Douglas Newby Insights - Page 2
Winter Wisdom
Through the year, there is a regular cycle of about two dozen different species of birds that visit for food and water. Intermittently, they’re chased away by a hawk that perches in the center of this outdoor aviary.
Occasionally, an egret finds its way through the heavy urban canopy of trees to try to feast on the koi in the ponds. But only once in a while does a barred owl come by. It seems fitting for an owl to observe quietly for over an hour.
Winter does make one feel wiser. Ice may keep one from venturing out. A fire might lure one to read. The surrounding silence is perfect for anyone inclined to write. Winter has a different pace — one an owl seems to represent, absorbing and exuding wisdom.
#barredowl #winter #dallas #mungerplace #historicneighborhood
This week on SMU Stories, we sat down with Douglas Newby
This week on SMU Stories, we sat down with Douglas Newby (BS ’74, MPA ’80), past president of the SMU Town and Gown Club and founder of Architecturally Significant Homes.
Doug’s career reflects a rare combination of scholarship, civic leadership, and real estate vision. From his SMU master’s thesis that helped lay the economic groundwork for revitalizing Munger Place to his role in establishing Dallas’s first single family historic district, his work has shaped how the city understands preservation, value, and place.
In this episode, Doug shares his path from early urban revitalization efforts in East Dallas to representing some of the most significant residential properties in the country, including the Crespi Estate. He explains his philosophy of “homes that make us happy,” his focus on architectural integrity and site context, and how his background in social science led him to become the first realtor in the United States to specialize exclusively in architect designed residences.
For the SMU community and real estate professionals alike, Douglas’s story offers a compelling example of how passion, education, and respect for history can create lasting value. Tune in to hear how Douglas has dedicated his career to preserving the architectural soul of Dallas while reshaping how we define the value of our neighborhoods.
🎧 Tune in to hear Douglas’s insights on why modern organic architecture is so important to our happiness. Link in bio.
#SMU #SMUAlumni #1911Group #architecturallysignificanthomes #douglasnewby
Autumn Architecture
Good architecture almost always draws from nature and relates to nature. This Beaux Arts residence in the Upper East Side, decorated for autumn, also seems to be architecturally inspired by autumn. The cartouche, an ornamental sculpted panel above the door visually holding up the stone hood canopy, has gourd-shaped designs with foliage and organic forms. Even the stone-carved egg and dart molding is comprised of what we associate with autumn shapes. This formal ceremonial Beaux Arts architecture becomes the perfect backdrop for a medley of pumpkins, gourds and autumn flowers marching up the stone steps. This seasonal vignette demonstrates how architecture and nature are so closely intertwined. Happy Thanksgiving!
#UpperEastSide #BeauxArtsStyle #ArchitecturallySignificant #Autumn #Pumpkins #Neighborhood
1911 Group Spotlight
The 1911 Group Spotlight reminds me of the impact SMU has made on me since I first walked on campus Homecoming weekend as a high school senior with Ken Malcolmson on a trip hosted by his older brother, Larry Malcolmson – a big man on campus – and still good friends with SMU’s iconic leader, David B. Miller, and former SMU quarterback, Chuck Hixson, who was setting all the collegiate passing records. Seeing the blue skies, cheery smiles and optimism at SMU made me fall in love with SMU and Dallas. Going to my first SMU pep rally foreshadowed my future. Here they tapped the Knights of Cycen Fjodr, a men’s honorary society in which I was later inducted, as well as being elected cheerleader, leading SMU pep rallies. SMU played Texas at the Cotton Bowl, which was my personal introduction to Texas football, Fair Park, and Hall of State, home of the Dallas Historical Society. Ken went from a high school guest at an SMU Homecoming to becoming president of SMU Alumni Association, overseeing Homecoming festivities.
My education at SMU still informs my business. My friendships with SMU professors, colleagues and friends have been the foundation of my career and life in Dallas. For many decades, hardly a day went by when I did not step on campus for meetings, lectures, events, openings or writing at the Bridwell Library. Of course, SMU swimming coach Steve Collins can attest that the outdoor Red Barr pool was my summer office. Also, the Methodist Bishop, a few faculty, an architect and I held one of the dozen keys to the clay tennis courts that we maintained for our personal use and an occasional guest like Chris Evert.
