Douglas Newby Insights - Page 18
Basque Sculpture Museum
Museums are in the city. Churches, estate homes, and castles are in the countryside. At least this is what I have come to anticipate. So, how fabulous to find a museum secluded in the countryside. The Chillida Museum was at one time the home of Eduardo Chillida. This artist dreamed of turning his land into a sculpture garden. In addition to this accomplishment, the Chillida home was turned into a museum. What a great example of architecturally significant adaptive use. The interior of the home was gutted, but this emphasized the structure of the residence, the thickness of the walls, and the materials. The interior accommodates the program of the museum and still allows a residential feel to linger. The interior materials and expressions reflect the region while making a strong architectural statement. *Basque Sculpture Museum
#Museum @ChillidaLeku #Chillida #ChillidaLeku #EduardoChillida #Art #Artist #Sculpture #Architecture #Architect #AdaptiveReUse #InteriorDesign #Stone #Wood #Sculptor #Basque #HernaniSpain
Basque Sculpture
This sculpture, to me, represents Basque Country. The iron could have come from the Pyrenees, emerging from the ground and blending into trees reflects the countryside, and the fluidity of these monumental shapes invokes the power of the sea. Why are some regions known for smokestacks or technology centers and others are known for artisanship? It has just occurred to me that the roots of any indigenous art/architecture is artisanship. Distinctive Basque houses, similar in style, materials, color are not monotonous because of the obvious and subliminal artisanship. San Sebastian might have the most Michelin Star restaurants per capita of any city in the world. The Mayor of San Sebastian, visiting Dallas for the international New Cities conference, gave me a San Sebastian apron. Of course, I had him sign it! From the hand-crafted, flavorful, hearty pintxos found along the old city streets of San Sebastian to the 20-course foam-dominated tasting menu of Arzak, by Chef Elena Arzak, previously named best female chef in the world, culinary artisanship is a way of life. San Sebastian is even the site of the international fireworks competition. After formulamatic fireworks displays to which we are accustomed, one can really appreciate the one-off artisanship of pyrotechnics at its best. So, it makes sense in the San Sebastian countryside town of Hernani, there is the Chillida Leku sculpture garden celebrating a Basque artist, Eduardo Chillida. A friend and fervent international traveler, Harriet Rubin, first mentioned this museum to me. Like a new vocabulary word, it immediately appeared in the Wall Street Journal as a museum to visit while abroad. Accustomed to the size and scale of the fabulous Nasher Sculpture Center, I was thinking the Chillida museum would be of a similar scale and what a fabulous surprise to find Chillida sculpture spread out over 25 glorious acres and surrounded by countryside. Now, it is my turn to recommend that you visit this Chillida Leku garden and museum also. *Basque Sculpture
#Art #Artist #Sculpture #Museum #SculptureMuseum #Basque #BasqueArt #BasqueArtist #BasqueSculpture #SanSebastian #ChillidaLeku #EduardoChillida #ArzakRestaurant
House of Fashion
The first house of fashion I supported as a child was that of French designer Rene Lacoste. How can a child not enjoy the glorious colors and full piqué weave of a Lacoste three-button shirt. Every so often I am called to take a pilgrimage to Rene Lacoste’s house, fittingly next to the Chantaco Golf Club where his daughter, the US Open champion, is also celebrated. I enjoy honoring his fashion instincts and legacy. My lifetime fondness for his shirts with the crocodile are just like his house—sturdy, understated, with a pleasing palette. Now, every year, I add to my Lacoste fashion repertoire by also going to Espadrilles par Nicole Paries and purchasing a few pair of espadrilles, selected with the help of fashion consultant @Catherin_Mathilde, including these pictured in Basque red. *House of Fashion
#Chantaco #Lacoste #SaintJeanDeLuz #StJeanDeLuz @SaintJeanDeLuz #Crocodile #FashionHouse #HouseOfFashion #ReneLacoste #TennisShirt #Design #Basque #Espadrille @Espadrille_Paries @Catherin_Mathilde
Chef-Owned Restaurant
Mr. Melios, who you will see when you slide through, cooks with love, pride, and professionalism to create joy for his diners. Char Bar spans my entire memory of Greenville Ave. since SMU. In my early years with still a posh suburban sensibility, dragged there by friends in the wee hours of the morning, surrounded by a crowd that might be awake at 3:00 a.m., I was not particularly impressed. What a difference decades later makes, visiting with greater insights, at 3:00 p.m. rather than 3:00 a.m. Now, the even greater layers of patina feel like Dallas history has been richly varnished in place. Char Bar exudes a straightforward honesty that is so rare today. Really inspiring was how good the food was! The grilled cheese with tomatoes and pickles was even better than those at the old Highland Park pharmacy. I asked that the bacon be burned on my BLT— don’t be bashful, the chef smiled, “I will turn up the heat on the griddle.” The chef visited my table and had a satisfied smile when I said I loved it. Here is a chef/owner, after almost 50 years still cares. Never mentioned was the Sept. 22 closing. Expressing my pleasure, he said he always strove for quality and joy that comes from good food. Did I mention a meal at Char Bar costs less than my espresso in the morning? He mentioned his son, a chef, is the general manager of an upscale Dallas restaurant. My father once told me one could not learn to be a farmer in ag school but needed to grow up on a farm. I mentioned in the same way, a restaurant manager needs to grow up in a kitchen. Mr. Melios smiled and said I was exactly right. Greenville Ave. since college was my walking or biking route to SMU. The sparsely attended but raw nightlife made the journey interesting—an open daytime strip club was across the street from The Grape. Greenville Ave evolved, gyrating from bad, better, worse, improved—Char Bar was a buoyant landmark in every era. *Chef-Owned Restaurant
