2014

I have been remiss in not posting recently, but we've been busy! 2014 is already looking very promising, with some exciting new projects getting underway and others finally nearing completion. To friends, colleagues, and especially our clients, thanks for making 2013 a "lucky" year, and Happy 2014!

Serpentine garage

Our parking garage for the Tarrant Regional Water District campus is nearing completion. It has two levels that are cut into the hillside, following the serpentine landform. This makes for a dynamic spatial experience as one moves through the center aisle.

We also designed the new office building, which is a close sibling of the headquarters building immediately to the south that I did in 2000 while at Gideon Toal. We collaborated with The Smith Group on both of the new projects.

Amphibian Stage Productions

I recently had the pleasure of working with Dror Baldinger AIA, photographer (and architect), to shoot two recent projects. Above is one of his beautiful images of the lobby at Amphibian Stage Productions. You can see more of his excellent work  at http://www.drorbaldinger.com/index.html. We'll have all of them up on our website soon.

Postcards

I will be one of twelve architects participating in the "Postcards" exhibition at the AIA Fort Worth Center for Architecture. It features 5" x 7" postcards with sketches, photos, or images from locations that have inspired each architect. My watercolor is called "Judd/Flavin/Marfa." The exhibit runs from September 7th through October 23rd.

Texas Pastoral

I've recently been studying a picturesque property near Rhome Texas. My clients, a brother and sister, have strong memories of time spent there as children. They are now grandparents, so the task is to create something that will make visits to the ranch as meaningful to the third generation as it was to them. The rolling landscape, graced by mature Post Oaks and lush meadows, provides a number of promising settings for a weekend home that will provide the backdrop for a new generation's wistful memories of youth.

New Silo images

I finally had the pleasure of dining (twice!) at Silo, a project we completed last year in Nashville. While the food alone made the trip worthwhile, I was there to work with the local architectural photographer Rachel Paul. These are three of of her beautiful shots; I'll have them all up on our website next week.

TRWD construction progress

Construction of the new administration building and parking garage for the Tarrant Regional Water District continues to progress. The office building is a close sibling of the adjacent headquarters building that I designed in 2001. A new two-level parking garage, which has a serpentine form that follows the shape of the hillside into which it is placed, preserves green space on the campus by minimizing surface parking.

Revisiting the past

I recently had the pleasure of attending a barbecue in honor of Lee Kleinman's election to Dallas City Council. The party was held at his home, which I designed for his family over twenty years ago. It was gratifying to see that the design has aged gracefully and to hear that he and his wife Lisa still very much enjoy living there.

TEDxUTA

I will be speaking at the inaugural TEDxUTA event- "Moving Forward"- on Monday, April 22nd. My talk, titled "Why place art in a waste water treatment plant?" addresses the role of public art in general and in Fort Worth in particular.  The event is sold out, but it can be streamed via the website: http://www.tedxuta.com. Above is my photo of one of the Medusa head column bases in the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul.

"A House for..." Exhibit

The "A House for..." exhibit opens at the AIA Fort Worth Center for Architecture (CfA) on Saturday March 23rd at 6pm, which is Spring Gallery Night. Local and invited guest architects have each submitted an image, all framed 11" x 14", based on the theme. My sketch (above) is titled "A House for Urban Living". The show is a silent auction in conjunction with the AIAFW Homes Tour, benefitting the CfA. Please stop by the CfA to make a bid for this worthy cause.

Home with a view

Progress on the home at 7R Ranch in Palo Pinto. In collaboration with Landscape Architect Bill Millsap of Studio Outside, the home was sited behind a stand of oaks and perched on a rocky bluff to capture the spectacular views.

Happy New Year