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Douglas Newby insights on Architecturally Significant Homes, Neighborhoods, and the Evolution of Cities

Impact on Homes That Make Us Happy

Douglas Newby is a national award-winning realtor who identifies architectural significance, value, and homes that make people happy. Insights offered in these articles include the nuance and evolution of neighborhoods, cities and Dallas. If you are interested in purchasing an Architecturally Significant Home, go to Douglas Newby & Associates real estate site DougNewby.com.

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Favorite Douglas Newby Blog Articles

Homes That Make Us Happy – Timeless Observations

Homes That Make Us Happy – Timeless Observations

In 2016, I did a TEDx Talk, Homes That Make Us Happy, based on my blog article, Characteristics of Homes People Love. I look back at those insights to show that the characteristics of homes people love were apparent even before the pandemic. However, the pandemic made us focus on the elements of the homes...

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Pandemic Changes More Than Where We Work and Live

Pandemic Changes More Than Where We Work and Live

Pandemic Changes Congestion Until the pandemic, people’s choices were largely shaped by their workplaces and commutes. A 25-minute drive to work could become an hour and a half at rush hour. One might have to wait 60 minutes to get their 7:00 p.m. reserved table for a 90-minute dinner. A 15-minute quick trip to buy...

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Organic Urbanism Encourages Community, Embraces Nature

Organic Urbanism Encourages Community, Embraces Nature

The pandemic has us focusing more on the criteria for choosing a city, a neighborhood and a home. It comes down to aesthetics, economics and future happiness — the foundation of organic urbanism. Aesthetics drive the economics of a neighborhood and a home. The health of a city and neighborhood contributes to the happiness and...

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Inspired Architecture Benefits Shelter in Place

Inspired Architecture Benefits Shelter in Place

Shelter in place has us focused on the characteristics of a home that makes us happy. What makes us happy in a home has not changed, but since we are spending more time in a home than ever, we are focused on what makes us happy in a home. Neighborhoods become more important during shelter...

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Holy Grail of Homes Buyers Desire During the Pandemic

Holy Grail of Homes Buyers Desire During the Pandemic

When sheltering at home people think about their homes differently.  Nature, views, sunlight permeate their thoughts.  Previously content homeowners become buyers during the pandemic.  This is a specific examples of homes buyers desire that has all the characteristics of home people love , even more during a pandemic. Homebuyers Want Their Home to Look Over...

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Home Sweet Home? How Shelter in Place Changes the Way We Think About a Home

Home Sweet Home? How Shelter in Place Changes the Way We Think About a Home

The recent challenges from the coronavirus force us to shelter at home and think of our home in whole new ways. Traditionally, when a buyer looks for a house to purchase, they are usually thinking about practical and financial criteria, like the square footage cost of the investment, how much house can they afford, are...

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The Characteristics of Homes People Love

The Characteristics of Homes People Love

For the people who really love their home, 10 characteristics that make them happy come up over and over again...Continue Reading about The Characteristics of Homes People Love →

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Max Architectural and Preservation Achievement of Architecturally Significant Home, Max Levy Architect

Max Architectural and Preservation Achievement of Architecturally Significant Home, Max Levy Architect

Max Levy, FAIA, helped save an architecturally significant home, the Stretto house designed by New York architect Steven Holl, from being torn down. This architecturally significant home built in 1991 was offered for sale for less than its 1.5 acre Preston Hollow land was valued. The house was headed for destruction. Its demise kept inching...

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Organic Urbanism is the Cure for New Urbanism

Organic Urbanism is the Cure for New Urbanism

New Urbanism is Like a Virus New Urbanism is a virus that keeps coming back in mutated forms – Organic Urbanism is the cure – Douglas Newby Why Does New Urbanism Need a Cure? New Urbanists increasingly don’t like single-family homes, which most Americans prefer. Didn’t you enjoy living in a single-family neighborhood? Even if...

