The Open-Ended City David Dillon on Texas Architecture
In 1980, David Dillon launched his career as an architectural critic with a provocative article that asked “Why Is Dallas Architecture So Bad?" Over the next quarter century, he offered readers of the Dallas Morning News a vision of how good architecture and planning could improve quality of li...
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| Format | eBook |
| Language | English |
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Austin
University of Texas Press
2019
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| Edition | 1 |
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Table of Contents:
- Front Matter Table of Contents FOREWORD ACKNOWLEDGMENTS INTRODUCTION [1 Introduction] Why is Dallas architecture so bad? Architecture criticism and the public [2 Introduction] Erik Jonsson: How best-laid plans of ’60s helped create urban division Putting her faith in people, not systems: DART-chitecture: Urban salvage: Arts magnet: Shock of the NEW: Quick-fix syndrome: Dallas at the tipping point: Forward Dallas: Uptown’s victory in the making: [3 Introduction] A trip down memory four-lane: Why we should love freeways: Tower power: Building a city’s future: This idea won’t hold water: Big mess on the prairie: Safe havens: Stream dreams: Set sail with the latest Trinity River Plan: Shelter and shade: [4 Introduction] Is there a place for the arts in the Arts District? Can sculpture keep its place in the sun? Giant skyscrapers threaten to overshadow DMA garden Donald Judd’s austere kingdom: Remaking a masterpiece: San Antonio museum: Economy, additions revive Arts District: Constructing culture: Hidden riches: State of the arts in Fort Worth: Thoroughly modern museum: Knitting together the Arts District: A design so artful, you may not notice: [5 Introduction] Preserving a painful past: The storm over Mrs. Craft’s house: The state of State-Thomas: Urban History: Library or parking lot? In Grapevine, everything old is news: Preservation times two: A tale of two houses: Saving beauty: [6 Introduction] The education of Harlan Crow: Dilbeck, Meyer, and Ford: Dream houses: Young guns: Art and Commerce: Artists in residence: Dallas developer builds reputation for creativity: Stately grace: [7 Introduction] Built fast: Borrowing from the past: Instant history on the prairie: The Crescent: A prism on the skyline: The new skyline: A decade of dazzle: Painting the prairie: A sound beginning: An old friend triumphs anew: A way of life set in stone: Score it a hit: The Rachofsky residence is an artistic triumph: Routine flight: A monument to heroes: Let it be: AFTERWORD: INDEX
- 2. Rethinking Downtown Erik Jonsson: Contemporary Dallas is a testament to his grand vision as mayor, August 17, 1986 Putting her faith in people, not systems: Author Jane Jacobs talks of how city planning fails, and offers some solutions, May 14, 1993 Arts magnet: Fort Worth is trading its Cowtown image for one geared more toward culture, May 3, 1998 Urban salvage: The loft life is transforming downtown, March 8, 1998 Foreword DART-chitecture: Light-rail system's clean design enhances Dallas, June 18, 1996 Architecture criticism and the public, Texas Architect, 2009 Acknowledgments Introduction 1. The Critic's Voice Why is Dallas architecture so bad? Because we're trying to look like too many other cities: big and boring, D Magazine, 1980 How best-laid plans of '60s helped create urban division, December 8, 1991 Shock of the NEW: The downtown-housing boom has forged winners and losers, January 14, 2001 Quick-fix syndrome: To revitalize downtown, the whole must outweigh the parts, March 31, 2002 Dallas at the tipping point: Community, April 18, 2004 Forward Dallas: Would it work? Yes, if the city finds the money and leaders to see it through, says architecture critic David Dillon, May 7, 2006 Uptown's victory in the making: After early struggles, Perot Jr. presides over urban boomtown, June 21, 2006 3. The Metropolitan Landscape A trip down memory four-lane: Highway 80 once carried travelers from coast to coast. Super highways put an end to that, but not to its vintage charms, April 7, 1985 Why we should love freeways: Dallas was built not only by freeways but for them—made to be seen at 60 mph with the top down, June 3, 1990 Tower power: Water tanks rise to provide scenery, a sense of place, ad space, islands of roadside whimsy, January 20, 1991 Building a city's future: Habitat for Humanity has an answer for urban blight, October 4, 1992 This idea won't hold water: Trinity River Parks Plan will only create a river of