"Phillip Johnson Pennzoil Place Houston, Tx" by Leonid Furmansky, ,

Upon its completion in 1976, critic Ada Louise Huxtable called Pennzoil Place in downtown Houston a “towering achievement” in The New York Times. Designed by Philip Johnson for developer Gerald Hines, the building is a defining symbol of Houston. Today, Johnson’s legacy faces serious criticism due to his active participation in the Nazi party during the 1930s. His name has been removed from his thesis house, now owned by the Harvard Graduate School of Design, for example. I think Johnson’s personal darkness makes this image feel evil when seen today, aided by the bronze metal and dark glass. But I also think the gasp of light between the towers is a sign of hope. It’s reassuring that buildings create their own history distinct from the problematic architect(s) who conceived them. It’s encouraging to see how they become places for people. Liberated, buildings join the life of the city.