He brings a painterly approach to the composition of houses and gardens. Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Joel received his Master in Architecture from Princeton University, where he was awarded the Thesis Prize, after receiving a Bachelor of Science from Georgia Institute of Technology. He also attended the Ecoles d’Art Americaines en France Fontainebleau. Before forming Ike Kligerman Barkley, he worked for Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, Robert A.M. Stern Architects and Diller + Scofidio. Joel has illustrated several gardening books, and maintains an organic garden in Bernardsville, New Jersey.