concrete, May 30, 1993 Big mess on the prairie: The ubiquitous North Dallas Special becomes a Texas tradition, October 2, 1994 Safe havens: Gated communities are appealing to today's yearning for security, June 19, 1994 Stream dreams: The Trinity River plan is huge; so are its potential problems, August 15, 1999 Set sail with the latest Trinity River Plan: With something for everyone, time to begin long-delayed project, March 30, 2003 Shelter and shade: A city project brings architecture to the people, May 1, 2008 4. Arts Districts Is there a place for the arts in the Arts District? Conceived as a downtown cultural oasis, it's developed into a real estate playground, October 13, 1985 Can sculpture keep its place in the sun? Giant skyscrapers threaten to overshadow DMA garden, July 2, 1985 Donald Judd's austere kingdom: A sculptor driven by a powerful vision has made the southwest Texas landscape his own museum, February 12, 1989 Remaking a masterpiece: The Kimbell should rethink its expansion plan, October 29, 1989 San Antonio museum: A recycling success story, April 21, 1991 Economy, additions revive Arts District: Backers hope area at last fulfills its potential, July 26, 1998 Constructing culture: New museums are springing up in all corners of Texas, April 18, 1999 Hidden riches: A calm exterior doesn't give away new Houston museum's interior surprises, March 25, 2000 State of the arts in Fort Worth: Museum is latest gem in Cultural District, but area still lacks identity, November 17, 2002 Thoroughly modern museum: The Kimbell's new neighbor is strong, simple building design at its best. Serene spaces, commitment to craftsmanship help reaffirm FW's standing as an oasis for art, December 8, 2002 Knitting together the Arts District: Master plan for performance center envisions an area linked by plazas, greenery, and people, September 10, 2003 A design so artful, you may not notice: At Nasher Sculpture Center, what you don’t see is as impressive as what you do. Architect Piano creates a precise blend of light, texture, and mood, October 19, 2003 5. Historic Preservation Preserving a painful past: Controversial tower would bring people to Oswald's perch, August 16, 1987 The storm over Mrs. Craft's house: The late civil rights leader's home offers a lesson in the politics of preservation, March 13, 1988 The state of State-Thomas: A once-vital downtown area is poised to come back to life. So why doesn't it? December 25, 1988 Urban History: Fort Worth's Southside has stayed in character, March 23, 1989 Library or parking lot? Time is running out for a downtown Fort Worth landmark, September 1, 1990 In Grapevine, everything old is news: City hopes efforts to preserve its past will be drawing card for business in future, November 3, 1991 Preservation times two: New museum will hold history of women and Fair Park building, October 18, 1998 A tale of two houses: Notable buildings face different fates as preservationists and developers clash, January 4, 2004 Saving beauty: The quirky glories of the Mercantile Building escape the wrecking ball, February 19, 2006 6. Texas Architects And Developers The education of Harlan Crow: The son of the world's largest developer wants to build a few good buildings and a liveable downtown. But first, he had to teach himself how, November 11, 1984 Dilbeck, Meyer, and Ford: Dallas architects of the forties and fifties and their enduring contributions, October 6, 1985 Dream houses: Rediscovering Hal Thomson's legacy of architectural eclecticism, January 25, 1988 Young guns: A new generation of architects is redrawing the Texas landscape, June 23, 1991 Art and commerce: Dallas architects Lang & Witchell left a legacy of eclectic designs, July 5, 1992 Artists in residence: A handful of architects champion modern flair amid retro-house Dallas, June 23, 2002 Dallas developer builds reputation for creativity: Cheatham's eclectic mix of modernity has trusted foundation, June 23, 2002 Stately grace: Meadows exhibit celebrates Mark Lemmon's landmarks, April 11, 2005 7. Aesthetics And Architecture Built fast: But they last. Avion Village was built as temporary wartime housing in 1941, but its sturdy, prefab walls are standing strong forty-four years later, July 28, 1985 Borrowing from the past: Industrial-age Crystal Palace influences computer-age Infomart, January 13, 1985 Instant history on the prairie: In drawing on the past, architects have achieved the hopelessly eclectic in the new land north of LBJ, January 19, 1986 The Crescent: Dallas's newest, glitziest high-rise promises us a great building, but does it deliver the goods? March 30, 