Midcentury Modern And More Featured in AIA Dallas Tour of Homes Nov. 2-6

Fans of classic design and Midcentury Modern architecture might be amazed by the diverse slate of tour stops on this year’s AIA Dallas Tour of Homes.

The 16th annual self-guided tour is set for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 5 and 6. There’s also a VIP premiere party offering conversations with the architects on Nov. 2 at a Turtle Creek home. 

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Want to attend? CandysDirt.com is giving away three pairs of tickets including VIP passes to the premiere party. Stay tuned for more details!

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This event is not your typical home tour, said Domi Works architect Blane Ladymon, who is co-chairing the AIA Dallas Tour of Homes this year with DSGN Associates architect Andrew Meckfessel. 

“It’s your chance to get into homes and talk with the architects of some of the best homes in Dallas,” Ladymon said. “This year’s homes offer a wide variety of residential architectural solutions. The homes range from historic MCM renovations, modern suburban, new construction residences, innovative whole home renovations and additions, and a couple of modern homes.”

Good architecture isn’t always about looking cool, Ladymon told CandysDirt.com. 

“It’s about addressing the specific requests of homeowners,” he said. 

Ladymon’s energy-efficient project at 8926 San Leandro Drive is featured on the tour. 

A Modern Makeover

A Preston Hollow home that was severely damaged during an October 2019 tornado was rebuilt and is now a showpiece on the AIA Dallas Tour of Homes. 

The Midcentury Modern on Northaven Road could have just been restored after an F3 tornado ripped through the usually-quiet neighborhood. But the owner opted to enlist architects with Bernbaum/Magadini to start from scratch. 

That’s not a huge surprise, since it’s the personal residence of architect Bruce Bernbaum.

“It’s kind of a silver-lining story,” Bernbaum said. “Our existing home was pretty much a classic Midcentury Modern home. I wanted to design with some of the characteristics and elements of a Midcentury Modern home, but I also needed to make it a home for today.”

Bernbaum interviewed his wife Cindy and asked her what was missing and what she wanted out of the rebuild.

“The house was designed for the lifestyle that we would like to have,” he said. “It’s a very open plan, very good for entertaining.”

Featuring classic midcentury elements, the home now has modern touches, with updated amenities and practical spaces — like a tornado shelter. 

“I sprinkled some elements of the old home into the cabinetry,” Bernbaum said. “I found some beautiful Japanese hand-stamped tile that I used for my fireplace for a warm quality of natural light, that indoor-outdoor relationship. In the end, I have a better appreciation for our clients and trying to explain to them the process and having them meet their expectations.”

About 1,000 additional square feet were added, and elevated entertaining spaces were created. 

MCMs for the Win

The first historic home on the tour is an original Midcentury Modern on Maple Springs Boulevard, designed and occupied by local architect Harold Prinz in 1950. 

“It is a story of love, devotion, and cutting-edge Midcentury Modern design in Dallas,” according to the AIA Dallas home tour description. “When [Prinz] and his wife Jeanette purchased the narrow, sloping lot in Oak Lawn Heights, he could not find a conventional lender to approve a loan.”

Apparently, the sloping lot created “radical and unsuitable” topography. Prinz found a commercial banker to take a chance on the innovative design that ultimately won Dallas AIA’s First Honor for Excellence in Residential Architecture. 

After the architect’s death, his wife sold the Maple Springs abode to South African architect Rodney Austin, who added his own touches of modernization. 

David and Jill Dutton bought the home in 2016 and continue to keep it updated with a nod to its classic Midcentury Modern design. 

And it’s still got a love story in its bones. 

“While [Prinz] may be known in Dallas for other projects, his personal home speaks to the architect’s dedication to his craft and love for his family,” the AIA description states. 

AIA Dallas Tour of Homes Treasures

Other homes on the AIA Dallas tour include modern and contemporary designs in Bluffview, Little Forest Hills, University Park, Southlake, and Colleyville. 

“We sent out a request in February to all members of the Dallas AIA asking for projects they’ve completed within the past couple of years,” Ladymon said. “This year we had about 15. Some get weeded out immediately because they’re not complete enough. We try to be diverse and present unique architectural design.” 

Tickets are available through the AIA Dallas website.