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Direction of Dallas and Urban Growth

Direction of Dallas and Urban Growth

Should the direction of Dallas urban growth continue to grow north?  Does inserting low-income housing in North Dallas create an inclusive urban growth direction for Dallas?  Does the direction of Dallas and its current goal of moving low-income wage earners closer to higher wage jobs in North Dallas increase or decrease wealth for low-income families? ...

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Northern Hills:  Why is it a Favorite Dallas Neighborhood and Crown Jewel of Original Land Grant?

Northern Hills: Why is it a Favorite Dallas Neighborhood and Crown Jewel of Original Land Grant?

In the 1920s, Northern Hills was described by the McNeny brothers much like I described the Northern Hills neighborhood in the 1986 book I wrote on the older neighborhoods in Dallas and in my 2020 video on Northern Hills.  Regardless of where Northern Hills was in its evolution, in its infancy in the 1920s, re-emerging...

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MLS Remarks Can Diminish Value of Home For Sale

MLS Remarks Can Diminish Value of Home For Sale

How an agent writes about a home in MLS Remarks impacts how well the home sells.  I will be giving you an example of how generic MLS remarks might cost the seller a million dollars. If an agent can’t write about a home, an agent can’t talk about a home.  If an agent can’t talk...

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Browse 100 Compelling Articles by Douglas Newby

Douglas Newby Expertise

A life long curiosity and interest in art, culture and economics, and how they impact homes, neighborhoods and cities shape the prescient understanding Douglas Newby has for evolving real estate markets. His uncanny ability to see which homes and neighborhoods thrive and which will lag and when has been immensely beneficial to his clients and to the city. Ultimately, what is most important is homes that make us happy.

  • ​All Douglas Newby Blog Articles on Significant Homes, Neighborhoods, and the Evolution of Cities​
  • www.ArchitecturallySignificant.com
  • Featured Listings
  • Architecture
  • Neighborhoods
  • Firm
  • Media on Douglas Newby & Publications
  • Dallas Modern Homes for Sale
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Realtor Douglas Newby

Douglas Newby understands the economic and aesthetic impact of homes and neighborhoods that make us happy better than anyone in the county. I hope you enjoy my thoughts on architecture, home, desirable sites, neighborhoods, and the evolution of cities. Ultimately what is most important is a home that make you happy. If you have an interest in buying or selling a home or questions about the evolution of Dallas, call me at 214.522.1000.

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Douglas Newby created the concept of architecturally significant homes and has registered trademark Architecturally Significant® and Architecturally Significant Homes®.

