Bud Oglesby and J. Stiles Brought Swinging ‘70s Style to Highland Park

When Anthony Cedano called me about his latest listing, a decidedly swinging ‘70s home, I was intrigued. It’s a completely unexpected look for Highland Park. And that’s a good thing because who wants what everyone else already has? Finding a home with character, provenance, and style is challenging. We’ve hit a home run here.

Swinging ‘70s Modernist Elements

A couple of original modernist architectural elements stand out immediately. The turret-like cylindrical wing on the left and the open metalwork gate leading to a courtyard proves this is an extraordinary home. Once inside the courtyard, you see more cylindrical features and redwood decking, but the entry doors say everything you need to know. Those are bronze sunburst doors, and check out what they go for on 1stDibs when not attached to a house!

This one-of-a-kind house created traffic jams when prominent home builder Jerry D. Stiles held the first open house in 1978. Originally intending to have a one-day open, Stiles had so much interest that he tied up traffic for three more weekends.

Stiles built largely in North Dallas and Plano. He was not averse to architectural risk-taking and was quite the innovator. He’s been credited with pioneering the local use of indoor plants, which makes sense with the prevailing 1970s architecture of skylights, atriums, solariums, and floor-to-ceiling glass. With the observation of the first Earth Day in 1970, everyone had at least one Boston Fern in a macramé holder!

Stiles’ innovation led to the creation of a one-stop shop. He offered not only architectural design and construction but also interior design. And he knew how to sell. He won the National Association of Home Builders first Marketer of the Year Award in 1978 and was one of the first builders to work closely with real estate agents, initiating a “Work With Realtors” program. Remember, MLS was not around in the 1970s, so builders and Realtors had to be on their toes.

So Mr. Stiles knew what he was doing when he built this home. Although he designed most of what came out of his offices, this swinging ‘70s home has been attributed as a Bud Oglesby design by the authors of “Great American Suburbs, Homes of The Park Cities.”

We await confirmation from one of our many architects that worked under Oglesby. But, hey, if Virginia Savage McAlester, Willis Winters, and Prudence Mackintosh wrote it down, it’s probably a fact.

Another fact is this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a significant home completely updated in 2022 to current lifestyle standards. No structural changes were made to this 4,310-square-foot 1970s home, so there are still two circular wings and the dramatic two-story entry with a skylight. Stiles built around existing trees and actually brought in more so there would be views from every window.

Rogers’ Healy’s Cedano has 3841 Mockingbird Lane offered for $3.499 million. Just remember the price First Dib’s has the entry doors for, and you’ll realize this is a great deal.