Homes of Lasting Significance

There is an opportunity to see seven of the Dallas, 50 Significant Homes established by the Dallas Chapter of the American Association of Architects to celebrate their 50th anniversary in 1996. The selection committee of the Dallas, 50 Significant Homes project was chaired by Realtor Douglas Newby and made up of presidents of Preservation Dallas, AIA, American Society of Interior Designers, Architecture Forum, Greater Dallas Planning Council, Architecture Foundation, Dallas Museum of Art and the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture. Richard Brettell, Deedie Rose, Bob Meckfessal, Bill Booziotis, Rita Clements, Nancy Marcus, Bryce Weigand, Harry Robinson, James Pratt and Emily Summers created a nomination committee of 100 of the most knowledgeable people in Dallas to nominate homes. These homes were evenly distributed over every decade since 1900 and represented eclectic, modern and Texas modern styles. This year Preservation Dallas had architects select homes by architects they admired. "I am pleased that after a fresh review of homes across the city, that this year's committee of architects chose ten of the homes on the Dallas, 50 Significant Homes list," says Douglas Newby. "These homes reflect the rich tradition of Texas architecture," adds Douglas Newby.

Tour ticket holders or visitors to the website of Douglas Newby will be able to see the Texas modern style developed by David Williams to capture the modernism of Europe and the indigenous design and material of Texas. You will see how the style was further developed by O'Neil Ford who David Williams called his greatest contribution to architecture. Arch Swank joined O'Neil Ford to design an early Texas modern home that is featured 20 years later. O'Neil Ford designed one of the great homes in Texas, the Haggerty/Hanley home. Frank Welch, having worked for O'Neil Ford, reflects on the early David Williams home and continues in the spirit of O'Neil Ford with the spectacular home he designed overlooking White Rock Lake.

You will also be able to see the design of Charles Dilbeck. The four sisters on Shenandoah and Douglas are known for their European cottage charm, but also exhibit influences of Texas consistent with Dilbeck's claim of bringing Texas ranch houses to Dallas. In fact, both David Williams and Charles Dilbeck designed homes with handcrafted detail and indigenous design in the same year of 1933. Arch Swank, in the 1950s, joined his architect friends O'Neil Ford and Tod Dale in designing homes on the creek for their professor and artist pals, including Lon Tinkle, Jerry Bywaters and the Beardens. It became known as Culture Gulch. Original condition and original families add to the importance of these delightful mid-century modern homes.

Douglas Newby mentions that often architects design homes for patrons of the arts. Edward Larabee Barnes not only designed the Dallas Museum of Art, but a home for museum patrons on Meadowood.

Many of the homes on tour and other architecturally significant homes can be found by going to www.dougnewby.com and you will be directed to the site of Douglas Newby. "As our understanding of architecture increases, the value of the homes and the city increases," explains Douglas Newby. "My passion for Dallas and my passion for finding the best buyers for great homes overlap. Understanding good design benefits my clients." If you are interested in acquiring an architecturally significant home or are considering selling your home, you will be benefited by the knowledge, interest and experience of Douglas Newby.