Not far from this house at the intersection of Douglas and Shenandoah in University Park is Dilbeck Four Corners. Aptly named because at each of the four corners is a home designed by Charles Stevens Dilbeck, one of Dallas’ most noted residential architects. Dilbeck’s designs are often referred to as romantically eclectic, blending northern European cottage styles and Texas indigenous ranch styles to create charming and appealing home exteriors and interiors.
You can imagine our excitement, when home builder Cy Barcus asked us to design a contemporary Texas Regional house in keeping with the neighborhood’s architecture. “The home is a contemporary interpretation of the Texas ‘saltbox’ house form and is scaled down to a story and a half to fit with the diminutive scale Dilbeck cottages,” reflects Richard Davis. “The materials used: Lueders limestone, stucco, flat clay tile roof, and COR-TEN steel are a modern response to Dilbeck’s designs.”
At 3,800 square feet, the house fits in with the neighboring properties. With four bedrooms and four-and-a-half baths, the master suite is downstairs yet set apart from the entertaining wing. Large doors in the living room open out on a cobblestone terrace that leads to the garage and Barcus’ studio.
A joy of working with Barcus on his own home was designing with his art collection in mind. An avid contemporary art collector, he acquires two dimensional works as well as sculpture. Framing the limestone Rumford fireplace is a Bruno Romeda sculpture and works on paper are seen in the gallery beyond.
The living room’s hip ceiling is paneled with long grain fir planks that complement the limestone in the fireplace.
Visible from the living room is the long gallery. Large picture windows allow natural light to penetrate deep into the lower level while giving a glimpse into the side garden and lap pool water feature.
Clarke Barcus, Barcus’ youngest son, designed and fabricated the oak cabinets in the kitchen. Baked English oak floors and museum smooth plaster walls, used throughout the first floor, visually connect the spaces.
The project was realized with the help of CEB Construction, Inc.
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Having developed skills in designing American and European eclectic homes, we are always pleased to have a chance to create contemporary architecture. Currently, we have two very modern homes we are designing and one is now under construction in Preston Hollow.
Regards, Richard Drummond Davis Architects