Douglas Newby Insights - Page 45
Joy of improving neighborhood
One knows a neighborhood has improved when it brings joy to a couple who grew up in Highland Park. For a couple that has owned homes in the nicest environments—an architect-designed home in Telluride, an architecturally significant historic home in Highland Park, and a mountain home in Santa Fe, and familiar with vibrant and prestigious spots around the world— Urbano on Fitzhugh in the heart of Old East Dallas can provide joy and great fun to this couple with exquisite taste. It is incredible how even long-held impressions of a neighborhood that at one time had declined to become one of the worst has now become replaced with thoughts of a happy destination to visit or live. Now even the most discerning enjoy Old East Dallas’ return to civility and conviviality. #architect #neighborhood #dallas #eastdallas #architecture #city #urban #restaurant #friends #ruinart #revitalize #transformstion #couple #glamour #fun #city #downtown #santafetrail #pathtotrinitygroves
Homes have tradition
People love homes that have tradition. A tree, a porch, a creek, a path, or a park across the street might invoke a tradition. In Dallas, one can have a horse for every acre of land. This allowed Ross Perot for years to ride his horse along White Rock Creek behind his house in Preston Hollow. Other families ride at their country homes. And still others, like me, occasionally get to enjoy well groomed trails found @John Sebastian Walnut Creek Farm. This day I was celebrating the 70th anniversary of @Sebastian Construction Group. This incredible company has made the greatest contribution to building or renovating significant architect-designed homes in Dallas and many others around the country. It is fun when a family shares their traditions with guests. #walnutcreekfarm #home #texas #celebration #architect #architect #contractor #dallas #horsetrailer #horse #fun #friends #picnic
Paths and Parking
Trails are flourishing and parking garages are shriveling. We should enjoy a sentimental view of parking garages before they disappear because of autonomous transportation, and less fixed destination alternatives. Increased walking, biking, and alternative transportation will take place on enhanced paths and trails like Katy Trail pictured here. Storing cars in massive above-ground garages will become things of the past. #katytrail #paths #bikepath #biketrail #walk #urban #urbanscape #urbantrail #pathtotrinitygroves #parking #parkinggarage #cityplanning #autonomous #citytransport #dallas #turtlecreek #downtown #cityscape #aiadallas #aia #architecture #architect #future #architecturephotography
Collecting Art and Memories
Reflections was written by Margaret McDermott and her friend and esteemed art historian, Rick Brettell. It contains adventure, history, art, personal relationships, an approach to collecting art that is compelling and, foremost, a love story. This book was written to be released upon her death. How lucky Dallas and the world are to have this book that illuminates the art that made Mrs. McDermott happy for so many years. We discussed that when these paintings moved to the Dallas Museum of Art, visitors will still be able to feel her gaze and energy in these paintings. #mcdermott #dma #art #book #artbook #impressionism #impressionist #dallas #dallasarchitecture #home #memoir #collection #artcollector #artcollection #highlandpark #margaretmcdermott #collecting #arthistory #home #reflections #homesthatmakeushappy
Texas Mid Century
Eugene and Margaret McDermott purchased their country property at a time when Allen was a long way from Dallas. Architect Scott Lyons, who designed their Highland Park home, designed a simple Texas Modern home here that celebrated the land. While some second homes are only used occasionally, the McDermotts came here almost every weekend. The tradition continued for over 50 years. They rode their horses across their land for many years and swimming in the clear well water in their pool was a tradition that never ended for Mrs. McDermott and her friends. Generations of visitors to Mrs. McDermott’s country house for lunch and dinner included international dignitaries, cultural and academic leaders, young and old, students, scholars, and new and longtime friends. Ideas were hatched, plans reviewed, and her book, Reflections, was written and passages read aloud for guests before it was published. #mcdermott #texas #architecture #architect #scottlyons #texasmodern #texasmodernarchitecture #countryhouse #midcentury #midcenturymodern #midcenturyhome #texaslife #porch #screenedporch #dallasarchitecture #dallas #art #texaslandscape #allen #texashouse #aiadallas #aia
Texas Modern Architecture Impressionist Art
Eugene and Margaret McDermott retained architect Scott Lyons to design their Texas Modern home in Highland Park on the recommendation of longtime friend and architect of Texas Instruments headquarters, O’Neil Ford. This home with the tenets of Texas and the modernism of Europe was perfect for a magnificent and personal collection of Impressionist art. The warm, simple talent and materials were the perfect backdrop for these Impressionist paintings by Monet, Caillebotte, and others. The continuous brick walls and a wall of a single-pane window overlooking the garden created the symmetry with the landscape paintings of these Impressionist artists. Private moments or shared moments with large groups generated awe and reflection at the beauty and peace these paintings in their Texas modern home generated. Many generations will continue to enjoy this art at the Dallas Museum of Art. #art #architecture #architect #texas #modern #impressionism #highlandpark #dma #dallasarchitecture #dallas #neighborhood #texasmodern #texasmodernarchitecture #mcdermott #margaretmcdermott #home #window #brick #modernhome #midcenturymodern #highlandparkhomes #historic #historichome #contemporary
Milam
The Milam home pictured here in the original Munger Place promotional book was the early childhood home of Margaret Milam McDermott. In 1905, Munger Place was flourishing as the finest residence park in the Southland, when Highland Park was struggling to gain traction. Mrs. McDermott was always fond of Munger Place and had longtime friends like Ruth Altlshuler who also grew up in Munger Place. I have always said if one grew up in an architect-designed home in a neighborhood of architect-designed homes, one would hire an architect to design their own home someday. In this case, Mrs. McDermott retained Scott Lyons who designed her Highland Park Texas Modern home and her country home. The Text in image states. Dallas is called the “ city of the hour and the eyes of the whole world are upon her, and the people of the city are remarkably alive to the situation.” This sounds much like the University of Texas song Margaret McDermotts grandfather wrote while he was a student at UT. And the people of Dallas are remarkably alive focusing on Margarett Milam McDermott this week!
