Editor’s Note

It is traditional to introduce a new publication with a statement of purpose. Cite is the first ongoing publication of the Rice Design Alliance. Its goals are very much those behind the establishment of the organization itself. The RDA was formed in 1972 as a community outreach organization of the School of Architecture at Rice. The purpose of the organization was and is to provide a public forum for the presentation and discussion of design ideas at both the architectural and urban scale. The RDA has over 500 members including architects, designers, planners, and other representatives of the building industry. The largest single group of members is, however, individuals not associated with the design professions. This group has been active in informing themselves and other members of the general public about urban design and architectural issues, especially those inherent in the development of the Houston area. The real hallmark of the RDA has been this unique alliance between individuals of different background, interested in understanding and improving the social and visual aspects of the environment.

Throughout the past ten years the RDA has sponsored a number of lecturers, forums, tours, and exhibits. Many well-known historians, architects and designers have par- ticipated in these series including Robert Venturi, Michael Graves, Ian McHarg, William Jordy, Colin Rowe, Robert Stern, Paul Goldberger and others. The lecture series have been especially successful at providing images of current and historical trends in urban design, architecture, and landscape design that may be appropriate to the Houston environment. Few of these, however, have focused specifically on the problems and possibilities inherent in Houston's own growth. Consequently, in addition to providing a vehicle for the presentation of design ideas, it is our hope that Cite can become a forum for the presentation and criticism of issues unique to the developing city.

Cite will be published on a regular basis. Though the focus will be the Houston area or design issues that can be related directly to the Houston area, we hope to encourage participation of regional contributors as well. The publication will ultimately be structured around central features or topics, with criticism from both the national and local points of view.

Finally, we are very much aware of the contribution made by regional publications to the awareness of design issues on the part of the general public. It is our hope to continue and expand this tradition by providing critical commentary as well as awareness of issues pertinent to a growing metropolitan area. In this way we feel the issues addressed in Cite may be relevant to a much larger audience.

Gordon G. Wittenberg

Table of Contents

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Citelines

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Drafting for Dollars: Texas Monthly and "The Architects"

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A Clapboard Treasure House: Piano's New Museum For The Menil Collection

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Streetwise Planning: Rx for a Downtown Hospital

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An Interview with Cesar Pelli

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Trading Toilets: The Subterranean Zoning of Houston

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Reviews: Goldberger's The Skyscraper Charles Simonds: "Circles and Towers Growing"

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On Tour: Morgan's Point: Once Bustling Bay Ridge Survives

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Calendar

Contributors

William H. Anderson; Stephen Fox; William O. Neuhaus; Jeffrey Karl Ochsner; William F. Stern; Michael Underhill; Bruce Webb; and Gordon Wittenberg.