Faisal Halum of Briggs Freeman Nabs $27.5 Million Philip Johnson House Listing on Strait Lane

To describe it as a masterpiece seems like an understatement. We’ve featured the Philip Johnson House before and it never fails to take our breath away. Set on nearly seven acres at 10210 Strait Lane, the estate of Naomi Aberly and Larry Liebowitz is listed at $27.5 million and is the only Phillip Johnson house to have been built in Dallas. It’s a beloved architectural landmark and an example of what a fastidious restoration can achieve.

“I’m honored to list what I believe to be one of the most significant architect-designed homes in the country,” said Faisal Halum, executive vice president of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty. “The fact that it has already been meticulously restored, yet completely updated for the way a modern family lives today makes this a once in a lifetime opportunity.  This is a dream home for a true admirer of great architecture. It is truly unique, in a setting that will never be duplicated.”

From the Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s Listing:

It is the rarest of them all: a Philip Johnson masterpiece, never to be repeated. Built in 1964, with an exquisite and sensitive update completed in 2008, the light-filled house boasts elegant living spaces, a stunning double staircase, a unique dining room with an arched canopy, five luxurious bedrooms and eight baths. The nearly 7 parklike acres include a media house, modernist cabana, pool and tennis court. This award-winner has been featured in books, magazines and The New York Times.

An ‘Unquestionable Commitment to Heritage’

Retired financier Lebowitz and Aberly, a Democratic Party fund-raiser, bought 10210 Strait Lane in 2002 from Patty and Henry C. Beck (of the Beck Companies), saving the majestic property from being razed. Working with Dallas-based architecture firm Bodron + Fruit, the couple oversaw six years of extensive renovations, and received praise for their remarkable preservation and modernization efforts.

The house needed complete renewal. The landscape was seriously degraded, with abundant indicators of poor ecological health—more than half the site barely penetrable and clogged with invasive plants; declining populations of pecans and cedar elms; eroded and depleted soils; unstable creek banks and floodplain; and unfavorable habitat characteristics with few if any beneficial constituents. The clients demonstrated unquestionable commitment to respecting the project’s heritage and placed great focus on the curatorial aspects of the house and their extensive collections; but they were equally motivated by the need to reconcile these characteristics with their desire to create a family-oriented home, a comfortably domestic landscape, and a lasting stewardship ethic for the property.

The results are simply exquisite. But don’t take our word for it. Have a look for yourself. We’re eager to see who snatches up this amazing, one-of-a-kind property.