David Heymann (architect)

{{main|Prairie Chapel Ranch}}

File:George W Bush and Vladimir Putin by Limestone fireplace at Texas White House in Crawford Texas (cropped).jpg by a limestone fireplace at the Western White House]]

Deedie Rose, a Dallas arts and architecture patron,{{cite journal |last1=Spencer |first1=Ingrid |title=The George W. and Laura Bush Residence |journal=Architectural Record |date=May 2013 |volume=201 |issue=5 |pages=40–41 |url=https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/5824-the-george-w-and-laura-bush-residence}} recommended Heymann to George W. Bush and Laura Bush to design the new house for their Prairie Chapel Ranch, which later served as their home away from the White House when Bush became president, during which time it was referred to as the Western White House.{{cite news |last1=Owens |first1=Mitchell |title=Laura and George W. Bush's House in Texas |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/laura-and-george-w-bush-prairie-chapel-ranch-texas-article |accessdate=July 9, 2018 |work=Architectural Digest Magazine |publisher=Architectural Digest |date=August 2014}} Heymann designed three adjacent, single-level buildings, all clad in honey-colored native limestone: a three-bedroom house, a two-suite guest house, and a garage building. Heymann sited the buildings and a swimming pool "into an almost imperceptible rise amid an existing grove of live oaks and cedar elms."

During the design process, Heymann would outline potential layouts on the ground so the Bushes could visualize how the house would work in each setting.{{cite news | first=Judy and Laurence McQuillan | last=Keen | url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2001-04-13-bush-house.htm | title='Texas White House' a refuge from stress | work=USA Today | date=April 13, 2001 | accessdate=March 29, 2006 | url-status=live | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060823031828/http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2001-04-13-bush-house.htm | archivedate=August 23, 2006 }} Heymann worked closely on the design with Laura Bush. "She has a lot of experience from seeing the carefully organized houses that her dad built, and she has a very, very good eye," he says. "One thing we wanted was to make sure the house fit into the landscape," Laura Bush said. "I think it does, with the low house and the native limestone that looks very natural. It also takes advantage of the landscape with all the views."

The buildings were designed using strategies to achieve environmental sustainability.{{cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Rob |title=Bush loves ecology --at home |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2001-04-29-0104290397-story.html |id={{ProQuest|419164438}} |date=April 29, 2001 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |access-date=February 27, 2021}} Combined, the three buildings amount to less than {{convert|4000|sqft}} of interior space. They are positioned using basic passive solar principles, absorbing winter sunlight, while being shaded in summer. A {{convert|10|ft|adj=on}}-wide porch encircles the main house, which in plan is "a narrow rectangle broken into an arc." The design takes maximum advantage of the breeze by being long and narrow – most of the house is only one room wide.

Heymann selected limestone quarried very close to the site. "They cut the top and bottom of it off because nobody really wants it," Heymann says. "So we bought all this throwaway stone. It's fabulous. It's got great color and it is relatively inexpensive." The buildings use geothermal energy to heat and cool, and require less energy for that purpose.{{cite news | first=Greg | last=Mazurkiewicz | url=http://www.achrnews.com/Articles/Cover_Story/12f6311a74b5a010VgnVCM100000f932a8c0____ | title=Geothermal System Fit For A President | work=The Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News | date=August 23, 2002 | accessdate=April 1, 2008 | url-status=live | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090713014302/http://www.achrnews.com/Articles/Cover_Story/12f6311a74b5a010VgnVCM100000f932a8c0____ | archivedate=July 13, 2009 }} A {{convert|42000|USgal|adj=on}} underground cistern collects rainwater gathered from the roof. Wastewater from sinks, toilets, and showers is also funneled into the cistern after being purified in underground tanks. The water from the cistern is then used to irrigate the landscaping around the buildings.

The encircling porch provides a seamless transition from indoors to outdoors. Most movement between rooms goes via the porch, and most of the windows of the house are full height doors that open onto it. When the doors are all open the house "becomes a veritable pavilion." Heymann says, "it’s a very simple idea: Outside is cold or warm, you’re in the sun or the shade or the wind, or you’re not, but that’s something you trust. The sensation is real. And direct."{{cite news |last1=Mari |first1=Francesca |title=In Texas, Architect for Bushes Also Builds With Words |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/14/us/in-texas-architect-for-bushes-also-builds-with-words.html |accessdate=July 9, 2018 |work=Texas Monthly |publisher=The New York Times |date=December 14, 2014}} "It's slightly motel-ish, but we love that," Mrs. Bush says. There are no stairs or thresholds, Laura Bush points out. "We wanted our older parents to feel comfortable here," she said. "We also want to grow old here ourselves."

