Innovative Urban Ranch by Edward Baum and Diane Cheatham Hits the Oak Lawn Market
Share News:
In the early 2000s, award-winning architect Edward M. Baum, FAIA, and legendary developer Diane Cheatham created a row of urban ranch courtyard houses in the heart of Oak Lawn. Baum had a unique vision in mind. He wanted to bring single-family homes into the core of urban Dallas with flexibility and light central to every design decision. The Throckmorton Street homes were so innovative that they were published in the American architecture and design magazine Dwell, Madrid-based Arquitectura Viva, and Italian design magazine Ottogano.
Baum was dean of the UT Arlington School of Architecture from 1987 to 1999 and elevated the program to national recognition. In addition to his residential work, Baum teamed up with John Maruszczak to design the Dallas Police Memorial that overlooks Dallas City Hall Plaza. A co-founder of the Dallas Architecture Forum, Baum has been influential in advancing affordable and sustainable housing solutions in and out of the classroom.
He and Cheatham have worked together on Cheatham’s cutting-edge Urban Commons development, widely recognized as the standard for innovative, sustainable single-family development. Cheatham’s projects have won over 30 awards for design and planning.
Which brings us to 2714 Throckmorton St., Unit B. You could not have a home with a better pedigree.
The clever design includes sliding walls, floor-to-ceiling views of the interior courtyard, and 10-foot high ceilings. With 1,688 square feet, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms, this urban ranch is a perfect fit for young professionals or those downsizing who are ready to dip back into a vibrant urban lifestyle.
Baum designed the exterior of his urban ranch courtyard homes to serve double duty, harkening to his emphasis on flexibility. What you see as a garage door entry opens to the front courtyard patio. The tilted roof trusses allow air to circulate freely. They are made from the same wood as the joists, with bracing struts made from metal and electrical conduit. If you look at a Google Earth view, the side-by-side homes look like they are topped with modern butterfly wings.
Oak Lawn has always been a coveted location. Uptown is minutes away with every restaurant option you can imagine. There are neighborhood cafes and easy access to the Katy Trail. In fact, Walk Score gives the neighborhood a Walker’s Paradise score of 91. That’s hard to beat!
