Texas Woman’s University in Denton, TX

I love this chapel that Ford designed – his designs in places of worship have had this theme of keeping it docile and geometric on the exterior but bring about a breathtaking experience on the inside. Unfortunately the image of the interior doesn’t show the scale and scope of the inside, but google images of the place that showcase the weddings and ceremonies show a true depth inside the arches and the natural lighting through the stained glass on the procession aisle adds to the atmosphere.

Featured Image: https://www.discoverdenton.com/listing/little-chapel-in-the-woods/471/

Second Image: https://dentonrc.com/news/landmarks-legacies-many-hands-involved-in-little-chapels-development/article_fcf33f43-bb2b-5504-8ded-8f4b7bf10670.html

Before Covid really hit, my family was planning a short spring break trip to San Antonio and the San Fernando Cathedral was on the list, especially as we were wary of indoor events. Unfortunately I feel that some of its majestic structures get hidden away because of the lights that are displayed on it, making it more recognizable by those than its’ actual architecture.

La Villita is one of San Antonio’s first neighborhoods and the vision that Ford had in the restoration to “[make it ] a symbol and monument to those simple people who had made possible the great city which had grown up around it“. Again, for being called the grandfather of modern architecture, his works have such a charm to them that hide away the standard sharp ideas of modern architecture like Le Corbusier.

Because of the work O’Neil Ford did in the restoration of La Villita and the San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio, he was bestowed the honor of a National Historic Landmark, the only person to have received that honor still to this day.

Sources: https://www.trinity.edu/news/oneil-ford and https://www.lavillitasanantonio.com/History

Featured Image: https://havingfuninthetexassun.com/2021/05/31/this-free-light-show-on-the-san-antonio-riverwalk-is-a-must-see-when-visiting-the-alamo-city/

(5455 Northbrook drive, Dallas, TX in Preston Hollow)

I really like this house, I like the clean, geometric form of the exterior. The interior shots almost feels a little mid century modern if I’m remembering terms correctly. Further geometric aspects are seen in smaller details like the door and window below, the triangular glass panes and the haring bow pattern on the door. This is by far the most modern of Ford’s builds that I’ve looked at. Even still, the Texas environment and materials make it feel familiar that I wouldn’t recognize as Ford’s it in a newer modern ranch esque neighborhood today. Also with all of these builds the furnishings have really accentuated his design but I don’t know if he was responsible for those or if its original anymore.

Source and images: https://dougnewby.com/home/5455-northbrook-drive-dallas-texas/

O’Neil Ford is considered the Texan godfather to modern architecture. This is a house of his in a well off neighborhood, Turtle Creek Park. It is very striking to me the different styles and attributes of this house that he has showcased in the architecture. The interior is also lovely, very modern but homey with it’s white wooden window frames and baseboards.

He is also exceptionally well know for his design of key components of Trinity University, but until recently some of his drafting was lost. I cover more of his work on the Trinity University campus later, but looking at the images and skills portrayed on the drafts is really amazing.

Featured Image: https://sanantonioreport.org/lost-oneil-ford-drawings-trinity-university/

Source and Other Images: https://dougnewby.com/home/3514-rock-creek-drive-dallas-texas/

The Chyrsler Building is a very iconic New York horizon building, it’s art deco style making it a prominent feature of the cityscape. I first encountered it on ground level, seeing it from a distance to see it’s full height. But what really got me was the breathtaking view of the building from the top of the Empire State building and from the Top of the Rock. Being, somewhat, closer to eye level with its prominent tiered tower just made enjoying it even better. The Empire State building gets to change colors and be specific with what or who the colors are representing but the Chrysler’s lit up metal spikes remain timeless. 

I wanted to find out a little bit more about the building and I stumbled upon this article: https://www.metro-manhattan.com/blog/why-the-chrysler-building-sold-for-just-150m/. I did find it humorous that the building itself is built atop a piece of rented land that even the Chrysler company today doesn’t find itself in need of renting. The rent nearly quadrupled in one year from ~8 million dollars to 32 in 2019. Chrysler decided long ago to part with the building, but thankfully they have other things going for their brand than needing the tie to the 11^thtallest building in New York. 

Featured Image from: https://www.dezeen.com/2019/01/14/chrysler-building-for-sale-new-york/

Blog Image from: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/new-york-city/attractions/chrysler-building/a/poi-sig/382115/36207914/chrysler-building-for-sale-new-york/

A positive experience

Growing up in Tulsa, I always heard about Cain’s Ballroom, but in passing. Regardless, I had always expected it to be a formal dance hall as the name suggests. I had always thought it was odd when rock or metal bands advertised they would be playing there but I paid it no mind, figuring the prices to rent it out were better than the BOK center or due to following size. I was wrong, something I came to find out the first time I ever attended for my all-time favorite band. Turns out that Cain’s was one of those places that bands always want to play at least once, having a magical appeal. I can confidentially say that it does have a magical quality about it. 

