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    Friends of The Fountain

    Beloved Mecom Fountain will get a historic restoration if Houstonians pitch in to help

    Clifford Pugh
    Mar 18, 2016 | 10:10 am
    Mecom Fountain at night
    Friends of the Fountain are more than 60 percent toward their goal of raising funds to restore the historic Mecom Fountain, but they need your help.
    Photo by Tim Stanley

    Bob Hope once said the best view in the world is in Houston. The noted comedian cited the view from the penthouse of the Warwick Hotel (now the Hotel ZaZa), which looks out over Hermann Park and tree-lined Main Street toward the Texas Medical Center amid the glowing nighttime lights of the Mecom Fountain.

     

    Now a group of Houston preservationists and fans of the fountain are working to keep it that way.

     

    Led by one of the city's leading preservationists, Phoebe Tudor, who spearheaded the impeccable restoration of the Julia Ideson Library, and real estate magnate Bill Baldwin, a crowd-sourcing campaign to restore the Houston landmark to its former Mid-century modern glory has attracted more than $38,000, with pledges ranging from $5 to $5,000 from 198 individuals and businesses.

     

    The group has set a goal of $60,000, which must be raised by March 31. (You can donate here.)

     

    The drive came about after preservationist Anna Mod noted that Texas Department of Transportation workers were covering over the fountain with limestone as part of a "Grand Gateway" project to restore and renovate Hermann Park. The limestone was set to match improvements at the entrance to the park, but preservationists feel that it destroys the integrity of the fountain, which was designed by Eugene Werlin and built in 1964. It was donated to the city by oil magnate and Warwick Hotel owner John Mecom and his wife, Mary Elizabeth.

     

    "It would be a pretty fountain, but it wouldn't look like like a fountain built in 1964," Tudor said about the planned renovation. "It's subtle, but the crux of historic preservation is it needs to be genuine and it needs to be original."

     

    Baldwin, who heads the Mayor’s Quality of Life Transition Team, contacted Mayor Sylvester Turner, who convinced TxDot officials to halt the project. In return, Baldwin and Tudor agreed to spearhead a Friends of the Fountain group to raise private funds to restore the fountain.

     

    They could have reached out to their well-heeled friends and foundations to contribute the relatively small figure, but wanted to show that, in a city that tears down or alters nearly everything that's old, there is broad-based support for saving historic buildings and objects that give Houston its unique character. "If people make a contribution, they are much invested in what happens," Tudor said. "This lets Houstonians participate in a small way to get the word out."

     

    Donors, large and small, have sent fond memories along with their donations. The fountain is a prime spot for wedding and quinceañera photos; one donor laughingly recalled putting soap into the fountain to make bubbles when she was high schooler. "People kind of get caught up in the memories," Tudor said.

     

    Funds will be held in an account by the non-profit Houston Parks Board, with work performed by the Houston Parks Department under the supervision of the Historic Preservation Office of the Planning & Development Department. Limestone will be removed and the low fountain wall, made of concrete in the Mid-century modern tradition, will be repaired and repainted if the fundraising goal is met.

     

    This work will return the fountain, which was nominated as a city landmark late last year and is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, to its original appearance and restore it as the centerpiece of the Museum/Hermann Park/University area, Tudor said. The group just got word that the National Trust for Historic Preservation has added Mecom Fountain to its #thisplacematters campaign, drawing national attention to Houston's preservation efforts.

     

    If the fundraising goal is met, "It will be victory for the city and preservationists," Tudor said. "I feel like this is a watershed moment for preservation in Houston. This stuff matters and people care."

     

     To donate to the Friends of the Fountain campaign, go to the Mecom Fountain Restoration website.

     
    preservation
    news/home-design
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    the Picassos are real

    Star NYC designer dishes on Texas ranch-inspired Memorial restaurant

    Emily Cotton
    Jul 11, 2025 | 1:00 pm
    Latuli restaurant interior
    Photo by Frank Frances
    A caribou over the fireplace and 11-foot palm trees mix ranch and coastal styles.

    When Houston rancher and restaurateur Allison Knight first plucked interior designer Alfredo Paredes from an Elle Decor list of top designers, she was looking to overhaul a few “cabinlike structures” on her family’s Colorado ranch — which he executed to perfection. Now, Parades, a 33-year veteran of Ralph Lauren, including roles as senior vice president and chief creative officer, has put his stamp on Houston. Latuli, the cozy new Gulf Coast and Texas-game-heavy restaurant by Knight and chef Bryan Caswell shares its sophisticated-casual aesthetic with other Paredes-designed projects like the Polo Club in NYC and Ralph’s in Paris.

    Taking their cue from the lack of elevated-but-approachable dining options in the Memorial area, friends and business partners Knight and Caswell chose Hedwig Village as the ideal location to debut a restaurant that offers a little something for everyone — from art enthusiasts to kids.

    “It’s very comfortable. This is supposed to feel like an extension of somebody’s home,” Knight tells CultureMap. “It’s in the neighborhood. I wanted to create this unique space and gathering place. We want people to come multiple times a week.”

