Friday, October 9, 2009

Your Secret Cat Code Has Been Cracked, Mr. Johnson

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

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15 Comments

  1. 1
    From Miz Brooke Smith:

    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!

  2. 2
    From movocelot:

    Is this for real?
    Yes I saw the cat a long time ago, but…
    so,
    show me more!

  3. 3
    From Jessie M:

    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?

  4. 4
    From Bob:

    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?

  5. 5

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

    http://bit.ly/6dUVS

  6. 6
    From RWB:

    Considering that Johnson has a bunch of buildings in Houston, I think a cat search and round-up is called for.

  7. 7
    From Apartment dweller:

    I wonder if there’s one in the DeMenil house on San Felipe.

  8. 8
    From Darby Mom:

    I’m with RWB, let’s herd those cats!

  9. 9
    From Rudy:

    I see a cat on another of his buildings:
    http://www.panoramio.com/photo/6515432

  10. 10
    From Darby Mom:

    Of course there’s a cat — it’s a cat-hedral…sorry.

  11. 11
    From Jessica1:

    I didn’t know he designed the crystal cathedral! I went to that place once, it was wild.

  12. 12
    From neil:

    http://books.google.com/books?.....mes+square

    …Good luck finding one in this dog!

    http://www.gettyimages.com/det.....fe_license

  13. 13
    From Luke:

    He comes by it honestly…

  14. 14
    From Luke:

    No image embedding allowed apparently - http://ow.ly/u2YB

  15. 15
    From Mike G.:

    I guess you have to look at it catty-cornered to see it.

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