SMU provides much for the Dallas community and is poised for even more interaction with Dallas. The 1911 Group has provided another fresh lens to view SMU and connect with those with a passion for contributing to the business, civic and collegiate community. Thank you 1911 Group for spotlighting me and bringing greater attention to the attributes of SMU.
#1911Group #SMU @smu @smucox @smudedman @smuperkins @smumeadows #SMUAlumni #Dallas #Architecture #UrbanStudies #ArchitecturallySignificant #Leadership @the1911.group
First Fall Leaf
Dallas blue skies and October color – actually it was the Dallas blue skies and wide smiles that made me fall in love with Dallas when I visited SMU in October as a senior in high school. The clear skies, fresh air and perfect temperatures seemed to embody the optimism of Dallas and project it as a fresh city. SMU was the perfect school for me as it represented a bright future. I knew I had found my home.
This October, as an extra bonus, a single colorful maple leaf floated into my garden reminding me that in 90° weather autumn is here. We may seldom have glorious painted autumn tree color, but we do have vivid splashes of color here and there, and other signals of fall – the Texas State Fair, SMU Boulevard, Homecoming, and the genuine smiles across Dallas that lured me to the city in the first place.
#Autumn #Fall #AutumnLeaf #Dallas #SMU #October #MapleLeaf #AutumnColor #FirstFallLeaf
Fair Morning
When one is the first through the gates at the State Fair, one enjoys the pageantry without the people. What a joy to see the Hall of State, the Esplanade, the Art Deco buildings, the Ferris wheel, and even the banners and advertisements. It almost feels like a moral obligation to go to the State Fair of Texas, but the obligation always turns into sentiment and exhilaration.
Everyone has their own traditions. Mine always starts with a bratwurst at Hans Mueller and a caramel apple. For years, the Midway was my athletic playground—I’d win stuffed bears with ease at the ball-toss games, insisting the carnie yell out, “We have a winner! Everyone’s a winner.”
My other fair talent is guessing birthdays. At the gates, I asked a woman if her birthday was March 19th. She said March 16th—only three days off. Later, I met a police officer from Cameroon. I guessed May 9th; his birthday was May 12th. State Fair magic: everyone’s a winner.
One of my own great State Fair triumphs was previously winning Best of Show in the photography exhibit at the Creative Arts Building. I felt like such an artist as people walked by my photograph saying, “That’s not the best; it shouldn’t have won.”
And this year, the first person I saw was Bobby Abtahi, former Park Board president and now vice-chair of the State Fair board, with his son, trying to go every day. To me, that makes Bobby a true Dallas patriot.
#StateFair #Texas #Dallas #FairPark #HallOfState #BobbyAbtahi #ArtDeco #EastDallas #DeepEllum
Twilight Highlights
In the softer light of twilight, the home’s proportions and details come to life. On the inside of the home, the golden hour is almost like why a black-and-white architectural photograph is sometimes more compelling than a color photograph. The calmer, balanced light lets the home’s true substance come forward, not overpowered by staging or the flashy play of sunlight and shadows on the surfaces. The twilight shot of the exterior is like an architectural cliff note, highlighting the doors, windows, and angles with a soft amber glow that makes one fall in love with a home like 4400 Belfort Place all over again.
You can see 250 images and further information on 4400 Belfort Place:
https://dougnewby.com/home/4400-belfort-place-highland-park-texas/
You can learn more about the Spanish Revival style:
https://douglasnewby.com/2025/03/why-do-spanish-revival-style-homes-evoke-the-best-of-highland-park/
#4400BelfortPlace #twilightshot #twilight #architecture #HighlandPark #architecturallysignificant #design #HighlandParkHome #ArchitecturallySignificantHomes
High Profile in Print
Opening the Dallas Morning News and seeing the Sarah Hepola high-profile feature on Blair Pogue, Mack Pogue and 4400 Belfort Place was a thrill. Opening a newspaper and seeing a story on a friend or a project—maybe one’s quote in print—is so much different than reading it online. It’s the difference between receiving a handwritten note on an engraved card versus reading the same sentiment in an email. I admit going to 7-Eleven to buy a couple of extra copies is something I can’t resist when I’m included in the feature.