    An extension of someone’s home it certainly is — Knight’s, to be exact. Most of the eclectic art collections and sprinklings of taxidermy throughout the restaurant found their way into Latuli’s many spaces via Knight’s Memorial area home, some even pulled from the attic. Original watercolors by John P. Cowan, the founding father of sporting art and Texas wildlife conservation, intermingle with works by Kate Boxer, Fritz Scholder, Paul Meyer, and even Pablo Picasso.

    “People come in and ask immediately about the Picassos, even though they are just signed lithographs,” Knight says with a chuckle. Picasso aside, the larger-than-life, textural portrait of a Native American man by Austin-based artist Paul Meyer is most likely to win MVP when it comes to Instagram moments.

    The interior color palette of blue, ivory, and cognac lends itself to a myriad of styles, all which can lean either coastal or ranch, depending on the space. The soaring wood beamed ceilings and enormous caribou head over the functional fireplace in the main dining room play juxtaposition to the tropical grasscloth wallpaper by Fine & Dandy and pair of 11’ palm trees, yet their coexistence is harmonious—a quality that carries itself throughout the design.

    Latuli is comprised of five separate, but cohesive dining spaces — a covered outdoor patio, a main dining room, an intimate, secondary dining room, and bar/lounge occupy the ground floor, while a private lounge and event space is situated on the second. Knight and Paredes took advantage of Houston’s proximity to Round Top to source antique vases, pots, and the large antique bar and artworks found upstairs. Inspired by her ranches in Colorado and Texas, but wanting to incorporate coastal features as well, Knight finds it interesting to see how the design reads to guests.

    “It feels familiar to them, and they can relate to it in some way. Some people say it reminds them of a Texas ranch, some people say Santa Barbara, some people said Palm Springs, somebody said South America. It’s just really interesting to hear what everybody sort of focuses on and connects to,” says Knight.

    While the design inspiration may be pleasantly ambiguous, the execution was decidedly not. Designs by Paredes were all carried out by local makers and artisans. The extensive millwork and joinery found throughout the restaurant, including the paneling, flooring, ceiling beams, and inset white oak wait stations are all creations by Doro’s Unique Flooring. The glimmering and impossibly smooth plaster work is by QTS, and the very Ralph Lauren-esque cognac-colored banquettes were fabricated and upholstered by Martin Irazoqui of Picchios in Cypress.

    Paredes designed the dining chairs, but they were crafted in Houston, along with the tables, by Agile Interiors. The intricate textile-clad backs of the dining chairs have been a fan favorite.

    “The fabric features a series of horizontal stripes incorporating geometric and tribal motifs in a rich palette of blues and grays. The intricate pattern evokes handwoven and artisanal aesthetics,” Parades explains.

    Taking a step away from the blue, ivory, and cognac color palette of the restaurant, the glossy, emerald green tiled bathrooms are something to behold. Light from the bamboo Ralph Lauren sconces dances along the high gloss tile work, illuminating the softer features of the marble countertops and classic, unlaquered brass Waterworks fixtures. The tiles were sourced from local hidden gem Pyramid Imports.

    The intention for Latuli being that it’s a place that serves the local community, Knight and Caswell wanted to make sure there is a comfortable space for everyone. There is a somewhat sceney vibe to the main dining room, an always 21+ only bar that offers both bar and table seating for those who want to catch up with friends or take in a game, and an intimate dining room for those looking for a quiet, relaxed atmosphere. The latter of which has proven quite popular: “We have those tables booked every single night, which was a surprise to me,” says Knight.

    The popularity of the private dining space also lends itself to its moodier aesthetic. A lowered ceiling and dark blue walls provide the perfect atmosphere for groups who like to settle in and stay awhile. The walls in the room have a depth to them that is difficult to pinpoint. That’s because its textured finish isn’t a paint application — it’s actually a waxed canvas fabric from Lord Fabrik.

    “This material was originally developed for sailors and fishermen in the UK and later used in American field gear for workers,” says Paredes. “The materiality of the walls in this room pull both from coastal workers and American design.” Given that the pendants throughout this space are fishing baskets, the choice of wall covering is nothing short of genius.

    The thoughtfully covered patio plays multiple roles. Share a meal, have wine by the outdoor fireplace, or allow the kids to romp during pre-and-post-dinner lulls in the enclosed green space. While not exactly a “play area,” Knight knew she wanted a space for kids to be kids.

    “I did want to give the kids some breathing room, I knew we wanted a green space,” says Knight. “Families are coming in and they are using it exactly how I thought they would. They come in, they eat, the kids go out there, and mom and dad get a chance to actually visit and enjoy themselves.”

    While the interior spaces look primarily to Texas, the patio is more international. Guests dining al fresco are seated beneath a sea of pendant lights in a plethora of shapes and sizes, all in cohesive shades of ivory.

    “The pendants are made in Mexico but it draws inspiration from Mediterranean designs — more specifically the lattice part is Moroccan inspired,” says Paredes. “The intent was to evoke a mediterranean mood that complements the architecture of the building.”

    Knight looks forward to the cooler months ahead so that guests can appreciate the indoor and outdoor fireplaces. And you know what? So do we.

    Latuli restaurant interior
      

    Photo by Frank Frances

    A caribou over the fireplace and 11-foot palm trees mix ranch and coastal styles.

    alfredo paredeslatulirestaurant design
    news/home-design
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