Home, Heat, Money, God: Texas and Modern Architecture

by Kathryn E. O'Rourke, Ben Koush

Thematically focused analysis of modern architecture throughout Texas with gorgeous photographs illustrating works by famous and lesser-known architects. In the mid-twentieth century, dramatic social and political change coincided with the ascendance and evolution of architectural modernism in Texas. Between the 1930s and 1980s, a state known for cowboys and cotton fields rapidly urbanized and became a hub of global trade and a heavyweight in national politics. Relentless ambition and a strong sense of place combined to make Texans particularly receptive to modern architecture’s implication of newness, forward-looking attitude, and capacity to reinterpret historical forms in novel ways. As money and people poured in, architects and their clients used modern buildings to define themselves and the state. Illustrated with stunning photographs by architect Ben Koush, Home, Heat, Money, God analyzes buildings in big cities and small towns by world-famous architects, Texas titans, and lesser-known designers. Architectural historian Kathryn O’Rourke describes the forces that influenced architects as they addressed basic needs—such as staying cool in a warming climate and living in up-to-date housing—and responded to a culture driven by potent religiosity, by the countervailing pressures of pluralism and homogenization, and by the myth of Texan exceptionalism.

Genres: Art

280 pages, Hardcover

Published May 7, 2024

Reviews

[Texas Standard · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re an architecture buff, this one's for you. This book looks at architectural trends in Texas starting in the 20th century as the state modernized, taking you through a visual tour with its beautiful photography.

[Joseph Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I particularly appreciated the articulate and concise writing in this book.

It was printed in Canada.