I’m sure most concert halls do, but something about the rough and not quite dated, but rugged mix of architectural styles of the exterior just doesn’t match the interior and its purpose. The beamed roof and exposed ceiling of course look cool, but the function of it for the acoustics to dome over the crowd can be easily overlooked. 

I will also add that while the interior and exterior of Cain’s is like day and night, so is the exterior during the day and during the night. The lights of the city and their signs just draw your eye, the jagged rooftop line fading at night to focus on the gleams of light passing through the frosted windows along with snippets of music or cheering is such a sharp contrast to its silent, almost intimidating white washed brick structure during the day. One could compare it to a moody, hungover fan come waking up after a night out. 

Featured Image from: https://www.oklahoman.com/story/entertainment/columns/brandy-mcdonnell/2020/10/22/fundraising-concert-rock-folk-chili-cook-planned-tulsas-historic-cains-ballroom-with-format-pandemic/305132007/

Blog Image from: https://tulsaworld.com/entertainment/star-gazing-who-has-stars-on-cains-ballroom-walk-of-fame/article_a3c05153-6fce-5436-b80c-e6710a8c58f6.html

The Denver International Airport and Tulsa’s Eastland Mall: A Comparison

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           There is a very, very specific crowd who will understand this blog. I assume many people are familiar with the Denver International Airport (DIA), but most I’d say are unfamiliar with Tulsa’s Eastland Mall. Today, it’s called Eastgate Metroplex as it was refurbished after the initial decline in shopping malls occurred. A small part of me when I heard it was closing for renovations yearned for the interior courtyard to be demolished. This is the area that the two circus-like tent skylight structures sit above.

            I drove past this mall every day to my school, sometimes twice depending on the route we would take to and from. And I despised it. Still do, I failed my first attempt at a driver’s license here so I’m bitter about that and this strange piece of architecture. I can see why it was created, makes the courtyard and two story mall shopping area feel more elevated and open. However, the Tulsa Woodland Hill’s Mall achieves this effect in a much better and cleaner way. Malls aren’t typically the most handsome of structures, something that was discussed in the PBS documentary, “10 Buildings that Changed America,” with Victor Gruen’s Southdale Shopping Center. Like casino architecture, they’re built to keep you inside and shopping, but wanted to include natural light for the shoppers. 

            On the other side, the mountain range-esque top of the DIA pays homage to the Rocky Mountains in a much more balanced and sophisticated way. There is no curious curve or appearance of the circus being in town, the mountain peaks are successful in conveying their idea. It took me a few years to actually see the DIA as I approached it from land, never seeing it’s full glory due to peculiar angles from the air, but aware of it due to the interior roofing of the terminals. Even the interior’s curved ‘valley’s comes across more clean and appropriate for the setting that Eastland. 

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Eastland Mall Exterior: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastgate_Metroplex

Eastland Mall Interior: https://www.flickr.com/photos/losttulsa/46100607

Denver International Airport Exterior: https://ourcommunitynow.com/news-local/denver-international-airport-named-best-airport-in-north-america

Denver International Airport Interior: https://ourcommunitynow.com/news-local/denver-international-airport-named-best-airport-in-north-america

My first and only experience of the Tate Modern was in 2015. I was on a River Thames tour and we passed by it with some very critical remarks being passed on by our tour guide of the so called “lovely” architecture renovated to house an art museum. I must have missed that it was originally a power factory and had assumed it was built like this to house the art museum in mind. The smokestack was what had really grabbed my attention and steered me to have an ongoing negative relationship with it. I still think to this day that the removal of the chimney structure could increase the appeal of the building, especially to the viewers on the Thames. 

Delving into the history of the Tate Modern has made the idea more clear. I can see the appeal in the industrial, steel framing of the bones of this repurposed building to be used as a place to showcase modern art. One can see the possible conflict between the artists’ own pieces that may have subtext revolving around industrialism or climate change. But at the same time that allows the conversation of repurposing architecture for new, more responsible means. Not only was this space reused, but the materials were saved, and now it’s an educational experience, bringing more positive influence to locals and tourists alike than it had be neutrally providing power in the 1980s.  

Still, the sarcastic comments of the tour guide and just the overall style of the building still lead me to not be a fan of this building, but it has most definitely rooted a spot in my brain for one of least appealing structures I’ve seen. Art museums are often an exhibit in themselves, and the history is there but the aesthetic appeal does not mesh with my taste. Perhaps things would have been different if I had had the time to visit its’ interior before the snide comments of ‘London’s Ugliest Outdoor Art Exhibit’.

Featured Image from: https://www.loveexploring.com/galleryextended/70841/british-landmarks-2021?page=1

Top Image from: https://arquitecturaviva.com/works/ampliacion-tate-modern-londres-8