The Architect Index: Dallas Homes Designed by Modernist Bud Oglesby
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Dallas Modernist Architect Bud Oglesby knew how to do light right. For this first in the Architect Index series on Dallas architects’ most magnificent homes, we’re chronicling the Dallas homes designed by Bud Oglesby.
The Dallas modernist architect’s homes are often fixtures on the AIA Home Tour for good reason. Well-thought-out natural light is a signature element for homes designed by the late Oglesby, who once said,
“How you deal with light is extremely important. How you let it enter a building, how you treat it on outside surfaces through trellises, shutters, courtyards, and recessed windows is crucial.”
Enslie Orsen “Bud” Oglesby Jr. was born in Phoenix, raised in San Angelo, Texas, graduated from Cornell, and received his master’s in architecture from M.I.T. All these locations would become important in his later work, but his most prolific work was done in Dallas.
His firm, Oglesby Group Architects (now Oglesby Greene) designed homes throughout Downtown Dallas, Oak Lawn, Preston Hollow, and North Dallas. He influenced a number of current architects, including modernist Ron Wommack.
In the 1993 Dallas Morning News obituary for Oglesby, architecture critic David Dillon wrote: “Honesty in materials, simplicity of form, sensitivity to place, this was the Oglesby canon, and it changed very little over the years.”
Here are some of the fantastic homes Oglesby has designed that’ve captured our fascination through the years.
Glass-Walled Duplex on Fairfax
Address: 3727 Fairfax Ave.
Last sold: Estimated $588,000 in May 2018
This architectural gem is a meticulous example of Bud Oglesby’s signature style with a seamless visual relationship between the indoor and outdoor spaces.
This home is one half of a duplex with two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, one half-bath, two living areas, and 1,746 square feet on two stories, built in 1964. The home located near Inwood Road and Lemmon Avenue was listed for $697,000 and sold for an estimated $588,000 in May 2018.
Beautiful floor-to-ceiling glass windows and sliding doors open to a private courtyard that leads to a detached studio with a half bath and a one-car garage. The courtyard is beautifully appointed and features night lighting on the many mature trees, landscaping, and hardscaping.
— See more photos of Fairfax Avenue
Fab Floating Staircase on Gillespie
Address: 3615 Gillespie Street, Unit A
Status: On the market for $319,000
This 1958-built townhome was renovated in 2007 with a careful appreciation of its 1950s flair. The stained concrete floors, exposed brick walls, and wooden floating staircase found in this home are signature Oglesby architectural elements.
Unit A was listed in August 2019 for $395,000 by Charles Gregory with Dave Perry Miller Real Estate and amazingly, it’s still on the market for only $319,000.
High-quality plate glass windows — huge ones — flood the interior of this Gillespie townhome with natural light. The updated kitchen features blue pearl granite countertops, glass-front cabinets, painted glass subway tile backsplash, and stainless steel appliances including commercial-grade Wolf gas oven, Vent-a-Hood, Subzero refrigerator-freezer, stainless Monogram oven, built-in microwave, and dishwasher.
— See more photos of this Gillespie Street home
Mansion Park Condo With Updates
Address: 2711 Hood Street, Unit G
Last sold: Estimated $310,000 in Sept. 2018
Rarely do you find enclaves in Dallas that are seeded with one particular architect like Oak Lawn is with Bud Oglesby designs. The modernist architect was quite prolific in the area, with many of his angular, eye-catching townhomes and condos located in the Mansion Park area and nearby.
This two-bedroom condo was listed for $349,900 in Sept. 2018 and sold for an estimated $310,500.
We always love seeing how homeowners have updated this well-known architect’s work, while still retaining the form and function that make Oglesby homes so recognizable. Not only is it a sizable example of a unit in this Hood Street complex, but it’s sleek and serene with plenty of its original 1969 charm.
The house sports the original 1969 GE Wonder Kitchen. These built-in beauties offered all the luxury of a fully electric kitchen that was completely internally wired and plumbed.
— See more photos of Hood Street
Mansion Park Petite Pad
Address: 2727 Hood Street, Unit No. 110
Last sold: Estimated $215,000 in June 2019
The listing is pretty great: “Do you prefer a Mercedes to a Chevrolet? Would your rather live in Beverly Hills than in Pasadena? Do you appreciate the finer things in life? Do you always seek the best? If you answered “yes” to those questions, then you know that quality and design really matter.”