In 2017, Heymann completed the construction of a painting studio adjacent to the main house. The studio gets its daylight from a north–south facing light monitor in the roof, with a lighting system designed to provide continuously balanced daylight-colored light. The studio's north storage wall rolls into pockets, allowing the studio to be opened to the outdoors.{{cite journal |last1=Seward |first1=Aaron |title=Studio, Prairie Chapel Ranch by David Heymann |journal=Texas Architect |date=July–August 2017 |volume=67 |issue=4 |page=96 |url=https://magazine.texasarchitects.org/2017/07/05/studio-prairie-chapel-ranch-david-heymann/}}

Heymann's architecture has been published in journals including Architecture,{{cite journal |title=Tonnesen House |journal=Architecture |date=March 1999 |pages=124–127}} Architectural Record, Architectural Digest, Metropolis,{{cite web | last = Malkovsky | first = Paul | url = http://www.metropolismag.com/html/content_0400/survey.htm | title = New Architecture Faces the Future | work = Metropolis | accessdate = March 29, 2006 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20041210184822/http://www.metropolismag.com/html/content_0400/survey.htm | archivedate = December 10, 2004 }} Progressive Architecture,{{cite journal |title=Ontario Bible Church |journal=Progressive Architecture |date=January 1994 |pages=40–43}} and Texas Architect.{{cite journal |last1=Sharpe |first1=Stephen |title=Hideaway in Plain Sight |journal=Texas Architect |date=July–August 2010 |volume=60 |issue=4 |pages=40–43 |url=https://issuu.com/taartdir/docs/ta10_07.08_web/41 |accessdate=July 10, 2018}} His design awards include a PA Award citation from Progressive Architecture magazine in 1994 for the design of Ontario Bible Church (now Oakwood Bible Church),{{cite web | url = http://www.gsd.harvard.edu/news/miller_church.html | title = The Oakwood Bible Church in Ames, Iowa | work = Harvard Graduate School of Design | accessdate = March 29, 2006 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20060628212214/http://www.gsd.harvard.edu/news/miller_church.html | archivedate = June 28, 2006 }} one of two churches Heymann designed in collaboration with Laura Miller and Michael Underhill in Ames, Iowa.{{cite journal |last1=Spears |first1=Roger |title=A Circle of Fellowship / Addition to the Unitarian Fellowship Church, Ames, Iowa |journal=Iowa Architect |date=Spring 1995 |pages=22–23}} In 2000, Heymann was selected by the Architectural League of New York for inclusion in its Emerging Voices series.{{cite web | url = http://www.archleague.org/emerging.php?article=past | title = Emerging Voices 1982–2004 | work = The Architectural League of New York | accessdate = March 29, 2006 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20060227073152/http://www.archleague.org/emerging.php?article=past |archivedate = February 27, 2006}} Heymann received the 13th Annual Heinz Award in the Human Condition in 2007.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Heinz Awards - David Heymann|url=http://www.heinzawards.net/recipients/david-heymann|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926090355/http://www.heinzawards.net:80/recipients/david-heymann |archive-date=September 26, 2008 |access-date=|website=}} In 2014, he was elevated to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the professional organization for architects in America.{{cite news |title=Meet The New Fellows: AIA Elevates 143 to College of Fellows |url=https://www.bdcnetwork.com/meet-new-fellows-aia-elevates-143-college-fellows |accessdate=July 10, 2018 |work=Building Design & Construction |date=February 7, 2017}}

Heymann has been a Visiting Artist / Scholar / Fellow at the American Academy in Rome,{{cite web | url = http://www.aarome.org/participants_past/visitlist_fw02_03.htm | title = Visiting Artists And Scholars: Fall – Winter 2002–2003 | work = American Academy in Rome | accessdate = March 29, 2006 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20051214102040/http://www.aarome.org/participants_past/visitlist_fw02_03.htm |archivedate = December 14, 2005}} the Dora Maar House through the Museum of Fine Arts Houston,{{cite web |title=Past Fellows At the Dora Maar House: Archive |url=https://www.mfah.org/fellowships/doramaarhouse/past-fellows-at-the-dora-maar-house-archives/ |website=Museum of Fine Arts, Houston |accessdate=July 10, 2018 |archive-date=July 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710102527/https://www.mfah.org/fellowships/doramaarhouse/past-fellows-at-the-dora-maar-house-archives/ |url-status=dead }} the Rockefeller Foundation at Bellagio, and the Bogliasco Foundation Liguria Study Center.{{cite web |title=Directory of Fellows, Bogliasco Foundation |url=https://www.bfny.org/en/fellows/directory-of-fellows/results |website=Bogliasco Foundation |accessdate=July 10, 2018}} He has been a resident artist in photography at the MacDowell Colony, the Ucross Foundation, and with the Arctic Circle Program.{{cite web |title=The Arctic Circle / Participants |url=http://thearcticcircle.org/participants/ |website=The Arctic Circle |accessdate=July 10, 2018}}{{cite journal |last1=Heymann |first1=David |title=Tracks / A Walk in the Arctic |journal=Places Journal |date=December 2014 |url=https://placesjournal.org/article/tracks-a-walk-in-the-arctic/ |accessdate=July 10, 2018|issue=2014| doi=10.22269/141229 |doi-access=free }} His Places Journal essay "Landscape is Our Sex" was awarded the 2012 Bradford Williams Medal from the American Society of Landscape Architects.{{cite web |title=The American Society of Landscape Architects / Bradford Williams Medals Recipients |url=https://www.asla.org/IndividualAward.aspx?id=3840 |website=American Society of Landscape Architects |accessdate=July 10, 2018}}

