The Washington County Ranch is located in Washington, TX and is just short of 3000 sq. ft. It too has a solar roof, and was made as a sort-of last home for a geologist family. The beauty of nature and the country can really be seen, as the house is built in such a way as to offer the owner a great view of it. Again this project from Lake|Flato makes use of natural light and simple design to create an elegant display. Additionally, the wood use throughout the house and in the design itself is completed in such a way that the backdrop of nature is enhanced.

Canyon Preserve is a set of buildings in Austin, TX. The area is largely surrounded by forest land, which attribute to the natural ambiance of this site. Once more, Lake|Flato’s signature linear designs and flat rectangular roof can be seen. What’s special about this one, though, is that there are solar panels on top, which provide for 90% of the electricity. Like the school campus, rainwater is also collected and then used throughout the site.

Indian Springs School is a boarding school in Birmingham, Alabama located on 350 acres of land. The school is being redesigned by Lake|Flato, the effects of which can already been seen by the classic Lake|Flato flat-rectangular roof over the entrance. Like most Lake|Flato projects, this school is being redesigned in order to advance the role of natural light. The school campus will also have a rain garden to help make use of the excess water and make the campus appear vibrant.

The Horizon House is a 7,000 sq. ft. project overlooking the Las Vegas Valley in Nevada. The house is very modern in its design, and makes frequent use of right angles. To add to the beauty, though, these right angles don’t necessarily line up. Furthermore, the landscaping around the house mirrors that of the environment and thus is small plants and rocks. Because the Horizon House has such a view over the valley, windows are large to both provide a view to observers indoors and allow natural light to flow inward.

Probably THE most iconic building in all of Spain is the Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) created by Antoni Gaudi. I visited this building back in 2012 (130 years after the building broke ground). The building then, as is now, nearly complete, save for the center spire (and several smaller ones) which is to be completed in 2026. From the outside, the church is a sight to behold – the extremely intricate detail and color depicting the nativity. The interior is much like that of the outside: insanely ornate, complex, and stunning. Words cannot really describe the emotions and magnitude of the greatness of this work of art. What is interesting about this church is that the backside is completely different from the front in terms of detail.

From the number of doors, 7 (for the Sacraments) to the number of spires, 16 (for Jesus, Mary, the 12, and the 4 Evangelists), the church is filled with theological symbolism.

It is also worth noting the amount of space in the center part of the church. The extremely tall columns seem nearly everlasting, and the entire wall space is covered in stained glass that illuminates the church.

One of the things I remember most about my visit to this church (and all touristy churches in Europe, especially the Vatican) is the dress code. The dress code is strict (rightfully so) especially for women. There seems to be lots of concern over which areas of the body can and cannot be exposed, even during hot summers.

All-in-all, Sagrada Familia is stunning. I would love to visit it again to more fully gaze upon its beauty and theological symbols.

The second building that tugged at me to attend OU was St. Thomas More. Now, at the time, this building (in the picture) was just beginning to break ground. However, at the beginning of the Spring semester of this year (2020), I was able to step foot into this church for the first time. The artwork is absolutely fantastic – from faux tapestries to statues to paintings. The interior of the building really centralizes oneself to the altar – the centerpiece of Catholic worship. Every time I walk in, I am in awe of the beauty that I get to experience. Additionally, like my parish back at home, the experience of community is something that is irreplaceable. The building itself is a testament to the generosity of the people of Norman – costing $8 million and the parish only being $425k in debt today (~10 months after it opened).

Unlike the other two churches I am posting about, this building makes it because of its sentimental value, not its art and architecture. I do like brick buildings, but the interior of this church doesn’t quite look like a church. It is bland, not colorful, and certainly not like most Roman Catholic Churches. However, as I mentioned, this church holds sentimental value – it is where I got baptized, received the Eucharist, learned about God, met my friends, got confirmed, and began to teach others about the faith. It is where I learned how to be an altar server, something I still do to this day. And the people and environment of this place is what has made me so interested in the Catholic Church. I don’t really remember my initial encounter with this building, but these are the positive memories and emotions it brings.

When I came to visit the University of Oklahoma, I really enjoyed it. I knew it had one of the best meteorology programs in the nation. What sealed the deal – made Oklahoma my #1 college choice – was the National Weather Center. The sheer size of the building is awesome (see image, below). It has a built-in storm shelter, Science on a Sphere, the beloved O-deck, and live weather information on nearly every wall. It houses multiple mobile radars, the Storm Prediction Center, and Dorothy from the movie Twister. This building is the epitome of any weather enthusiast. The building doesn’t just mean a lot to me, it means a lot to this University and the U.S. Government. The joint venture is what makes the NWC such a meaningful location on campus. It also makes me feel cool whenever I walk past the security desk.