TA24-J F-Pages - Flipbook - Page 95
Muralists bring contemporary art to The Hill.
The Hill is a successful convergence of sustainability, conservation, user
experience, and owner interests: Most of the original buildings were saved;
the owner didn’t pay for an entire redevelopment; and the shopping center is
indisputably a richer experience than it would have been after a full demolition.
The complex is an eclectic collage of di昀昀erent materials and colors, and much
of the facade was reused or recycled. “We loved working with the material
palette,” says Henry. “It was very enjoyable for my team to use sustainable, lowmaintenance materials, and we brought in the artists to ‘activate’ the nodes.”
This redevelopment marries the downtown shopping zones of yesteryear
with the contemporary feel and focus on an organic-feeling design that may
not be modern but is certainly en vogue. We often see new buildings designed
with Fibonacci curves and complex computer-generated skins that imitate the
life around them. I would argue that this new organicism — a thriving new
development in the shell of a previous retail complex — is a more successful
imitation of biology than most new construction.
Initially, I was inclined to view this project in the same light as other new
developments with manicured landscaping, brunch restaurants, and boutiques
that stake their claims of walkability on a parking garage and wide sidewalks.
After visiting, I think The Hill is more than that. By turning itself inward, it
becomes cozy and human scaled. It provides a di昀昀erent experience than any
other shopping complex I’ve been to — more like walking on a college campus,
or maybe wandering the booths at a festival. I hope that, beyond simply being
an enjoyable place to spend time and money in Dallas, The Hill serves as an
inspiration to other retail or dining complexes seeking to prioritize conservation and people-focused design.
Anna Cairns is a graduate of Texas A&M University. She joined Architexas’ Dallas
office in July 2023, where she works on a variety of projects with a focus on historic
preservation.
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Texas Architect 93
