Old school meets avant-garde at Rice Design Alliance architecture tour

At once utopian, elitist and architecturally progressive, the Inner Loop neighborhood of Southgate reveals its secrets this Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 6 p.m, at the Rice Design Alliance 2010 Architecture Tour — Southgate: An Urban Oasis. 

The eight houses featured in the tour range from renovated 1930s cottages to hyper-mod manses. Highlights include the high-drama kitchen at 2045 University Blvd., architect Charles B. Thomsen's courtyard-studded mid-century abode, and the crystaline waters of the pool at 2201 Southgate Blvd. — the site of many a fashion photo shoot.

Bounded by Rice University and the Texas Medical Center, the subdivision is notable for its mandate that all home plans be approved by an architectural committee.

Following the example of River Oaks, whose developers enlisted noted architects to design their elaborate country houses, Southgate's original investors maintained that "homemakers appreciate the superiority of architect-designed homes".

Cut through the red tape yourself this weekend to judge the pretty streets' pedigree. Many of the contemporary homes' architects will be on site to elaborate upon their design visions.

This is the 34th annual architecture tour, which has previously bestowed inside views on such urban pockets as Tiel Way, Riverside and the buildings of John Staub.

Last year's event attracted a record 1,900 architectural enthusiasts and urban voyeurs.

READER CAVEAT: The tour is open only to RDA members, but anyone can join for $45 and get one tour ticket for free. Additional tickets for member's guests are $25 each. A household membership of $75 earns you two home tour tickets. Student membership is available for $15 and includes one ticket. Visit www.ricedesignalliance.org for details on membership and to get a look at the old and new Southgate.