I have always loved the Dallas Morning News high-profile section in its many iterations over the years, but never more than when Sarah Hepola writes it. I always learn more about Dallas through the lens of the people she profiles. Sure, I learn a lot about the interesting and talented people, but what is fascinating is how this diverse mosaic of people makes Dallas the most successful, open and vibrant city. Conformity is scorned; innovation and contributions to Dallas are celebrated.
In this piece, we learn about Mack Pogue—an iconic Dallas figure many revere and many have never heard of. We learn about Blair’s talented brothers and, most of all, we learn about Blair and the incredible mark he has made developing an architecturally significant home in Highland Park. He formed and directed the design team of Larry Boerder, Harold Leidner and Margaret Chambers. The home’s fresh approach and timeless appeal celebrate open modernity and materials inspired by best homes over centuries.
I have offered many architecturally significant homes in my career, but offering this home brings a whole new level of excitement. It is easy to see why Sarah Hepola embraced the idea about Blair—‘A great man makes good.’ And it’s also easy to see why so many 7-Elevens quickly sold out of this Sunday issue of DMN featuring Blair Pogue on the full-page cover of the Arts & Life section. Does anyone have an extra copy?
#BlairPogue #4400Belfort #DallasMorningNews #SarahHepola #HighProfile #MackPogue #ArchitecturallySignificant #DouglasNewby #HighlandPark #DallasArchitecture @HaroldLeidner #LuxuryRealEstate #Architecture #Dallas#BlairPogue #4400Belfort #DallasMorningNews #SarahHepola #HighProfile #MackPogue #ArchitecturallySignificant #DouglasNewby #HighlandPark #DallasArchitecture @HaroldLeidner #LuxuryRealEstate #Architecture #Dallas
Enchanting Passageway
Armstrong Parkway is an enchanting approach to the architecturally significant home at 4400 Belfort Place. And then off the herringbone brick-patterned drive to the motor court is a short pedestrian landscaped walk that leads to the enchanting arched wall door opening to a vestibule close to the guest quarters. The landscape design of architect Harold Leidner mirrors that of the garden gate on the other side of the drive, as seen in the previous post, adding symmetry to the landscape design of the home. It also provides an enchanting approach to the wall door that provokes the imagination.
The best architectural landscape design and architecture can often be determined by the fine design in the places and spaces generally ignored or given short shrift. The beauty of Highland Park is made up of architectural nuances like the perimeter wall door and landscape design of this home. The finest homes in the finest neighborhoods are created by the finest architects and landscape architects.
#4400BelfortPlace #HighlandPark #LandscapeDesign #Door #BlanTyreHomes #Architecture #HaroldLeidner @haroldleidner @blantyre_homes #ArchitecturallySignificant
Charming Gate
Garden gates have always been one of my favorite elements of a home. This Highland Park home has a hierarchy of doors — a carved stone portico, a massive wood and glass front door, wood-patterned motor court gates, and a guest quarters’ wall door. And yet, this charming gate to the pool house captures my imagination.
When one thinks of architecture, one generally thinks of the composition of the main house. And when one thinks of landscape architecture, it’s often the overall impact of the hardscape and landscape design of the larger spaces. And yet, it’s these nuanced spaces like this that show off the brilliance of architect Larry Boerder and landscape architect Harold Leidner.
The hand-troweled stucco of the wall, with its tapered ends, insets, and flat tile caps, frames a scrolled gate with a bowed top inset with stained planks, punctuated by a rotated square window. Harold Leidner’s landscape design adds to the magic: the landscape on both sides of the walk leading up to the front door looks simple and tailored, but a closer look reveals layers of different colors, sizes, densities, and heights of plantings. A backdrop of Armstrong Parkway adds to the Highland Park allure of nature.
#4400BelfortPlace #HaroldLeidner #LarryBoerder #HighlandPark #GardenGate #ArmstrongParkway #LandscapeDesign #Architecture #blantyrehomes @haroldleidner @blantyrehomes #architecturallysignificant