1986 A prism on the skyline: Allied Bank Tower adds a unique and changing shape, September 28, 1986 The new skyline: Once it looked like Everytown, USA. Now Dallas has grown up, December 13, 1987 A decade of dazzle: At its ten-year mark, the Hyatt says Dallas like no other building, May 10, 1988 Painting the prairie: IBM's splashy new headquarters brightens a gray flannel image, October 9, 1988 A sound beginning: The Meyerson—elitist enclave or municipal monument? September 17, 1989 An old friend triumphs anew: The Hall of State redo affirms the power of great architecture, November 14, 1989 A way of life set in stone: Cistercian Abbey's church evokes history, May 29, 1992 Score it a hit: The Ballpark in Arlington may not be a home run, but it’s pleasing enough to drive in plenty of fans, April 10, 1994 The Rachofsky residence is an artistic triumph: Meier's world-class design achieves his utopian ideal, November 10, 1996 Routine flight: By playing it safe on design, the new arena misses the chance to soar, July 30, 2001 A monument to heroes: Dallas Police Memorial is an edgy, contemporary tribute that's a triumph, April 8, 2001 Let it be: Don't move it or redesign it. The JFK Memorial is what it is, April 10, 2006 Afterword. The Tradition of Architecture Criticism in Texas Index Half Title Page, Series Page, Title Page, Copyright Contents Cover
- Thoroughly modern museum: The Kimbell's new neighbor is strong, simple building design at its best. Serene spaces, commitment to craftsmanship help reaffirm FW's standing as an oasis for art, December 8, 2002 -- Knitting together the Arts District: Master plan for performance center envisions an area linked by plazas, greenery, and people, September 10, 2003 -- Untitled -- 5. Historic Preservation -- Preserving a painful past: Controversial tower would bring people to Oswald's perch, August 16, 1987 -- The storm over Mrs. Craft's house: The late civil rights leader's home offers a lesson in the politics of preservation, March 13, 1988 -- The state of State-Thomas: A once-vital downtown area is poised to come back to life. So why doesn't it? December 25, 1988 -- Urban History: Fort Worth's Southside has stayed in character, March 23, 1989 -- Library or parking lot? Time is running out for a downtown Fort Worth landmark, September 1, 1990 -- In Grapevine, everything old is news: City hopes efforts to preserve its past will be drawing card for business in future, November 3, 1991 -- Preservation times two: New museum will hold history of women and Fair Park building, October 18, 1998 -- A tale of two houses: Notable buildings face different fates as preservationists and developers clash, January 4, 2004 -- Saving beauty: The quirky glories of the Mercantile Building escape the wrecking ball, February 19, 2006 -- 6. Texas Architects And Developers -- The education of Harlan Crow: The son of the world's largest developer wants to build a few good buildings and a liveable downtown. But first, he had to teach himself how, November 11, 1984 -- Dilbeck, Meyer, and Ford: Dallas architects of the forties and fifties and their enduring contributions, October 6, 1985
- Tower power: Water tanks rise to provide scenery, a sense of place, ad space, islands of roadside whimsy, January 20, 1991 -- Building a city's future: Habitat for Humanity has an answer for urban blight, October 4, 1992 -- This idea won't hold water: Trinity River Parks Plan will only create a river of concrete, May 30, 1993 -- Big mess on the prairie: The ubiquitous "North Dallas Special" becomes a Texas tradition, October 2, 1994 -- Safe havens: Gated communities are appealing to today's yearning for security, June 19, 1994 -- Stream dreams: The Trinity River plan is huge -- so are its potential problems, August 15, 1999 -- Set sail with the latest Trinity River Plan: With something for everyone, time to begin long-delayed project, March 30, 2003 -- Shelter and shade: A city project brings architecture to the people, May 1, 2008 -- 4. Arts Districts -- Is there a place for the arts in the Arts District? Conceived as a downtown cultural oasis, it's developed into a real estate playground, October 13, 1985 -- Can sculpture keep its place in the sun? Giant skyscrapers threaten to overshadow DMA garden, July 2, 1985 -- Donald Judd's austere kingdom: A sculptor driven by a powerful vision has made the southwest Texas landscape his own museum, February 12, 1989 -- Remaking a masterpiece: The Kimbell should rethink its expansion plan, October 29, 1989 -- San Antonio museum: A recycling success story, April 21, 1991 -- Economy, additions revive Arts District: Backers hope area at last fulfills its potential, July 26, 1998 -- Constructing culture: New museums are springing up in all corners of Texas, April 18, 1999 -- Hidden riches: A calm exterior doesn't give away new Houston museum's interior surprises, March 25, 2000 -- State of the arts in Fort Worth: Museum is latest gem in Cultural District, but area still lacks identity, November 17, 2002