#margaretmcdermott #milam #mungerplace #mungerplacehistoricdistrict #swissavenue #swissavenuehistoricdistrict #historic #historicarchitecture #historicdistrict #historical #architect #architecturallysignificant #architecture #neighborhood #highlandpark #scottlyons #preservation #preservationdallas #dallasarchitecture #dallas #aiadallas #pathtotrinitygroves #art #friends #eastdallas #culture #history #legacy #ut
A love affair with Dallas
Mrs. McDermott loved Dallas and Dallas loved Mrs. McDermott. Margaret Milam McDermott (Feb 18, 1912 – May 3, 2018) loved Eugene McDermott, her daughter Mary, her granddaughter Grace, her staff, her students, her friends and all those who contributed to Dallas and civilization. Mrs. McDermott was incredibly democratic in her appreciation of contributors. She encouraged philanthropic gifts and, even more, she encouraged ideas and people pursuing and accomplishing those ideas. A small lunch at her home might include an international philanthropist, a seamstress, an artist and any one of thousands of friends.
This photograph was taken at her home, a home she loved, when Mrs. McDermott was 105 ¾, at the end of dinner and an evening of many laughs and reflections.
Margaret McDermott was focused, disciplined and had the highest expectations of people. What I loved most about her was her sense of humor, her smile, her beauty! Mrs. McDermott has rung the dinner bell one last time and it is time to go home, filled with warm thoughts, fond memories and inspiration. … #margaretmcdermott #mcdermottscholars #utdallas #meyersonsymphonycenter #dallasmuseumofart #dma #dallas #highlandpark #arboretum #dallasshakespeareclub #obituary#philanthropy #stmarksschooloftexas #hockaday #universityoftexas #utsouthwestern #dallasmorningnews #aquarius #texasinstruments #art #artcollection #reflections #trinityriver #dinner #arcitecture #architects #aiadallas
Allée across acreage
What could be a more elegant accentuation of a very wide Preston Hollow lot than an allée that curves across the lot. When one thinks of an allée, what first comes to mind is a tree tunneled path deeper into the property, or maybe a pair of allées perpendicular to the home, accentuating the architecture and framing a motor court. Here an allée of mature live oaks and their interlocking branches guide one across the front of the property, adding dignity and grace to the approach to the front door while emphasizing the privacy and width of the site.
#allee #liveoak #tree #trees #prestonhollow #prestonhollowrealestate #Dallas #dallas #realestate #realestateforsale #lotforsale #forsale #milliondollarhomes #property #landscape #landscapedesign #driveway #lots #acre #site #neighborhood #graceful #home #listing #landscapephotography #landscapearchitecture #architecturephotography
High-rise View – Modern Home
My favorite site. This single-family home found in Turtle Creek Park has elevation of a 5th floor high-rise residence found across Turtle Creek. It is also nestled into the trees and lush urban landscape lining the Katy Trail. Found on a private drive, in one direction it is a few homes away from the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Kalita Humphreys Theater, with renovation plans in the works for this landmark building and Turtle Creek Park land. In the other direction the drive of Turtle Creek winds its way along Turtle Creek to the stone bridge that leads into the private, forested neighborhood of 33 houses in Turtle Creek Park, framed by Turtle Creek, Rock Creek and the Katy Trail. This site enjoys a hidden, secluded neighborhood with the greatest pedestrian access to the vibrancy of Dallas – Knox Street, West Village, Arts District, Mockingbird Station and many other destinations along the Katy Trail. One might wonder how the most serene neighborhood can be surrounded by the most city life. This modern home on Turtle Creek answers the question. When Frank Welch first saw this site he immediately envisioned building into the embankment, building a pool over the rock outcropping and creating views of Turtle Creek, downtown and the wooded environment of Turtle Creek and Rock Creek.
#turtlecreek #turtlecreekpark #pathtoTrinityGroves #katytrail #dallas #modern #modernhome #dallasmodernhomes #architecture #architect #ArchitecturallySignificantHome #home #contemporary #contemporaryart #art #design #frankwelch #interiordesign #interior #window #door #balcony #livingroom #view #texas #texasmodern #texasmodern #neigborhood #city #vibrancy