@MeliosBrosCharBar #GreenvilleAve #CharBar #CharBarDallas #Dallas #LowerGreenville #DallasNeighborhood #ChefOwned #DallasHistory
Entrance Bench
A cast stone park bench under a tree canopy was positioned in the front yard of the home I purchased the year I graduated from SMU. In a neighborhood of similar-looking early 20th century homes, the park bench was distinct and inviting. I purchased the home with all of its contents except for the personal effects of the elderly owner. This included all the furniture, pots, pans, and even the icepick hanging on the bedroom door for protection. The contents were much appreciated as I was moving from a college apartment on Rosedale. But the seller insisted on taking the park bench. Maybe that is the reason I have such a soft spot for entry benches like this one by the front door of a White Rock Lake home. Benches are a welcoming symbol of the home and neighborhood. *Entrance Bench
#ParkBench #EntryBench #Dallas #Welcome #Landscape #Architecture #DallasNeighborhood
Motion Passes – Pegasus Sells
From my suggesting the name Pegasus for the bank as it was being formed, to making the motion to accept the results of the shareholder vote to sell the bank, this investment has had a sentimental appeal to me. The sale also represents an evolution of Dallas and the closing of a circle of longstanding banking relationships with Joe Goyne. I first met Joe at a Christmas party of architect Michael Brown on Swiss Avenue when I had just started graduate school at SMU. Joe suggested I look under my mattress, empty the pillowcases, and look in all my pockets to pull together some money to open an account at Grand Bank. I did just that. At the bank when I emptied all my pockets holding various denominations and types of currency, checks, and remittances, it made a mound on his desk. He immediately called in the other bank officers to take a look. Since then, Joe Goyne, who started as a teller at Lakewood Bank, became President of Grand Bank, Vice Chairman of Comerica Bank, started Lone Star Bank, and then founded his last venture, Pegasus Bank. Along the way has been the creation of a historic district, building the first two new houses in Munger Place after it became a historic district, a Restoration House of the Year Award and many other shared civic ventures that we worked on together. Congratulations to Joe, the officers and staff, and other shareholders for a successful sale. Wishing Joe continued success as a banker working for the new out-of-state bank. *Motion Passes – Pegasus Sells
#PegasusBank #Pegasus #JoeGoyne #Bank #DallasBank #Dallas #DallasNeighborhood #DallasHistory #PegasusSale #Banker
Topo Chico Again On My Mind
Whenever the temperature goes over 100 degrees, my mind always goes to Topo Chico. A tall Topo Chico, a short Topo Chico, coffee backed by Topo Chico, or Topo Chico on ice. A 100-degree day is a Topo Chico day. *Topo Chico Again On My Mind
#TopoChico @TopoChicoUSA #HotSummerDay #Mantle #Design #Dallas #HistoricHome @nataliehasty #DallasNeighborhood
Neighborhood Modern
This neighborhood modern home is in contrast to the proliferation of builder modern spec homes that are more about modern ornamentation than good design. This modern home in a neighborhood of renovated cottages is respectful of the setbacks, the scale is pleasing, and the front façade also has a hint of an Old East Dallas Airplane Bungalow. Even at a glance, it is easy to identify this as an architect-designed home. *Neighborhood Modern
#Dallas #Architect #Architecture #LakewoodHills #Dallas Neighborhood #EastDallas #SantaFeTrail #UrbanHome #NeighborhoodModern #Design #PathToTrinityGroves
Will Murchison Makes Impact
The late John McElroy, an artist who became Chair of the Meadows School of the Arts at SMU once told me that many of his best graduate art students had undergraduate engineering degrees. He encouraged those with a less formal art background and then watched them as their work often exceeded the success of those with the traditional art trajectory. It was immensely satisfying to see at the Erin Cluley Gallery the work of Will Murchison, who has more recently dedicated himself to art. His work held up well in the summer show at the Erin Cluley Gallery, and made a definite impact on those who came to see the art exhibited at the coordinated openings of many galleries in the Design District and across Dallas. Will Murchison exhibit pieces exuded passion, point of view, and a deft use of color. Dallas is fortunate to have the number of excellent galleries, accomplished and recognized artists, and emerging artists that make Dallas a vibrant city of artists and collectors. *Will Murchison Makes Impact
#Art #ArtGallery #SummerArtExhibitions #ArtOpenings #GalleryOpening #WillMurchison @WillMurch1 @ErinCluleyGallery #ErinCluleyGallery #DesignDistrict #Dallas #JohnMcElroy
#DallasNeighborhood #Painting #Design
European Interpretation
Often when in Europe, I see homes that offer a delightful surprise. Just as some modern homes have living spaces linked by outside pavilions and European homes might have an auxiliary cottage close by, the central corridor of this home is covered by the second story but is open at both ends. This open corridor allows one from the wrought iron front gated door to see through the house to the garden, park, and White Rock Lake. Proceeding through this open corridor, doors facing each other, one opens to the main living areas and bedrooms, and the opposite door opens to additional living spaces and two guest bedrooms. Wraparound terraces, porches, balcony porches, and second floor terraces link the primary spaces of the home with the guest spaces. These balconies and terraces also provide spectacular views of the park and White Rock Lake. These views are shared by the informal and formal living rooms and bedrooms. This design allows a neighborhood home to become a home removed from the neighborhood with only views of trees, parks, and the lake. It is fun to see a home on .5 acres that has an environment one would associate with several acres and one that would cost several million dollars more. *European Interpretation
#WhiteRockLake #ArboretumPoint #Architecture #DallasNeighborhood #Dallas #EmeraldIsle #Design #PathToSMU #PathToDeepEllum #PathToTrinityGroves #landscape