aia tour of homes dallas

Category: Tour of Homes

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AIA Dallas Tour of Homes

The 16th Annual AIA Dallas Tour of Homes is Dallas’ only citywide home tour curated exclusively by architects. The tour celebrates the beauty and diversity of Dallas residential architecture by featuring homes with a variety of styles, square footage, and price points.

This year’s tour includes a contemporary take and classic mid-century modern designs. The first historic home on the tour, on Maple Springs, was designed and occupied by Dallas architect Harold Prinz, AIA in 1950, which boasts the 1950 AIA Dallas Design Award: Honor for Excellence in Residential Architecture.

In Preston Hollow, a MCM home on Northaven tells the story of resiliency, rebuilt after incurring tornado damage in 2019. Other homes are featured in Southlake, Colleyville, Bluffview, Little Forest Hills and University Park.

All ticket holders will receive access to exclusive tour content on the AIA Dallas app the weekend of the event, including maps, descriptions, and photos.

The 16th Annual AIA Dallas Tour of Homes is Dallas’ only citywide home tour curated exclusively by architects. The tour celebrates the beauty and diversity of Dallas residential architecture by featuring homes with a variety of styles, square footage, and price points.

This year’s tour includes a contemporary take and classic mid-century modern designs. The first historic home on the tour, on Maple Springs, was designed and occupied by Dallas architect Harold Prinz, AIA in 1950, which boasts the 1950 AIA Dallas Design Award: Honor for Excellence in Residential Architecture.

All ticket holders will receive access to exclusive tour content on the AIA Dallas app the weekend of the event, including maps, descriptions, and photos.

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Douglas Newby

Insights, Musings, Reflections

AIA Dallas Tour of Homes – October 23-24, 2021

by Douglas Newby

The AIA Dallas Tour of Homes is the most important and beneficial home tour in Dallas. This AIA Tour of Homes combines the best of the other home tours in Dallas. The other tours of homes in Dallas have served many purposes for nearly 50 years.

Legacy of Dallas Home Tours

The Swiss Avenue Mother’s Day Home Tour reintroduced an iconic street and architect-designed homes that had long been forgotten. Munger Place was the sponsoring neighborhood of the Old East Dallas Tour of Homes that showed the mosaic of neighborhoods and homes from Greenland Hills to Deep Ellum . Dallas home tours help define restoration, neighborhoods , styles — Prairie , Craftsman , Mid-Century , Tudor , green homes—and promote history and a sense of Dallas.

AIA Tour of Homes Keeps Increasing Its Relevance

There is only one tour in Dallas that keeps increasing its relevance and that is the AIA Dallas Tour of Homes. Celebrating its 15th year, this AIA tour is still relatively young in relationship to the other tours in Dallas, but its importance continues to grow. This year, a visit to the homes introduces us or makes us more familiar with neighborhoods, architects, architecture, preservation, renovation and homes of different ages, sizes and styles, from Oak Cliff to Denton.

Understand Its Architecture and You Will Understand a City

The architecture of a city explains a city—its pattern of development, its evolution and the way it thinks about itself. The AIA Dallas Tour of Homes on October 23rd and 24th will give you a greater understanding and appreciation of Dallas and its architecture.

Architect Cliff Welch, FAIA, is Featured on Dallas Tour of Homes

The AIA Tour in 2021 has homes designed by many talented Dallas architects where their work can be seen. I am particularly pleased that the Dallas Chapter of AIA is featuring two homes designed by architect Cliff Welch . The home on Kessler Parkway you will be able to see in person. The high-rise residence originally designed by George Dahl and renovated by Cliff Welch may be visited virtually.

Early in his career, Cliff Welch invited me to be on his “50s Cool” Dallas Tour of Homes. This AIA tour was the first tour in Dallas to feature Midcentury Modern homes. As a result, I will always associate Cliff Welch with Midcentury homes along with the fact he lives in a fabulous Glenn Allen Galaway Midcentury Modern design home. Cliff also began his career at the Oglesby Group , surrounded by award-winning architects including Joe McCall and Max Levy . In the last two years, Cliff Welch has been elevated to be a national AIA Fellow in recognition of his excellent design work and contribution to architecture.

