Your Secret Cat Code Has Been Cracked, Mr. Johnson

10/09/09 5:52pm

Your Secret Cat Code Has Been Cracked, Mr. Johnson

Galleria, Highrises, Real Estate Marketing

Note: Story updated below.

A reader writes:

I had been told that the architect of the Transco tower secretly incorporates cat figures in to all of his work. I could never see a cat in the Transco until yesterday evening. I found it! Can you? Pretty cool, huh?

***

Update, 10/12: Another reader writes:

Is this an example of a cat in Johnson’s architecture?

Photo: Swamplot inbox

77056, Critters, Galleria, Highrises, Real Estate Marketing, Williams Tower

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17 Comment

Miz Brooke Smith October 9, 2009 at 5:55 pm

Here, kitty kitty kitty!

What fun! That building is ever-changing with the different lights of the sky. But never have I seen this cat! Ha! Thank you, sharp-eyed reader!
movocelot October 9, 2009 at 5:56 pm

Is this for real?
Yes I saw the cat a long time ago, but…
so,
show me more!
Jessie M October 9, 2009 at 7:38 pm

Is it possible this person saw the cat and then made this up? Maybe not, but can’t we at least gather some more evidence?
Bob October 11, 2009 at 9:29 pm

I’ve never heard of Philip Johnson’s hidden cats. I’d also like to see some more examples. Where is the cat in Pennzoil Place or the cat in the BoA Tower?
Jen Mathis October 12, 2009 at 8:24 am

Here’s one: The Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute, by Philip Johnson.

http://bit.ly/6dUVS
RWB October 12, 2009 at 8:56 am

Considering that Johnson has a bunch of buildings in Houston, I think a cat search and round-up is called for.
Apartment dweller October 12, 2009 at 9:50 am

I wonder if there’s one in the DeMenil house on San Felipe.
Darby Mom October 12, 2009 at 10:27 am

I’m with RWB, let’s herd those cats!
Rudy October 12, 2009 at 10:34 am

I see a cat on another of his buildings:
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/6515432
Darby Mom October 12, 2009 at 10:40 am

Of course there’s a cat — it’s a cat-hedral…sorry.
Jessica1 October 12, 2009 at 4:02 pm

I didn’t know he designed the crystal cathedral! I went to that place once, it was wild.
neil October 12, 2009 at 5:02 pm

http://books.google.com/books?id=tAe2qWReLhAC&pg=PA404&lpg=PA404&dq=%22johnson+burgee%22+%22times+square

…Good luck finding one in this dog!

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/50682583?esource=life_license
Luke October 12, 2009 at 6:09 pm

He comes by it honestly…
Luke October 12, 2009 at 6:12 pm

No image embedding allowed apparently – http://ow.ly/u2YB
Mike G. October 13, 2009 at 6:59 am

I guess you have to look at it catty-cornered to see it.
Jr April 9, 2012 at 5:00 pm

I lived in Houston from the 70s to 1999. I had heard about the cat from a friend and actually saw it. Beautiful. I asked a client at the salon where I worked if he knew about the cat. He said I have never seen it and I was one of the developers of that building. He also said it does surprise him that Phillip Johnston did that with no one realizing it and that Mr. Johnson was a cat fanatic. Very cool.
Nancyrae February 8, 2016 at 9:56 am

CRAZY! I’ve never noticed the cat at Transco Tower. I worked at Post Oak Central – another Phillip Johnson project – and now we’re hunting for the cat image.