co-leads the landscape practice and has experience leading projects in settings across the West, including California, New Mexico, Nevada, and Montana. He is a versatile designer that understands the layers that contribute to a successful residential landscape. He also directs the firm’s efforts regarding landscape performance. As a result, his work creates engaging and resilient solutions for projects that provide lasting value and tangible benefits.