PaperCity Magazine

PaperCity_Dallas_September_2021

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W hen a prominent D a l l a s O p e r a supporter decided to downsize from his Park Cities house into a downtown high-rise, only one building — and one view — would do. His new apartment inside Hall Arts Residences is just steps away from the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, a dazzling ruby-tinted glass building designed in 2009 by UK architects Foster + Partners. The Winspear is a scene- stealer, its red drum dominating the pale skyline by day and glowing like a crimson lantern at night. "He very carefully planned the living room around that view," says longtime friend Emily Summers, who designed the apartment's interiors. Summers also has a special place in her heart for the Winspear: She worked pro bono on the opera house's interiors with architect Spencer de Grey of Foster + Partners. Her involvement with the Winspear led her to team with developers Craig and Kathryn Hall on the design of the Residences' interior architecture and amenities. The 28-story tower opened in 2020. "I didn't usually do high-rise work, but the Arts District was such a part of me for so many years that I wanted to be involved," she says. Summers is currently at work on several apartments in the building for other clients, including a newly completed two-story residence for the Halls. For this client, a spectacular view of the Winspear and the surrounding Arts District was just one reason to love the new apartment. Its ultra-tall ceilings are perfect to showcase a blue-chip contemporary art collection that includes works by Donald Judd, Agnes Martin, Mark Rothko, Joan Mitchell, Richard Serra, Alexander Calder, and Cy Twombly. "All the art has been collected over his lifetime, and it's never looked better," says Summers, who worked on the client's previous home as well. "He had an inventory of each piece and was meticulous about laying everything out ahead of time. He even knew where he wanted the Droog milk bottles to go in the Bulthaup kitchen." The clever light pendant — inspired by a crate of milk bottles — was created by Amsterdam conceptual design firm Droog. The client chose the view because of his passion for opera, and his art collection is just as personal. Much of it reflects his involvement with such organizations as The Chinati Foundation art museum in Marfa. One of his favorite works is by minimalist artist Donald Judd, who founded Chinati in 1979; the iconic piece, which consists of 10 stacked stainless-steel units, floats alone on a wall between the dining and living areas. Judd celebrated the empty space around his sculptures, and if the ceilings in this apartment had been lower, it might have been a deal-breaker for the client. "The ceiling height is perfect for the stacked sculpture, and it was the first piece to go up," Summers says. "He knew exactly what the measurements needed to be so it could hang the way the artist originally intended it." In the living room is a large horseshoe- shaped sculpture made in 1990 by Judd's close friend, pop artist Claes Oldenburg, who has many works at Chinati. The client's collection also includes sculptures by artists with a long tenure at Chinati — Dan Flavin and John Chamberlain. "There's a lot of personal- 148

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