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The winter point of Pointillism is to accentuate t The winter point of Pointillism is to accentuate the design and capture the moment.  On a morning bike ride through Dallas neighborhoods, what better way to convey a season, capture a home, and express a feeling than with full, soft, white snowflakes falling against the backdrop of a home painted in a graphite tone trimmed in white.  This city home surrounded by nature on a rolling block was transformed by one of my favorite artists, Allison V. Smith, and her husband, the esteemed gallerist, Barry Whistler.  They took a home with great proportions that was perfectly sited, but at a glance might look like many other brick homes of the Dallas period.  Dramatic paint, landscaping, and a well-positioned porch bench make the home visually enticing and an inviting spot for a porch salon.  Here is a home that captures the essence of every season and the vitality of the city interlaced with nature—Organic Urbanism at its best.  Thank you, Allison @AllisonVSmith  and Barry @BarryWhistlerGallery, for your many contributions to heightening the aesthetics of Dallas. *Winter Pointillism
#DallasNeighborhood #Architecture #Design #HouseColor #FrontPorch #Home #Winter #Snowflakes #Pointillism #OrganicUrbanism #HomesThatMakeUsHappy
A Christmas tradition in our family started, not w A Christmas tradition in our family started, not when I received this speed-reading mechanical bear, but when my father did when I was a child.  He so enjoyed narrating and showing off this speed-reading bear to family, friends and neighbors stopping by over the holidays that he received a mechanical toy every Christmas from then on.  On Christmas Eve presents were opened, and on Christmas Day all the previous mechanical toys received at Christmas were brought out and put under the tree.  And what a collection it was—from Charlie Weaver mixing a drink, drinking it, and smoke coming out of his ears, to the Neiman Marcus nursing dog. The tradition continued after my father was gone and I began receiving a mechanical toy every Christmas. *Speed Reading
#MechanicalToy #ChristmasToy #Toy #Christmas #ChristmasGift #Bear #SpeedReading #ChristmasTradition #MechanicalBear #MidCenturyToy #Tradition #FamilyTradition #Father #Neighbors #Friends
The wonderful thing about being a real estate brok The wonderful thing about being a real estate broker is not just seeing great houses, but meeting and getting to know wonderful people. This Henry B. Thomson architect-designed house is a beauty.  Every time I go inside, I marvel at its proportions and why it instills such a pleasing sense of awe in a greater way than other important houses. Just having the opportunity to revisit that feeling would have been motivation enough to represent the seller and offer this architecturally significant home for sale. What was really thrilling was to represent a Hal Thomson homeowner who I met when I was in my 20s, when the homeowner was first looking at homes on Swiss Avenue. I have watched her renovate the home, maintain the home and contribute in a friendly and meaningful way to the neighborhood. This homeowner exemplifies why so many Swiss Avenue homeowners live on Swiss Avenue for decades—the comradery and friendly atmosphere, the proximity to downtown with skyline views popping up over the trees that grace the boulevard, the nationally celebrated neighborhood chef-owned restaurants, and the close proximity to the Santa Fe Trail and White Rock Lake. While the sale of this home invokes sentiment, it also brings joy to see this architecturally significant home being passed on to another homeowner who also loves historic homes, gardens, Dallas, and Swiss Avenue.  The great houses survive 100 years because of great owners. This Hal Thomson-designed home has another one. I always strive for gracious transactions. This important home was listed, sold and closed in 19 days with all the participants delighted with the outcome and the future of the home. *Baton Passed

