This year, DEMX architecture took our annual field trip to the Dallas/ Fort Worth area. These excursions are a great inspiration for our team, our work, and our creativity. We pack a lot of cool architecture and good food into three days. With so much to see and eat, we packed Dallas into two days and Fort Worth into one day. Keep scrolling to see some highlights from the trip!
The first day we immediately stopped for lunch after the 5 hour drive that morning. We expanded our horizons and tried True Food Kitchen. Everyone agreed it was great (besides not having Dr Pepper for Seth) and we were stuffed for our next visit….Webb Chapel Park Pavilion by Studio Joseph. We appreciated the amazing structure and simplicity of this pavilion. As designers, of course we studied all details, touched all surfaces, and conversed about design intentions. The Kalita Humphrey’s Theater was one of the last completed buildings Frank Lloyd Wright designed. The theater still produces productions today, but we were lucky to visit it in between shows. We are always inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s work.
Later in the afternoon, after a quick stop at Chocolate Secrets (you must go if haven’t yet!), we visited The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. We learned more about the JFK assassination and the investigations following. As we were going through the museum there was a special visitor with a large group (and security!) getting a tour. We shortly found out it was the President of Brazil! Tim kindly offered to take a picture for one of the security personnel, who was then able to get our picture with the president. After a freshen up at the hotel, we headed to Cooper’s Meat Market & Kitchen for a filling steak dinner! We found the quaint Jettison Cocktail Bar right around the corner to end the day.
Day two DEMX architecture made an early head start to Fort Worth to have breakfast at Yolk in Sundance Square. Parking downtown is not easy to find, but if you’re not driving it’s a great way to see downtown! Our morning consisted of a self-guided tour of the Modern Art Museum and a scheduled tour of the Kimbell Art Museum and Piano Pavilion. Seeing Louis Kahn’s work in person, learning about the design process and intentions, and taking in all the details was so inspiring. As a special experience, we were permitted access to the upper level of the Kimbell and were able to touch the vaults and see, firsthand, detail intentions of Kahn. In 2013, there was a second pavilion built on the grounds of the Kimbell Museum designed by Renzo Piano and Kendall/Heaton Associates. We appreciated the similar proportions and site context towards the Kimbell. For lunch, we headed back over to the Modern Art Museum to join Javier Lucio at the Café Modern. Javier is a principal at RPGA Design Group, Inc. Several mutual connections were made proving we live in a small connected world. It is great to network with other designers!
As a famous Fort Worth dessert location, we had to try Steel City Pops on this 90 degree day! We headed to Marty Leonard Community Chapel by Fay Jones. Being Fay Jones School Alumni, it is a must to visit and study Fay’s work. We appreciate his attention to detail, custom design intentions, and design relationships at all scales. It is always interesting to experience buildings in person and hear their stories. The Botanical gardens was a quick visit before they closed. We headed to the Fort Worth Water Gardens before heading back to Dallas for tacos. We experienced the three separate water fountains in the garden. Located in the heart of downtown, its really fascinating how the sound of the fountains totally encompasses you and you forget you’re in the city. It’s a loud but quiet getaway experience.
Luckily, DEMX got to sleep in before starting our last full day visiting the Dallas Opera House by Norman Foster and the Wyly Theater by REX/OMA. We were thankful for a detailed architectural tour of both buildings to learn design intentions, specific material and structural details, and community integration. We met a close friend and UofA alum, Coy Talley, at the Nasher Café. Lunch was delicious and it was a great way to experience the Nasher-gardens and galleries. Coy was the landscape architect on the Lamplighter School with Marlon Blackwell and was able to get us a tour of the campus. He walked us around and discussed design intentions and details. Coy was also the landscape architect on the Perot Museum in Dallas. He gave us a tour of the museum and shared stories regarding the process. Coy introduced us to Cliff Welch and Scott Hall at Welch|Hall Firm. After exchanging stories, tips, and firm backgrounds we met up for dinner at Vidorra to enjoy great Mexican food with a cocktail!
Day four, AKA, bonus day!! Half of the group left for Fayetteville Friday evening, while the other half stayed in Dallas to explore the Design District the next morning. Starting the morning at a little coffee shop, we trekked through the rain to a few showrooms. We made connections, saw new and innovative furniture systems, and more inspiration for interiors. We were waiting for the major storm to pass so we decided to get lunch at Pie Tap Pizza Workshop + Bar. Best pizza-stop for our long trip home to Fayetteville.
