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PaperCity_Fort_Worth_September_2021

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As for Senosiain, his individualistic practice parallels that of Gaudí for more than its curvaceous displays of whimsical creatures adorned with tiles. Like Gaudí, this contemporary Mexican architect also embraces parks and epic, long-term projects. Since 2000, he's been creating Parque Quetzalcóatl outside the Mexico City metropolitan area, a summation of his life's work to integrate humans into nature (en.parquequetzalcoatl.com). Postscript: Although I've been in the field of architecture and the built environment for nearly a half-century and a disciple of organic architecture and its practitioners, including my mentor, architect Bruce Goff, I had never, until now, heard of Casa Orgánica nor its brilliant, but under-known creator, Javier Senosiain. "Organic architecture is the philosophy of architecture that seeks harmony between human beings and nature," Senosiain aptly says of his dwelling. "One of the characteristics of this house and perhaps the main objective is that the structure adapts to one's body." This is analogous to dance and reminds me of a quote from Martha Graham: "A philosopher said that dance and architecture were the first arts." Indeed, this rare feeling of the primal is pervasive in Senosiain's defining early work, which became the timeless calling card of his practice. As the house's website states: "Casa Orgánica was intended to give the sensation of entering the earth." Thirty years after completion of this singular house, Senosiain tells PaperCity, "For me, since the beginning, the intention of the house was very clear; to look back into the origin, the primitive. What I found peculiar is how people nowadays are more amazed about the house than back when it was built." Casa Orgánica info, tour reservations, tickets: en.casaorganica.org. Architect Robert Morris is a retired professor from the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design at the University of Houston, where he taught environmental design in architecture and space architecture. A bath with free-form organic abstractions Darkened tunnels lead to light-filled spaces. 69

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