#HalThomson #HenryBThomson #Historic #ArchitecturallySignificant #Architect #Architecture #SwissAvenue #HistoricDistrict #Dallas #Neighborhood #OrganicUrbanism
The city trails are busy. The tree-lined neighborh The city trails are busy. The tree-lined neighborhood residential streets remain tranquil. Isn’t it remarkable that one can ride a bike from White Rock Lake to the downtown Arts District through four linked single-family zoned historic and conservation districts and the Wilson Block Historic District on Swiss Avenue?  While the Sante Fe and Katy Trails also provide enjoyable links from White Rock Lake to the Arts District, can you think of another city where one can ride several miles through the quiet residential streets surrounding downtown? The conservation district of Lakewood, the historic district of Junius Heights, the historic district of Munger Place, and the historic district of Peak Suburban protect the aesthetics and scale of the homes. The single-family zoning protects the neighborhood, keeping the density, traffic and number of cars parked on the curb low. People are fleeing cities where there is no refuge from high density neighborhoods. Cities that have added density to their neighborhoods have experienced destabilization and deterioration like Dallas once had when the neighborhoods were zoned multifamily. In Dallas, this deterioration was reversed when the neighborhoods were rezoned single-family. There is a push by some at City Hall to allow ADUs and backyard rental houses on every single-family zoned lot in Dallas. This would have a devastating effect on our tree-lined neighborhoods. Cities are fragile. We need to continue to nurture ours. *Residential Link to Downtown
#ADUs #LowDensity #BackyardRentalHouses #TreeLinedStreets #BikeRide #Trail #Path #Dallas #Neighborhood #DallasNeighborhood #City #OrganicUrbanism
Architect C.W. Bulger was part of early 20th centu Architect C.W. Bulger was part of early 20th century architectural royalty. Bulger came to Dallas in 1905 to design a prominent church.  His classical architectural departure from the Gothic church style of the time prompted his invitation to design this neo classical church with Iconic columns and a gold dome for the Gaston Avenue Baptist Church that is now Criswell College. His son, Clarence, who had just graduated from the University of Chicago, joined his practice and in 1907 they designed the first skyscraper in Dallas, the Praetorian Building. The father and son architectural firm went on to design elegant and refined homes on Swiss Avenue and in Highland Park, Lakewood and Northern Hills. The foundation of Dallas architecture was made up of great architects that included C.W. Bulger, Hal Thomson, Lang & Witchell, C.D. Hill, Marion Fooshee, James Cheek and others. *Neo-Classical Sacred Design #CWBulger #GastonAvenueBaptistChurch #CriswellCollege #Architecture #Architects #Neoclassical #Dallas #SacredSpaces #Design
As a contractor once said, “If you are going to As a contractor once said, “If you are going to give a home a facelift, start with the eyebrows.” While renovation will make this charming Craftsman cottage fresher and more elegant, this home is also a good reminder that gentrification is underrated. It is worth noting that working class homeowners, teachers, journalists, and artists bought and fixed up houses in the neighborhood and helped change the apartment zoning to single-family zoning. This prevented large apartment complexes to be built that would have had expensive rent and cause the affordable homes like this one to be torn down. Gentrification from renovation is a slow process. Gentrification started 45 years ago in the now historic districts of Munger Place, Junius Heights, and Peak Suburban Additions. It is nice that this Junius Heights historic district home is now taking its turn at renovation. *Raised Eyebrow
#JuniusHeights #GentrificationIsUnderrated #EyebrowDormer #OldEastDallas #SingleFamilyZoning #Neighborhood #Dallas #Architecture #Historic #Revitalization
The Howard Meyer angle makes an impact on architec The Howard Meyer angle makes an impact on architecture, neighborhoods and Dallas. This great architect did all three across Dallas. At White Rock Lake in 1939 he set the tone for classic estate homes overlooking the lake. On Turtle Creek Blvd. he designed 3525 Turtle Creek, a residential high-rise, that gave panache, style and elegance to Turtle Creek that became known for prestigious high-rises.  In 1953, Howard Meyer with architect Max Sandfield designed Temple Emanu-El, a sacred space for a religious community, that became the pride of the Dallas community. In Greenway Parks Howard Meyer designed a midcentury modern home in 1950 that propelled the design of many other architecturally significant midcentury modern homes in Greenway Parks. In 1982 Jim and Carolyn Clark retained Howard Meyer to consult with on the home's renovation. The result was a midcentury modern residence that renewed interest in midcentury modern homes in Dallas. The current owners’ further renovation maintained this modern home as a beacon for the best architects in Dallas to come to Greenway Parks and design architecturally significant homes here. *Angle of Howard Meyer
#HowardMeyer #Architect #Architecture #GreenwayParks #OrganicUrbanism #HomesThatMakeUsHappy #ArchitecturallySignificant #modern #Mid-Century
Highland Park is associated with opulence, archite Highland Park is associated with opulence, architecture, Highland Park Village, success and prestige. What is easy to forget is that the township of Highland Park is attractive in the way any small town or village is attractive. Highland Park is made up of tree-tunneled streets and tree-lined boulevards, perfect for riding a bike, running, or walking through the many serene neighborhoods linked by parks. During the pandemic one often sees more people than cars.  One visits with neighbors and friends passing on the sidewalks and quiet streets.  Highland Park is surrounded by the vibrant neighborhoods of Dallas; however, homeowners can still enjoy the timeless attributes of a gentle neighborhood and natural beauty. *September Dawn
#September #Dawn #HighlandPark #Village #Neighborhood #StreetScene #Landscape #Photography #Parkway #TreeTunnel #Dallas #JoySpotting #OrganicUrbanism

Architecturally Significant Homes® and Significant Homes® and Architecturally Significant® are registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office. Text, Images, Photography - Copyright © 1994–2021 Douglas Newby. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Douglas Newby. Douglas Newby & Associates | 25 Highland Park Village #100-592, Dallas, TX 75205 | (214) 522-1000. Text, Images, Photography - Copyright © 1994–2021 Douglas Newby. All Rights Reserved. Website design by webplant.media