Museum District Digs

Sicardi Gallery's new West Alabama building aims to mix classic and contemporarywith double exhibition space

Sicardi Gallery currently under construction
Allison Ayers
Photo by Jenny Antill

The Sicardi Gallery has functioned as an internationally known museum source for Latin American art since it was founded by María Ines Sicardi in 1994. First located on a small stretch of Kipling Street, and currently tucked into a quiet niche behind the McClain Gallery on Richmond, the gallery has long been on the lookout for a more permanent home.

Today, the gallery is directed by a partnership between Sicardi, Allison Ayers and Carlos Bacino, who bought property in Houston's Museum District about five years ago — before the economy turned sour.

Now, after a lengthy delay, construction is underway on a brand new space in the heart of the district. Things are moving fast — the slab has been poured, the steel frame is erected, and by the beginning of next year, neighbors will notice a different feel near the Menil Collection.

Construction is underway on a brand new space in the heart of the district, and directors foresee that the gallery's programming will expand and evolve with the new building.

Designed by Brave / Architecture (you might recognize their work from area YMCA facilities or the nearby De Santos Gallery), the new Sicardi Gallery will boast two exhibition spaces — a main one on the bottom floor with a smaller gallery on the second.

The directors foresee that the gallery's programming will expand and evolve with the new building.

"We work with both masters and with mid-career artists," said co-director Ayers, and she hopes that the new 5,200-square-foot building and the separate galleries it contains will allow the gallery to incorporate the classic with the contemporary, opening up conversation and curated projects between artists from different parts of the Hispanic world.

The gallery also expects the new galleries to allow dialogue between different generations of artists, creating an environment where visual commonalities can be recognized and appreciated despite the individuals' drastically different backgrounds.

"We travel throughout Latin America a lot and, especially in Mexico City, we're overwhelmed with what's going on in art and architecture," said Ayers, who wants to bring that innovation to Houston.

Drawing upon the "Latin American thing for outdoor spaces," the design features an upstairs terrace and an outdoor facade that will serve as a screen for video projections. Plus, the gallery is collaborating with soon-to-be-neighbor Dillon Kyle Architecture on an outdoor area in between the structures that will serve as a community space.

Look for the new gallery on West Alabama and Mulberry Street in early 2012.

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take a ride

2,100-acre Houston-area development with bike trails galore will open in 2027

Homeplace housing development sign rendering

Courtesy of Homeplace

Homeplace will open phase one next summer.

A massive new housing development in far north Houston aims to be the city’s most bike friendly place to live. Homeplace will be a 2,100-acre community in Montgomery.

Bound by Highway 105 on the north, Lake Creek High School on the south, FM 2854 on the east, and FM 149 on the west, Homeplace is located about five minutes from Lake Conroe and 30 minutes from The Woodlands.

Designed to appeal to bicycle enthusiasts who frequently schedule rides along Lake Conroe and the Sam Houston National Forest, it will offer 17 miles of dedicated bike lanes as well as both paved and unwaved trails for walking, riding, and mountain biking. In addition, the community will offer The Hub, a 43-acre amenity complex that includes sports fields a dog park, a playground, swimming pools, and more.

Developer Will Randall and his family have owned property in the area since the late 1800s and operated the Homeplace Enterprises cattle ranch on 500 acres that are now part of the project.

“The component of health and nature is near and dear to our hearts,” Randall said in a statement. “Saving trees, creating trails, having ponds — these things are important. And this land is next to Lake Conroe. We grew up there, enjoying the water. An aspect of living in Montgomery is being active and outside. These are the connections we wanted to share.”

“As Homeplace was a Montgomery fixture for the Randall family for four generations, we wanted to embrace this local tradition. We want Homeplace to be centered on activity, connection, outdoors and fun,” Rochester Development executive Chad Rochester added.

A network of mountain biking trails will connect the community’s homes to the community’s two schools, including a tunnel under Homeplace Boulevard to separate riders from vehicles. They’re being designed in collaboration with the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), the national league for youth mountain bike racing.

“What makes Homeplace especially exciting is its commitment to integrating cycling into the fabric of the community from the beginning,” J.J. Cawelti, executive director of the Texas Interscholastic Mountain Bike League,” said. “It's rare to see a residential development in Texas embrace outdoor recreation in such a meaningful way. By creating an environment where riding is part of everyday life, Homeplace is helping introduce more families and young people to the joy and lifelong benefits of cycling."

Phase I, a collection of more than 300 homes, is expected to begin sales in the summer 2027.

homeplace housing development