Fall is the season for home tours, and one of our annual favorites—the AIA Tour of Homes—is happening this weekend, Oct. 26–27. It’s your chance to see inside architecturally noteworthy homes representing a variety of styles and neighborhoods in Dallas. In anticipation of the event, we invited Mark Hoesterey, AIA, NCARB, RID—a partner at SHM Architects and the lead architect for one of the homes featured on the tour—to share his insights into the project.
Serving as the lead architect of the Lively Lane residence, I was moved by the strong collaboration between clients, architects, interior designers, and landscape architects. The combination of everyone’s design thinking helped to create a true retreat for the owners of this Preston Hollow home.
Our client’s single-story home is uniquely nested among existing trees in a neighborhood that consistently overbuilds lots. We intentionally kept the scale of the home unique in relation to the rest of the neighborhood by creating a single-story residence designed for ageing in place.
One design challenge we were given was to create a backdrop for the homeowners’ extensive art collection. As one example, we custom-designed a front entry wall around a significant piece from their collection. The design perfectly frames the piece, thanks to a seamless recess into the wall. We complemented that with an all-glass pivot front door to give a strong, gallery-like feeling upon entry.
Other design elements include the flood of natural light throughout the space and other thoughtful details. Light is a prized element in SHM’s designs, often enabling uniquely shaped homes to allow light to flow through at least two sides of the room.
One bedroom has a dual purpose of serving as a guest room and an office. The desk is positioned to be closed off by hidden pocket doors at a moment’s notice. This allows the owners greater flexibility with how they live within the space. The interiors, designed by Catherine Albritton and Daphne Kuykendall, are reflective of the clients’ unique and elegant tastes, such as the custom designed light fixtures gracing the kitchen island.
We devised a turntable driveway that allows for ease of departure while saving a magnificent existing tree that serves as an important natural frame for the front elevation of the home.
But perhaps the home’s greatest strength is the seamless indoor-outdoor connection. Among its forest-like lot, the home seems to be pulled directly from the landscape. This serene, park-like setting transports the homeowner from the residential streets of Dallas to a nature-centric retreat. The backyard was designed around a sculptural aquatic centerpiece imported from England. The sculpture is a visual delight as well as a subtle, yet smooth sensory experience crafted by Harold Leidner.
The Lively Lane homeowners and I welcome you to experience for yourself the beautiful harmony between art, architecture, and nature at this home, which will be showcased on AIA Dallas Tour of Homes this weekend. It is one of seven homes on the self-guided tour held this year on Saturday, October 26 and Sunday, October 27, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
You can purchase tickets for $60 at www.hometourdallas.com. Or email jessica.otte@dmagazine.com for a chance to win a free pair of tickets! Email entries must be received by 12 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, with a winner chosen at random.
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