Contemporary Nods to the Southwest.

Hidden in the details of this image are

contemporary nods to the old/west south west.

Note the heavily embellished western shirt

and fringed jacket. Fun historical note: Fringe

was functional for Indigenous peoples and

later mountain men (helping shed rain and

providing repair footwear). To the left is a tall

white cowboy boot. Throughout the store

you can see the historical confluence of

Spanish, Mexican, and Indigenous cultures.

This building features a Parapet/Pediment: The top of the building

features a stepped parapet with a central peak. The stacking

method of the brick work is called diapering.

Diapering was done purely for aesthetics and

added nothing to structural integrity. The

rounded arch at the bottom borrows from the

Romanesque Revival style, which was popular

for breweries and factories in the late 19th

century because it signaled strength and

permanence.

A hallmark of Moroccan and Moorish art, the

holes punched in the lantern look pleasing

during the daytime and casts complex,

kaleidoscopic shadows across surrounding

surfaces at night.

This is a great representation of Functional

Minimalism turned into a focal point of the

shop. Instead of hiding the kitchen, it has

become a feature and a nod to culinary arts

and excellence.

The Pearl in San Antonio features an

integration of various architectural eras. In

the back of this image you can see arched

windows and 1900s masonry which speaks to

the industrial past. To the left is modern

brutalist use of concrete and to the right are

stacked balconies reminiscent of

contemporary residential urbanism.

Use of heavy glass bottles and a spacious,

well lit display moves the customer from a

commodity to an experience mindset.

Instead of packing in plastic bottles in a

shoulder to shoulder way, visual of fewer,

heavier products made of better materials

promote a sense of elegance and scarcity.

While this beautiful Miata sized 1972 Porsche

Targa S may be stunning to look at and

powered by a 2.4-liter air-cooled flat-six

pumping out 190 horsepower, the real

significance of this car it its location. It at the

annual All British (and European) car show that

been held in the spring at White Rock Lake in

Dallas for over 40 years. It's part of a nostalgic

nod to DFW's surprisingly vibrant

car culture.

This photo highlights the seamless blend of

Venetian-inspired architecture and modern

urban utility. The heavy concrete arch in the

foreground is actually a bridge that connects

the elevated walkways and office towers of

the Urban Center to the scenic canal level

below. Lake Carolyn, the 125-acre man-

made centerpiece visible here, serves as

more than just a scenic backdrop; it was a

massive infrastructure project completed in

1975 that functions as a sophisticated

flood control system for the area.