From March 2010 archived blog
by Gary Juren, Architect
Spring has sprung and it’s time to gas up the van, plug in the Garmin©, and head out on a road trip. Texas highways are so beautiful at this time of year. No excuses. Make the effort to discover our State’s built environment and celebrate our rich heritage. You will be glad you did.
Before you head out the door, let’s make a list. In order for you to identify the best examples of Texas’ built places, four criteria should be used. First, the place must have been touched by the hand of a designer. It must be man-made, rather than a place of natural beauty. For example, the Big Thicket Natural Preserve is spectacular but does not qualify for this conversation. Second, the place must have had a significant social, economic or cultural impact on the community of which it is a part. Third, the place must be more than a single building. This could be a master planned ensemble of elements that work together or an ad hoc grouping that transformed over time into an inspiring place. Remember, good architecture alone does not make for a great place. Fourth, the place must be found to generate an emotion within us. Places that bring us joy, pride, surprise, peace or sentimentality also give us our identity.
Architects have always felt that the design of our surroundings has a profound effect on the quality of our health, safety, intelligence and how we interact with each other. By simply identifying the best places in Texas, we will begin to understand the clues as to how our lives are enriched. These special places serve as a model of our essential values of order, community and sustainability. Recognizing the composition of the best places provides the framework for good decision making about our future built environment. This enlightenment will in turn take Texas to even greater places and move Texans to a better quality of life.
The following ten places embody my interpretation of some of Texas’ best places. Tell me, what’s on your list?
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| San Antonio Mission Trail (1724-1770) |
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| Fort Davis (1870’s) |
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| The Strand, Galveston (1870-1900) |
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The University of Texas at Austin
(original 40 acres 1910-1936) |
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| Paseo del Rio (Riverwalk), San Antonio (1929) |
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| Highland Park Village, Dallas (1931) |
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| Fair Park, Dallas (1936) |
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| Fort Worth Cultural District (1974-present) |
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| Solana, Southlake (1985) |
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| Dallas Arts District (1984-present) |
Buckle up, drive friendly, and send me photos of your trip. GJ.
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