Mayrath House Slated For Teardown, Midcentury Modern Lovers Can Pick Over The Bones This Weekend
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Ahead of the demolition of iconic Mayrath house at 10707 Lennox Lane, midcentury modern lovers will be given the opportunity to pick over the bones of the Truett A. Bishop-designed home. Once lauded as one of the most innovative homes in the country, it will soon be razed to make room for a new build on the 2.29 acre lot.
I’m a little gobsmacked. This style is only growing in popularity, with more and more of these structures being updated and remodeled by caring and clever craftsmen. It’s truly a sad day for Dallas.
Constructed of steel and Austin stone, with grand interiors that have been preserved through the years, the Mayrath house was lauded in a Sept. 23, 1957 story in The Dallas Morning News with the headline “Not a Splinter of Wood Used In Outstanding Home in Dallas,” further extolling the home in print:
Wood, the most frequently used material in homes, is completely shunned in the home of one Dallas family. There isn’t so much as a splinter of wood in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Mayrath, 10707 Lennox Lane…Built on columns of steel, the two story house is constructed with aluminum, glass, concrete and Austin stone. It may look like a country club at first glance, but it is a luxury home—one that probably is not equaled in the vast Southwest.
Those who love the quirky and ingenious will fall for the home’s even, clean exterior architecture and its colorful, classic interiors. Highland Park Market, the company that is marketing the home’s estate and pre-demolition fixture sale, confirms that the home will be razed soon in its announcement of an April 16-17 bring-your-own-tools gutting of this estate.
It must be seen to be believed. At first glance you might think the photos shown are 60 years old…they are not. Those are recent photos. This home is a PRISTINE VINTAGE 1958 TIME CAPSULE. Although the new owners are building new, let’s pull together and salvage some of these mid-century architectural treasures!
If I was going to the sale, I’d be in line first to get that original blue Geneva kitchen, but I’m sensing that it will be a very popular item. There is even more steel cabinetry in each bathroom, as well as in the den, which also sports a leather-clad bar.
Any set designer would kill for the perfectly preserved kitchen and bathroom. What will we see in place of this mid mod perfection? Let’s just hope it’s not another boring overbuilt McMansion… but it probably will be.
Of course it will be some horrific throwback. I’m equally sure it will have a 2.28 acre footprint on the 2.29 acre lot.
Nope stay tuned. You may be very much surprised…
Apparently he tried to deduct part of the high construction cost as “experimental and research” into new construction methods.
http://openjurist.org/357/f2d/209/mayrath-v-commissioner-of-internal-revenue
Interesting!
I am sick they are tearing this house down!!!
This is truly heartbreaking for someone like me that loves these Mid-century Modern homes so much and work so hard as a realtor to match these homes with the right buyers that will love and appreciate them.
Any word on the sale? It’s been removed from estatesales.net
Stay tuned. More details are emerging!
Good for you, Ed Murchison! There’s a perfect couple of designers in town that could put this remarkable place into a fine mid century again. Both love modern and know their materials and work well with remodelers. Anne Rosenthal is one I have worked for as an artist many times and she completely renewed a home for me and my fiance this summer – finishes and furniture. The other fantastic lady is award winning Mary Anne Smiley. Next would be gorgeous, delightful landscaping. Then once again owners in the home could enjoy music from the living room that once held a baby grand for the Mayrath’s.
Ed, are you related to Clint Murchison?
Once again, a brilliant example of lack of sophistication, more dollars than sense and a total disregard for historical architecture