Meyer, Howard R., 1903-1988

Howard R. Meyer was one of the pioneers of modern architecture in Texas. Born in New York City, he studied at Columbia, graduating with a bachelor of architecture in 1928.

Meyer's exposure to modernism came very early. In 1926 while still a student, he worked in the office of William Lescaze, then the leading representative of the international style on the East Coast. Inspired by what he saw, Meyer, accompanied by his wife Schon, embarked on a year-long trip to Europe to see the work of the leading modernists. On the trip he met Le Corbusier and visited the recently completed German Werkbund exhibition in Stuttgart.

He returned to New York in 1929 and worked briefly for Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue and Thompson and Churchill. In 1932 he opened an office with Morris B. Saunders, but with the Depression at its height, their practice was largely restricted to small renovation projects and furniture designs.

Lured by the prospect of work, Meyer moved to Dallas in 1935. In the late 1930s and early 1940s he designed a series of small modern houses including the Sanger House (1937), the Rose House (1938), the Pearlstone House (1938), and the Zale House (1939). Built in a modified international style that came to characterize most of his later work, the houses featured brick and redwood exteriors, with simple, free-flowing plans. Meyer also designed furniture for several of the houses in an effort to create a unified effect.

He came closest to realizing this vision of total design in his most important post-war houses, the Charles Storey (1949) and Ben Lipshy (1950) houses. Less formal than his earlier work, the two houses represent Meyer's attempt to synthesize Wright's organic architecture and the international style, and at the same time to develop an idiom that would respond to the Texas climate and native Texas traditions.

Meyer's work, however, was not limited to residential architecture. Over the course of his long career he designed a wide array of commercial and public buildings as well as several churches and synagogues. The Hexter Title & Abstract Building in Dallas (1953) exemplifies the hard-edged modernist style that dominated the 1950s and early 1960s while the luxury high-rise apartment building at 3525 Turtle Creek Boulevard (1950) reflects a sensitivity to materials and siting. Others, like the Administrative Training Building for the Industrial Generating Corporation (1970), are much closer to Wright's organic architecture. In Meyer's best work he was able to integrate these two tendencies to produce architecture that was comfortable and yet uncompromisingly modern.

Perhaps the best example of this later style is Temple Emanuel (1953-59). Meyer worked on the building with noted West Coast architect William W. Wurster, sculptor and muralist Gyorgy Kepes, and Anni Albers to produce a work of unusual sophistication and richness.

Meyer was an AIA Fellow, and in 1959 received an AIA Award of Merit for Temple Emanuel. He continued to work until his death in 1988.

- Christopher Long

-From "Texas 50." Texas Architect (Nov./Dec. 1989): p. 52

From the guide to the Howard R. Meyer Drawings photographs and archival records, New York, Texas and Early Modernism MEY Accession number(s)1987018; 1988003; 1988015., 1924-1986, (Alexander Architectural Archive, University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin.)

Meyer (1903-1988) was one of the pioneers of modern architecture who combined modern technology with traditional forms and materials in designing commercial, residential, governmental, religious and educational buildings.

Born in New York City, graduated from Columbia University with a bachelor of architecture (1928), moved to Dallas (1935), established a firm, continued to work there until his death.

From the description of Howard R. Meyer papers, 1924-1986. (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 27732885