Douglas Newby Insights - Page 12
Legends On Legend
Frank Welch was a legend – an architect beloved by his clients and revered by other architects, and he still is. The Architectural Forum posted the Frank Welch Memorial Lecture at the Moody Performance Hall in the Arts District. Here, potential future legends, Midland architect Mark Wellen, FAIA, Dallas architect, Max Levy, FAIA, and Fort Worth architect, Mark Gunderson, AIA, reviewed the work, approach and personality of architectural legend Frank Welch, FAIA, who furthered Texas Modern architecture and charmed the community.
Architects are tied into the community, shape the community, and illustrate the history of the community. Since I was in my twenties, I have met and discussed architecture with the architects in Dallas I consider legends. When I initiated and sponsored the Restoration House of the Year Award, a series of AIA presidents were on the committee for the annual award. These included Ed Beran, FAIA, Bill Booziotis, FAIA, and several other legends I have learned much from, and a few of them became longtime friends. Another legend was James Pratt, FAIA, who was a Dallas combination of Wilbur Cook, George Kessler and Jane Jacobs. I discussed a home James Pratt designed in my TEDx Talk, Homes That Make Us Happy, and had the pleasure of being a member of Town and Gown with him. James Pratt had a plan for Dallas unveiled at the Dallas Art Museum which included Haskell Boulevard connecting Highland Park with Fair Park. When I go to the Dallas Architecture Forum, there are often architects in the audience who will be our next legends and talked about for generations. Architects have one foot in society and one foot with the public – tradespersons, builders, designers, and the community. Architects are esteemed and accessible. What architects do you think might someday be a lasting legend in Dallas? *Legends On Legend
#DallasArchitect #DallasLegend #DallasArchitectureForum #ArtsDistrict #FrankWelch #MarkWellen #MaxLevy #MarkGunderson #TexasModern #MoodyPerformanceHall #ModernArchitecture #DallasModernHomes #ArchitecturallySignificant @RWArchitects #MarkWellen #DallasArchitecture #TexasArchitecture #MidlandArchitecture #TexasModernArchitecture
Nature and Neighborhood
People have been flooding to suburbs, small towns, and countryside locations. Homeowners also have been migrating to urban neighborhoods that embrace and exude nature. The rear garden of my home in an urban neighborhood has 12 trees and extensive plant life, attracting dozens of varieties of birds, from hummingbirds to hawks. Recently, when I went to Greenway Parks to show a Max Levy modern home that I have listed for sale, I was greeted by a rabbit close to the front entrance. There is something about seeing a rabbit that makes me think of nature on a different level. Rabbits are not rare and they do not seem out of place, but they always bring a smile. Nature brings value to us and value to a home. Greenway Parks is a great example of a neighborhood with lots less than an acre in size that exudes nature. What neighborhoods that have lots under one acre do you associate with nature? *Nature and Neighborhood
#GreenwayParks #MaxLevyArchitect #DallasNeighborhood #DallasModernHome #HomesThatMakeUsHappy #DallasNature #Rabbit #DallasHome
Tribute to D
Caption
D Magazine has for years identified the best Dallas realtors. This year, I wanted to make a tribute to D Magazine by securing a two-page profile in the section that lists the best real estate agents. It was also a great reason to retain talented artist Allison V. Smith to take a portrait photograph of me.
I have been fond of D Magazine since Wick Allison produced the first issue of D when I was still at SMU. I have known several of the past D Magazine editors and have actually have been close friends with a few of them. Each editor brought their personality, expertise and background to the magazine, shaping its direction. However, I have never enjoyed the magazine more than now under the leadership of editor Tim Rogers. Tim takes a profoundly insightful look at Dallas, but always with the undercurrent of his ever-present humor. D Magazine has been successful in part because Dallas has been successful. Dallas is successful in part because of D Magazine and the contribution of its incredible editors, writers, designers, producers, and staff. Thank you D Magazine! *Tribute to D
@DMagazine #DMagazine #TimRogers #CityMagazine #DRealEstate #DBestAgents #DallasRealEstate #DallasHomes #DallasNeighborhood #DallasRealtor #HighlandParkHomes @TimmyTyper @allisonvsmith
Town and Gown
Our first time back to an in-person event will be seared in our minds forever. I am so pleased my first 2021 event was an SMU Town and Gown talk and dinner with the added pleasure of it being held at the Dallas Arboretum’s A Tasteful Place, the fabulous modern glass pavilion designed by architect Russell Buchanan that overlooks the edible gardens and White Rock Lake. Town and Gown, I believe, is the only club that I have been a member of. The idea of brilliant professors and deans on the gown side alternating talks with brilliant members of the Dallas community on the town side was an appealing concept. I was thrilled to be voted in as a member. At the turn of the 21st century, I was president of Town and Gown and I have continued to enjoy the inspirational and collegial exchange of ideas since. This recent Monday evening, Allan McBee moderated a provocative conversation, “US-China Relationship-Economic and Security Discussions,” with Jay T. Young and Patrick Jenevein. Both of these speakers have had extensive personal involvement with China and these thorny issues. At dinner, sitting next to the great artist and intellectual Mary Vernon added to the joy of being back to seeing people. *Town and Gown
#SMU #TownAndGown #DallasArboretum #ATastefulPlace #WhiteRockLake #EdibleGardens #Architecture #Modern #LandscapeDesign @AllanWMcBee #PatrickJenevein #JayTYoung #Dallas
Max Modern
Architect Max Levy pushes the envelope of modern architecture and embraces the envelope of the environment. In every house Max Levy designs you are able to see his original concept is rooted in nature. Each project projects and embraces nature in different nuanced ways. I love that the second floor screened room with a separate entrance and a fireplace is not on the side of the house or hidden at the back of the house or the lot, but is front and center, a central element of the design. It is here one is enticed to enjoy the views of neighbors strolling down the tree-lined streets or see one’s family in the glass-walled rooms surrounding the garden and pool. A design focus creates a living focus. *Max Modern
#GreenwayParks #Architect #MaxLevy #Architecture #HomeForSale #Modern #Design #ModernHome #DallasHome #ScreenedRoom #HomesThatMakeUsHappy
Neighborhood, Nature, Architecture
Architectural significance, the neighborhood and nature are the foundation of homes that will make people happy and go up in value. This modern home by architect Max Levy that I will be offering for sale is architecturally significant in Greenway Parks, a fabulous neighborhood, and designed to capture nature. In the short term, these aspects of the home will have the buyer love living in the home and in the long term the buyer can expect a vast increase in value.
