Presented in collaboration with Docomomo US/North Texas and the Paul Rudolph Institute

North Texas, once a frontier landscape of cattle drives and railroads, rapidly evolved into one of the country’s major cultural and economic centers in the 20th century. Fueled by oil wealth, aviation, and postwar development, the cities of Fort Worth and Dallas embraced bold architectural ambitions that continue to shape their skylines today. This three-day weekend tour invites guests to explore the rich legacy of 20th-century architecture and design in the region, beginning in Fort Worth. Participants will visit the renowned museums of the Cultural District, including the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, designed by Philip Johnson; the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, a tranquil concrete and glass structure by Tadao Ando; and Louis Kahn’s iconic Kimbell Art Museum, widely regarded as one of the finest examples of museum architecture in the world. A highlight of the weekend is an exclusive tour of the Paul Rudolph-designed Bass Residence, his largest and most ambitious private home, nestled in the Fort Worth suburbs. Kelvin Dickinson, president of the Paul Rudolph Institute, will provide special insight into this rarely seen architectural treasure.

On the final day, the tour shifts east to Dallas, where guests will explore some of the city’s most significant modernist landmarks. The day begins at Temple Emanu-El, a striking 1957 synagogue that blends modern design with deep spiritual symbolism. From there, the group will visit NorthPark Center, a mid-century retail masterpiece by E.G. Hamilton of Harrell + Hamilton Architects, which integrates modernist architecture with a world-class art collection. The afternoon includes a walk through the Dallas Arts District, home to major buildings by Norman Foster, Rem Koolhaus, Renzo Piano, I.M. Pei, and Edward Larrabee Barnes. The tour concludes at Dallas City Hall, an iconic Brutalist structure designed by I.M. Pei in the 1970s, with its dramatic cantilevered form standing as a bold civic gesture. This final stop offers a powerful reflection on the region’s commitment to modern design and its ongoing influence on the built environment of North Texas.

Please note: North Texas Modern Weekend begins in Fort Worth at 4pm on Friday and ends at 4pm on Sunday. Please consider travel plans and flights carefully as to not miss a segment of the tour. The bus will drop travelers at the main Dallas Fort Worth Airport (DFW) at approximately 4:30pm on Sunday and continue back to Fort Worth for anyone staying an additional day.

Schedule

Friday, October 24

Guests gather at the Ashton Hotel for a welcome meet-and-greet before embarking on a rare, once-in-a-lifetime tour of the Bass Residence, designed by renowned architect Paul Rudolph. Located in the Fort Worth suburbs, this expansive residence – Rudolph’s largest private home – stands as a monumental example of his bold and visionary style. Kelvin Dickinson, president of the Paul Rudolph Institute, joins the group for the tour, offering unique insights into the home’s design and significance. Transportation is provided.

 
Saturday, October 25

Our full day in Fort Worth is led by Gregory S. Ibañez, FAIA. Guests are treated to a morning walking tour through downtown that reveals a legacy in concrete, glass, and landscaped design. We begin in Sundance Square, the heart of the city, where revitalized Art Deco facades stand alongside sleek modernist office towers. From there, the tour heads south to the Fort Worth Water Gardens, a dramatic urban park designed in 1974 by renowned architect Philip Johnson. This immersive space features cascading water terraces and sunken pools, emphasizing form, sound, and motion as architectural elements. Nearby, Heritage Plaza offers another sensory landscape – a Brutalist tribute to the city’s history – designed by landscape architect Lawrence Halprin. It combines native stonework and native vegetation with stark, monumental design, anchoring Fort Worth’s commitment to both preservation and progress.

In the afternoon, we visit the Cultural District, home to three architectural icons of modern and contemporary design. First is the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, with its sweeping portico and hilltop views, a 1961 building designed by Philip Johnson in his early modernist style, later expanded but still rooted in restraint and classical balance. Just steps away stands the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, a luminous building by Japanese architect Tadao Ando completed in 2002. With its serene reflecting pools and minimalist concrete planes, the museum embodies harmony and quiet contemplation. Finally, the tour concludes at the Kimbell Art Museum, a 1972 masterpiece by Louis Kahn, whose vaulted cycloid ceilings and masterful use of natural light make it one of the most celebrated museum designs in the world. Together, these institutions forma compact, walkable hub where architecture and landscape speak as eloquently as the art they house.

Sunday, October 26

On Sunday, spend a full day exploring the rich Modernist heritage of Dallas alongside Robert Meckfessel, FAIA. We begin with an exterior visit to the Kalita Humphreys Theater, dramatically perched above Turtle Creek. It is one of the few public buildings ever designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and the recent focus of a major preservation effort. From there, experience the evolving landscape of Dallas residential design with planned tours of several architecturally significant homes, from classic International Style to bold contemporary reinterpretations. We continue on to the Dallas Arts District, home to landmark buildings by global architects, and concludes at I.M. Pei’s iconic Dallas City Hall. Completed in 1978, the building’s massive inverted pyramid form and soaring plaza represent a striking example of Brutalist civic architecture and serve as a fitting finale to the weekend’s exploration of 20th-century design in North Texas.

Photo Credit: Roberto De Alba