A compelling survey of Texas houses that draw both on the heritage of pioneer ranches and on the twentieth-century design principles of modernism.

Helen Thompson and Casey Dunn, the writer/photographer team that produced the exceptionally successful Marfa Modern, join forces again to investigate Texas modernism. The juxtaposition of the sleek European forms with a gritty Texas spirit generated a unique brand of modernism that is very basic to the culture of the state today. Its roots are in the early Texas pioneer houses, whose long, low profiles express an efficiency that is basic to the modern idiom. This Texas-centric style is focused on the relationship of the house to the site, the materials it is made of–most often local stone and wood–and the way the building functions in the harsh Texas climate.

Twenty houses are included from across the state, with examples in major urban centers like Dallas and Austin and in suburban and rural areas, including a number in the evocative Hill Country.

Helen Thompson was the city editor for Metropolitan Home magazine. She has also worked for TRIBEZA magazine in Austin, Texas, and Texas Monthly. She is the author of Dallas Classic Desserts and The Big Texas Steakhouse Cookbook, both available from Pelican. She resides in Austin, Texas

Casey Dunn is an Austin, Texas, based photographer who refined his technique on both coasts before returning to his hometown for the swimming holes and sweltering heat. He enjoys collaborating with the leading designers and creatives in the region and continues to seek opportunities to work with local, national, and international clients. On Saturdays, he can be found playing pickup basketball, gardening, or camping with his wife Sarah, and dog Mandy.