Making Houston Modern: The Life and Architecture of Howard Barnstone

Complex, controversial, and prolific, Howard Barnstone was a central figure in the world of twentieth-century modern architecture. Recognized as Houston’s foremost modern architect in the 1950s, Barnstone came to prominence for his designs with partner Preston M. Bolton, which transposed the rigorous and austere architectural practices of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe to the hot, steamy coastal plain of Texas.

Making Houston Modern explores the provocative architect’s life and work, not only through the lens of his architectural practice, but also by delving into his personal life, class identity, and connections to the artists, critics, collectors, and museum directors who forged Houston’s distinctive culture in the postwar era.

Authors Barrie Scardino Bradley, Stephen Fox, and Michelangelo Sabatino present their recently published book, Making Houston Modern: The Life and Architecture of Howard Barnstone (University of Texas Press).