🕊️ Houston’s Architectural Wonders: Rothko Chapel & St. Basil’s 🏟️

Houston’s art scene never disappoints ! This trip, I skipped the usual haunts (looking at you, MFAH 👀) to dive into two sacred spaces: the Rothko Chapel and St. Basil’s Chapel (designed by legend Philip Johnson 👨🎨). 🌿 Rothko Chapel: A Portal to Silence Stepping inside = instant tranquility 🧘. Sound vanishes. No lights—just a single octagonal oculus 🌞 pouring daylight onto Mark Rothko’s 14 murals. The outside heat melts away into a cool, breezy hush 🌀. I swore I could feel the breath of a meditating stranger 🧘♀️… Time bends here; 10 minutes feel like an eternity ⏳. Rothko’s murals 🎨: Deep, moody hues that wrap you in spiritual awe . Outside, Barnett Newman’s Broken Obelisk 🗽 (honoring MLK) mirrors the chapel’s minimalism in a reflecting pool—a dialogue between art and activism ✊. Like Austin’s “Austin” pavilion 🏛️, Rothko Chapel blurs lines between architecture, art, and faith. Built over 7 years (opened 1971), it’s now a National Historic Landmark 🏆—a masterpiece of humble grandeur. Pro tip: No photos allowed ! I snagged a postcard of the interior instead 📬. 🕌 St. Basil’s Chapel: Philip Johnson’s Light Magic Tucked on the University of St. Thomas campus 🏫, this gem screams “deconstructivist chic” 🔨. Philip Johnson (the “Godfather of American Architecture” 👴) fused minimalism with modernism here, using natural light as his brush 🖌️. Key features: Asymmetrical glass cross ✝️: Sunlight dances through it, casting kaleidoscopic shadows 🌈. Tent-like entrance 🎪: A playful transition from chaos to calm . Every angle = asymmetry 🔀: Altar, seats, cross—nothing’s conventional! Fun fact: Johnson also worked on Rothko Chapel’s early designs 🤝. Both spaces worship natural light 🌞! What I love most? It’s alive 🌱—students, professors, and tourists like me wander in for prayer, peace, or curiosity . Architecture this bold yet welcoming? Chef’s kiss 👌. #HoustonArchitecture #SacredSpaces #PhilipJohnson 🏛️