This petite one-bedroom, one-bath, two-story condo in Oak Lawn has a lot of bang for your buck. The first floor of this beautifully maintained 622-square-foot Mansion Park condo sports fab Terrazzo and an updated kitchen that vibes with the Midcentury Modern appeal of the 1964-built condo building. The ultimate “tiny home” was listed in May 2019 for $229,900 and sold a month later for an estimated $212,000.
— See more photos of this Hood Street condo
Modernist Masterpiece on Lexington
Address: 3709 Lexington Ave.
Last sold: Estimated $5.2 million in Oct. 2019
This 6,200-square-foot Modernist masterpiece near Knox Street was built for the Deals, who were patrons of the Dallas Museum of Art. The 1992-built home is widely believed to be the last residence Oglesby designed. It was listed for $5.75 million in February 2019 and sold eight months later for an estimated $5.2 million.
Instead of a formal space, Oglesby designed a comfortable, casual-yet-dramatic great room with majestic, soaring glass walls, concrete pillars, and a vaulted ceiling. The home is incredibly secluded and private. You’ve probably driven by it and never given it a second look because it’s set into such lush grounds.
— See more photos of Lexington Ave.
Mahanna Condo Offers Architect-Designed Living
Address: 3116 Mahanna St., Unit No. 5
Last sold: Estimated $191,000 in Dec. 2016
Located near Cedar Springs Road and the Dallas North Tollway, these condos were built in 1958 and offer a lovely midcentury aesthetic on the exterior. This is an intimate, private, gated complex with landscaped common areas and a swimming pool. It was listed for $199,995 in December and sold in less than a month for an estimated $191,000.
This condo is immaculate and updated, with bamboo floors, new hardware, new lighting, new cabinetry, and contemporary frosted glass doors throughout. The kitchen features granite counters and stainless steel appliances, and is conveniently located off the living area. There’s a study off the living area, as well, with French doors overlooking the landscaped pool area.
— See more photos of Mahanna Street
A Long-Gone Legacy on Strait Lane
Address: 10300 Strait Lane
Last sold: Estimated $6.75 million in April 2014 and demolished in 2015
This architecturally-significant home, once owned by Margaret Jonsson Rogers, Erik Jonsson’s daughter, and Nancy Dedman, is gone.
The home was built in 1971 with wide galleries for art display connecting three main wings, all surrounding a central courtyard. The sitting room off the master had a fireplace and viewed the pond: you know Oglesby on his perfect sitings. There were four additional bedrooms each with en suite baths. The kitchen was in the rear with a butlers pantry, laundry room, den, another fireplace, and wet bar. The estate was set on 3.5 acres of creek-lined grounds.
— See more photos of the former Strait Lane home
New Listings
Not to end on a down note of this demolished classic home, we dug up several more beautiful Oglesby townhomes for sale in Dallas. These homes have a fantastic pedigree of design that’s becoming more and more rare, and the best part — these diamonds in the rough are well priced to update with your favorite touches.
Address: 3217 Armstrong Avenue, Unit 8
Listed for $799,000 by Douglas Newby of Douglas Newby and Associates
“This Oglesby condominium has always been my favorite condominium in Knox-Travis area. What area is more surrounded by nature and vibrancy? Open voluminous spaces with sunlight from the barrel vault skylights streaming across the freshly installed travertine floors and through glass doors opening to the sleek wood and light-paneled courtyard, creating a modern home, more expansive and alluring than most twice its size. Retractable screen enhances the natural environment of tree-lined residence.”
Address: 2711 Hood Street, Unit B
Listed for $198,786 by Sharon Morales of Ebby Halliday Realtors
“Mid-century modern condo community designed by Bud Oglesby located in the heart of Mansion Park. Beautiful and super walkable neighborhood! This rare find is the perfect first home, downsize or pied-a-terre for the discriminating and fashionable. Updated with some very nice features like the european style DECO washer dryer combo, large walk in shower and huge eat-in kitchen island and open shelving for dishes and storage. Bright white with interesting lighting fixtures, carport right outside the front door, private patio with high fence, and a pool on property.”
Address: 2711 Hood Street, Unit E
Listed for $289,000 by Todd Berther of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Dallas
“AIA award winning architect Bud Oglesby designed this Mid-Century condo in Mansion Park close to Turtle Creek. A-frame upstairs living, dining, kitchen with walls of glass and large terrace overlooking mature oak tree. Downstairs offers second bedroom or office with glass pocket doors, updated bath with shower, hallway desk area & spacious master. Features include: brick floors thru out, laundry, and 1 carport 1 uncovered parking spot along with a pool on property.”
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Is there not another Olgesby residence designed for James Clark in Highland Park from the early 60’s?