Smart Homeowner Hired Modern Architect to Preserve Historic Home

One of the reasons I am so excited about this home being on the AIA Dallas Tour of Homes is that it will give you a chance to see in person a home that is not one of the large modern homes he designed in Preston Hollow or White Rock Lake , but a small historic home in a conservation district in Oak Cliff , along Coombs Creek.

This home is a perfect example of a sophisticated client understanding the benefit of hiring an architect regardless of the size or the style of the home. This project shows how a thoughtful modern architectural sensitivity can preserve a historic home. Ultimately, it is the homeowner, the architect’s client, who determines if a home is saved or torn down. It is always easier to tear down a home and start fresh, but the results seen at this home shows how a thoughtful client and talented architect can create an inspired design and fabulous home.

Restoration House of the Year Award

When restoration of historic homes was just getting started in Dallas, I initiated and sponsored the Restoration House of the Year Award. It was presented by the mayor of Dallas and selected by a committee that included the president of Dallas AIA, ASID, a bank president, National Trust representative, and the D Magazine editor, each looking through the lens of their particular discipline. When I saw this home with the renovation designed by Cliff Welch, I thought if the award were in existence today, this Cliff Welch-designed home would win.

Dallas Tour of Homes Architectural Notes

Here are some of the things you might enjoy noting at this home on this year’s AIA Dallas Tour of Homes. This home was originally only 1,400 square feet, sited at the edge of Coombs Creek and its trail. It was covered with aluminum siding and was still resting on Bois d’Arc posts with framing of bowed 2x4s. Only an enlightened homeowner would have saved this home.

Dallas Tour of Homes – Colonial Revival Homes Lend Themselves to Modern Design

The original Colonial Revival style was extremely popular in the first half of the 20th century. These small simple homes with roof pitches in one direction were built by craftsmen, not artisans, who had been doing the elaborate and intricate work on high Victorian homes. Just as David Williams created Texas Modern homes to be drawn from indigenous Texas homes that he considered as modern as the modern homes built in 1920s Europe, Colonial Revival homes have a simplicity that lends itself to the clean lines of modernism.

Architect Cliff Welch adds Subtle Modern Detail that Transforms House

You will see on this AIA Dallas Tour of Homes that Cliff Welch kept the footprint of a house as well as the spirit of the original house. The aluminum siding was replaced with vertical board and batten siding that is both a period and current touch. The original carvings and cartouches by the front door are replaced by vertical address numerals, a round sconce and modern mailbox. Vertical slats engage the stand-alone column with the side of the house. They also provide sunlight and shadows on the façade and provide privacy from those on the Coombs Creek Trail.

Housing Shortage Disappears If Small Worn Out Houses Are Reused

There is a great clamor in Dallas that there is a housing shortage. Yes, the housing market is tight, but we still have an abundance of small worn out homes that are residential stepping stones to larger nicer homes. Here is a great example of a small home that was considered not to have any value. The 1400 square foot footprint was preserved and the 800 square foot attic was renovated to the total square footage. Architect Cliff Welch also designed the renovation to be a two step process. As the family grows, a new master bedroom may be added without disrupting the design.

Award-Winning Architects Love Small Homes

While architects’ bread-and-butter are designing large expensive homes, I have seen many talented architects, including Cliff Welch, who for the right client, site and home take great joy in designing or renovating small homes. Architects are a great value and add great value to a project.

Other Architectural Achievements Range from Rustic to Green

It is easy to forget how many wonderful approaches there are to architecture depending on the site, the architect and client. You will have a chance to see on this AIA Dallas Tour of Homes a rustic modern pool casita located in Denton, Texas, by M. Gooden Design; a modern home in a wooded setting outside of Tyler by Fitzpatrick Architects; a Gold Crest high-rise residence on Turtle Creek Boulevard originally designed by Dallas architect George Dahl and renovated by Cliff Welch; a Lakewood modern home designed by Architect James E. Manning; an energy-positive ranch-style home producing five times more energy than it consumesthat is located in Bluffview and designed by architect PM-AD; on Strait Lane a Douglas Guiling architect-designed modern home; and a modern townhome on the high ground west of the Trinity River designed by DSGN Associates.