- A way of life set in stone: Cistercian Abbey's church evokes history, May 29, 1992 -- Arlington -- The Rachofsky residence is an artistic triumph: Meier's world-class design achieves his utopian ideal, November 10, 1996 -- Routine flight: By playing it safe on design, the new arena misses the chance to soar, July 30, 2001 -- A monument to heroes: Dallas Police Memorial is an edgy, contemporary tribute that's a triumph, April 8, 2001 -- Let it be: Don't move it or redesign it. The JFK Memorial is what it is, April 10, 2006 -- Afterword. The Tradition of Architecture Criticism in Texas (Stephen Fox) -- Index
- Intro -- Foreword (Robert Decherd) -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction (Kathryn E. Holliday) -- 1. The Critic's Voice -- Why is Dallas architecture so bad? Because we're trying to look like too many other cities: big and boring, D Magazine, 1980 -- Architecture criticism and the public, Texas Architect, 2009 -- 2. Rethinking Downtown -- Erik Jonsson: Contemporary Dallas is a testament to his grand vision as mayor, August 17, 1986 -- How best-laid plans of '60s helped create urban division, December 8, 1991 -- Putting her faith in people, not systems: Author Jane Jacobs talks of how city planning fails, and offers some solutions, May 14, 1993 -- DART-chitecture: Light-rail system's clean design enhances Dallas, June 18, 1996 -- Urban salvage: The loft life is transforming downtown, March 8, 1998 -- Arts magnet: Fort Worth is trading its "Cowtown" image for one geared more toward culture, May 3, 1998 -- Shock of the NEW: The downtown-housing boom has forged winners and losers, January 14, 2001 -- Quick-fix syndrome: To revitalize downtown, the whole must outweigh the parts, March 31, 2002 -- Dallas at the tipping point: Community, April 18, 2004 -- Forward Dallas: Would it work? Yes, if the city finds the money and leaders to see it through, says architecture critic David Dillon, May 7, 2006 -- Uptown's victory in the making: After early struggles, Perot Jr. presides over urban boomtown, June 21, 2006 -- 3. The Metropolitan Landscape -- A trip down memory four-lane: Highway 80 once carried travelers from coast to coast. Super highways put an end to that, but not to its vintage charms, April 7, 1985 -- Why we should love freeways: Dallas was built not only by freeways but for them-made to be seen at 60 mph with the top down, June 3, 1990
- Dream houses: Rediscovering Hal Thomson's legacy of architectural eclecticism, January 25, 1988 -- Young guns: A new generation of architects is redrawing the Texas landscape, June 23, 1991 -- Art and commerce: Dallas architects Lang & -- Witchell left a legacy of eclectic designs, July 5, 1992 -- Artists in residence: A handful of architects champion modern flair amid retro-house Dallas, June 23, 2002 -- Dallas developer builds reputation for creativity: Cheatham's eclectic mix of modernity has trusted foundation, June 23, 2002 -- Stately grace: Meadows exhibit celebrates Mark Lemmon's landmarks, April 11, 2005 -- 7. Aesthetics And Architecture -- Built fast: But they last. Avion Village was built as temporary wartime housing in 1941, but its sturdy, prefab walls are standing strong forty-four years later, July 28, 1985 -- Borrowing from the past: Industrial-age Crystal Palace influences computer-age Infomart, January 13, 1985 -- Instant history on the prairie: In drawing on the past, architects have achieved the hopelessly eclectic in the new land north of LBJ, January 19, 1986 -- The Crescent: Dallas's newest, glitziest high-rise promises us a great building, but does it deliver the goods? March 30, 1986 -- A prism on the skyline: Allied Bank Tower adds a unique and changing shape, September 28, 1986 -- The new skyline: Once it looked like Everytown, USA. Now Dallas has grown up, December 13, 1987 -- A decade of dazzle: At its ten-year mark, the Hyatt says "Dallas" like no other building, May 10, 1988 -- Painting the prairie: IBM's splashy new headquarters brightens a gray flannel image, October 9, 1988 -- A sound beginning: The Meyerson-elitist enclave or municipal monument? September 17, 1989 -- An old friend triumphs anew: The Hall of State redo affirms the power of great architecture, November 14, 1989