In 2003, Heymann was awarded the 17th annual Friar Centennial Teaching Fellowship (FCTF).{{cite web | url = http://web.austin.utexas.edu/architecture/people/faculty/heymann/2003friars.html | title = Associate Dean David Heymann named the 2003–04 Friar Fellow | work = School of Architecture | accessdate = March 29, 2006 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20060901095816/http://web.austin.utexas.edu/architecture/people/faculty/heymann/2003friars.html | archivedate = September 1, 2006 }} Its honorarium is the largest for undergraduate teaching excellence at The University of Texas. Other teaching awards he has received include The Texas Exes Award for Teaching Excellence, the University of Texas Regents Outstanding Teaching Award,{{cite web |title=2009 Academic Awardees / Regents Outstanding Teaching Awards |url=https://www.utsystem.edu/sites/regents-outstanding-teaching-awards/2009-academic-awardees |website=The University of Texas System |accessdate=July 10, 2018}} the 2002 Award for Outstanding Educational Contributions from the Texas Society of Architects,{{cite news |title=Honor Awards |work=Texas Society of Architects |agency=Texas Society of Architects }} and inclusion in Design Intelligence's 25 Most Admired Educators in 2017.{{cite journal |title=DesignIntelligence 25 Most Admired Educators for 2017-2018 |journal=DesignIntelligence Quarterly |volume=2017 |issue=Q3 |page=77 |url=https://di-publications.net/quarterly-q3-2017/#respondent |date=September 15, 2017 |access-date=July 10, 2018 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612195918/https://di-publications.net/quarterly-q3-2017/#respondent |url-status=dead }} Heymann is a University of Texas Academy of Distinguished Teaching Professor,{{cite web |title=Academy of Distinguished Teachers / Academy Fellows |url=https://www.utsystem.edu/sites/academy-distinguished-teachers/academy-fellows |website=University of Texas System |accessdate=July 10, 2018}} and an Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture Distinguished Professor.{{cite web |title=Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, Distinguished Professor List |url=http://www.acsa-arch.org/programs-events/awards/archives/dp |website=Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture |accessdate=July 10, 2018}}

Born in 1959,{{Cite news|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/home/design/article/New-book-captures-the-extraordinary-home-of-15688948.php|title=New book captures the extraordinary home of Texas’ first Black architect, John S. Chase|first=Diane|last=Cowen|publisher=Houston Chronicle|date=November 3, 2020|access-date=November 10, 2024}} Heymann received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from The Cooper Union in 1984. He worked for the architects Tod Williams and Associates (now Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects), and I.M. Pei and Partners, before receiving his Master of Architecture Degree from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University in 1988. Heymann lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, Sandra Fiedorek.{{cite news | first=Jeanne Claire | last=van Ryzin | url=http://www.dbermangallery.com/articles/Sandy-aas.htm | title=FLASHCARD ARTISTRY (CONCLUSIONS NOT INCLUDED) | work=The Austin-American Statesman | date=July 11, 2002 | accessdate=March 29, 2006 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060514072913/http://www.dbermangallery.com/articles/Sandy-aas.htm | archivedate=May 14, 2006 }}

{{reflist}}

• [https://davidheymannarchitect.com/ David Heymann's Architecture Website]
• [https://soa.utexas.edu/people/david-heymann David Heymann's homepage at The University of Texas at Austin]
• [http://www.davidheymannauthor.com/ "My Beautiful City Austin"], by David Heymann.
• [https://placesjournal.org/author/david-heymann/ David Heymann / Columnist], Contributing Writer page at Places Journal.
• [http://conflictofinteresttx.com/2016/06/qa-david-heymann/ "Q+A with David Heymann"], by Kathleen Brady, June 30, 2016, Conflict of Interest.

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Category:20th-century American architects

Category:Iowa State University faculty

Category:Living people

Category:University of Texas at Austin faculty

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Cooper Union alumni

Category:Harvard Graduate School of Design alumni

Category:21st-century American architects