You will be able to buy tour tickets for $45.00 for the in-person tour, or $75.00 for a combined ticket of in-person tours and virtual tours of all 10 homes at www.hometourdallas.com .

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• The Woodlands

"The Five House" by M Gooden Design. (photo by Parrish Ruiz de Velasco)

Bon Aire Lane by architecture firm Zero3 (photo by Zero 3)

The Gold Crest building by architect firm WELCH|HALL (photo by Clifford Welsh, FAIA)

A Kessler Park home by WELCH|HALL (photo by Clifford Welsh, FAIA)

A Lyre Lane home by James E. Manning (photo by Carmen Marenco)

A Manett Street towhome by Modern Living Dwellings (photo by Wade Griffith Photography)

The Stonegate home by architecture firm PM-AD (photo by Full Package Media)

A home on Strait Lane by DGA Douglas Guiling (photo by Shoot2Sell)

A Sugar Creek home by Fitzpatrick Architects (photo by Craig Blackmon, FAIA)

A Wickmere Mews townhome by architecture firm DSGN (photo by Barry Snidow)

One of the City’s Best Home Tours is Back — Get a Glimpse Inside the Stunning Dallas Stops

Great architecture and inspiration across the area.

W ith so many distinct neighborhoods, Dallas has no shortage of great home tours. Any weekend afternoon is well spent exploring bungalow-lined Hollywood Heights, historic estates along Swiss Avenue, and the quirky, Charles Dilbeck-filled corner known as Cochran Heights. But one annual, design-minded event you can always count on is the AIA Dallas Tour of Homes. Our only  citywide home tour puts the focus on the best architecture in Dallas, no matter what neighborhood their work resides in.

For the 15 th year of the AIA Dallas Tour of Homes, curated exclusively by architects, the event brings back the joys of in-person home gazing — with a few virtual opportunities for those who prefer to ogle from the comfort of their living room. Ahead of the tour, get a glimpse of the 10 striking residences opening their doors on the weekend of October 23. For more information and tickets for the AIA Dallas home tour, visit hometourdallas.com .

Gold Crest | Virtual Only

Architect : WELCH | HALL Architects Neighborhood : Oak Lawn

Along a striking street filled with architecturally significant dwellings, George Dahl’s Gold Crest is still a design highlight. A renovation of the fourth-floor apartment drew from the 1965 building to create an art- and book-filled home with oak flooring, cypress millwork, and views for days.

Bon Aire Drive | In Person

Architect : Zero 3 Neighborhood : Old Lake Highlands

Eight years of collaboration between homeowner and architect (plus, many a visit to Round Top) resulted in this lovingly layered dwelling. With a contemporary design that’s firmly rooted in history, a love of plants, vintage war memorabilia, and muscle cars, the end result is one of pure passion.

Kessler Parkway | In Person

Architect : WELCH | HALL Architects Neighborhood : Kessler Park

A beautiful blend of Modernism and Colonial Revival, the 1940 farmhouse was taken down to the studs and lovingly renovated to maintain the quaint home’s character. Filled with Scandinavian and Japanese furnishings that match the structure’s ethos, the Oak Cliff home is utterly beautiful in its simplicity.

Wickmere Mews | In Person

Architect : DSGN Associates Neighborhood : Trinity Groves

Built for an art-lover and perched by the Trinity River, the streamlined home offers sweeping views of downtown Dallas.

Lyre Lane | In Person

Architect : James E. Manning Architect Neighborhood : Lakewood

Reverence of nature is evident throughout this sun-soaked home, situated on a leafy corner lot in Lakewood. The focal point is a private courtyard entry, where a mature Japanese maple tree serves as the centerpiece.

