The May/June 2011 edition, Context, features projects that strike a balance between a building’s unique program and the desire for synthesis with its surroundings. The U.S. Courthouse in El Paso directly relates to the region’s geography while adhering to stringent security standards; the restoration of Ancient Oaks near Bastrop recaptures a once-lost sense of place through sensitivity to existing conditions; the Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg demonstrates how to tell a heroic story without overwhelming a small town’s historic fabric; and Singing Bell Ranch offers its city-dwelling owners a getaway of "ranch pragmatism" and prevailing breezes. Other articles include a news update on the City of Austin’s Great Streets program, two commentaries on the 82nd Texas Legislature, a profile of Sisters’ Retreat by Mell Lawrence Architects, and an account of how Ziegler Cooper Architects helped a historic church in Plantersville accommodate a sudden influx of members.