*Neighborhood, Nature, Architecture
#Architect #MaxLevy #Architecture #GreenwayParks #Modern #Design #Neighborhood #HomesThatMakeUsHappy
Modern Lens
Windows are a lens to the environment around us. Often historic homes have windows with pretty views of nature. Too often modern homes are built with gobs of oversized windows, but they look into a neighbor’s garage. I love that this modern home has long stretches of windows on both sides of the home that allow one from either the inside or outside of the home to have a beautiful framed view of other architect-designed modern houses across the pond. *Modern Lens
#Architecture #Architect #Design #Window #View #Modern #ModernHome #OrganicUrbanism
Winter Pointillism
The winter point of Pointillism is to accentuate the design and capture the moment. On a morning bike ride through Dallas neighborhoods, what better way to convey a season, capture a home, and express a feeling than with full, soft, white snowflakes falling against the backdrop of a home painted in a graphite tone trimmed in white. This city home surrounded by nature on a rolling block was transformed by one of my favorite artists, Allison V. Smith, and her husband, the esteemed gallerist, Barry Whistler. They took a home with great proportions that was perfectly sited, but at a glance might look like many other brick homes of the Dallas period. Dramatic paint, landscaping, and a well-positioned porch bench make the home visually enticing and an inviting spot for a porch salon. Here is a home that captures the essence of every season and the vitality of the city interlaced with nature—Organic Urbanism at its best. Thank you, Allison @AllisonVSmith and Barry @BarryWhistlerGallery, for your many contributions to heightening the aesthetics of Dallas. *Winter Pointillism
#DallasNeighborhood #Architecture #Design #HouseColor #FrontPorch #Home #Winter #Snowflakes #Pointillism #OrganicUrbanism #HomesThatMakeUsHappy
Speed Reading
A Christmas tradition in our family started, not when I received this speed-reading mechanical bear, but when my father did when I was a child. He so enjoyed narrating and showing off this speed-reading bear to family, friends and neighbors stopping by over the holidays that he received a mechanical toy every Christmas from then on. On Christmas Eve presents were opened, and on Christmas Day all the previous mechanical toys received at Christmas were brought out and put under the tree. And what a collection it was—from Charlie Weaver mixing a drink, drinking it, and smoke coming out of his ears, to the Neiman Marcus nursing dog. The tradition continued after my father was gone and I began receiving a mechanical toy every Christmas. *Speed Reading
#MechanicalToy #ChristmasToy #Toy #Christmas #ChristmasGift #Bear #SpeedReading #ChristmasTradition #MechanicalBear #MidCenturyToy #Tradition #FamilyTradition #Father #Neighbors #Friends
Baton Passed
The wonderful thing about being a real estate broker is not just seeing great houses, but meeting and getting to know wonderful people. This Henry B. Thomson architect-designed house is a beauty. Every time I go inside, I marvel at its proportions and why it instills such a pleasing sense of awe in a greater way than other important houses. Just having the opportunity to revisit that feeling would have been motivation enough to represent the seller and offer this architecturally significant home for sale. What was really thrilling was to represent a Hal Thomson homeowner who I met when I was in my 20s, when the homeowner was first looking at homes on Swiss Avenue. I have watched her renovate the home, maintain the home and contribute in a friendly and meaningful way to the neighborhood. This homeowner exemplifies why so many Swiss Avenue homeowners live on Swiss Avenue for decades—the comradery and friendly atmosphere, the proximity to downtown with skyline views popping up over the trees that grace the boulevard, the nationally celebrated neighborhood chef-owned restaurants, and the close proximity to the Santa Fe Trail and White Rock Lake. While the sale of this home invokes sentiment, it also brings joy to see this architecturally significant home being passed on to another homeowner who also loves historic homes, gardens, Dallas, and Swiss Avenue. The great houses survive 100 years because of great owners. This Hal Thomson-designed home has another one. I always strive for gracious transactions. This important home was listed, sold and closed in 19 days with all the participants delighted with the outcome and the future of the home. *Baton Passed
#HalThomson #HenryBThomson #Historic #ArchitecturallySignificant #Architect #Architecture #SwissAvenue #HistoricDistrict #Dallas #Neighborhood #OrganicUrbanism