Manett Street | In Person

Architect: Modern Living Dwellings Neighborhood: Knox-Henderson

One of the most striking new townhomes to appear off Henderson Avenue, the high-tech residence is perfectly balanced with a minimalist design and warm materials.

Stonegate | In Person

Architect : PM-AD Neighborhood : Bluffview

Sustainability was the prime concern when designing this energy-positive ranch home, which takes its cues from the Usonian style, known for flat roofing and visual continuity between the interior and exterior.

Strait Lane | In Person

Architect : DGA Douglas Guiling Architect Neighborhood : Preston Hollow

Tucked away just south of Hockaday School, the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired home takes advantage of its natural surroundings.

“Five House” | In-Person and Virtual

Architect : M Gooden Design Location : Denton, Texas

Honoring the lot’s original 1949 dwelling, the “Five House” features pitched ceilings, clerestory windows, and a linear pool connected by entertainment decks. The architect strictly adhered to the five-foot planning grid — hence the home’s unique name.

Sugar Creek | Virtual Only

Architect : Fitzpatrick Architects Neighborhood : Tyler, Texas

Situated just outside of Tyler, the unique home blends rural East Texas materials with tech and a modern aesthetic. Sweeping rooms and a glassy pool compete with the home’s woodsy surroundings.

Curated Collection

2204 Aarhus Way Dallas, TX

4205 Gloster Street Dallas, TX

5619 Walnut Hill Lane Dallas, TX

10331 Strait Lane Dallas, TX

9520 Hathaway Street Dallas, TX

5501 Pine Valley Flower Mound, TX

3832 Normandy Avenue Dallas, TX

3915 Southwestern Boulevard Dallas, TX

3633 Haynie Avenue Dallas, TX

3136 Greenbrier Drive Dallas, TX

4412 Lorraine Avenue Dallas, TX

4923 Crooked Lane Dallas, TX

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⟵ Homes Tour: 2022 ⟵ October 22-23

• Clark | Richardson Architects
• Furman + Keil Architects
• Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects
• Lake|Flato Architects
• LaRue Architects
• Matt Fajkus Architecture, LLC
• Studio Steinbomer
• Webber + Studio, Architects

The 2022 AIA Austin Homes Tour was incredible! We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who attended the Tour or contributed their time and their talents to make this year’s Tour a success!

• Want to go behind the scenes? Watch webinars with each architect here .
• Homes Tour Booklet PDF here . Shows ADA accessibility of Tour Homes.

Pleasant Valley House Lemmo Architecture and Design

Stenger No. 2

House Zero Lake|Flato Architects

Hillside Residence Furman + Keil Architects

Theresa Passive House Forge Craft Architecture + Design

Wildflower House Erica Keast Heroy, Architect

Belmont Park Cuppett Kilpatrick Architects

Bull Creek Residence Studio Steinbomer

Vastu House Dick Clark + Associates

Pleasant Valley House

Home info >, hillside residence, theresa passive house, wildflower house, belmont park, bull creek residence, vastu house, title sponsor.

Platinum Sponsors

Underwriters

Friends of the tour, consulting engineering services, culturemap austin, den property group, gessner engineering, luxe interiors + design, special thanks, breakaway public relations, silver sponsors, alexander marchant, alpha granite, austin concrete development, builders firstsource, eastside lumber & decking, expressions home gallery, facets of austin, lavish kitchen + bath, new results llc, studio sinfin, waller building company, bronze sponsors, aaa countertops, acme brick co., air-rite by design, anchor-ventana glass, andersen windows & doors, architectural tile & stone, austin iron, llc, boothe concrete, captive audio, ltd., clay imports, cleantag, llc, epic smart homes, james hardie building products, javier’s landscaping, kingwood fine cabinetry, lights fantastic, materials marketing, martel windows & doors, mirror gallery, inc., nest modern, pearson landscape services, positive energy, the renner project, swing door company, syd (shota yamaguchi designs), terracon consultants, inc, texas sun & shade, total home technologies, waterloo woodworks, wilson ac & appliance, westshop design.