Landscape architect Dave Rolston and his wife Julie Cohn, an artist and textile designer, recently renovated their modern home on Tokalon Drive located in Lakewood. This Texas modern home is on a street of Tudor, Georgian and Spanish Colonial homes. It is always interesting when a single modern home such as this does not stick out on a street of 1920s and 1930s eclectic homes. Here, the similar and respectful scale and setback of the home contributes to the streetscape. The landscaping created by Dave Rolston does not hide the home, it accentuates the home while maintaining the visual rhythm of the street.
Modern homes often are able to create views of verdant gardens or emphasize features of the natural site by the ample employment of windows and by the configuration of the structure to take advantage of the site. With two artists orchestrating the design and landscape who have resources like architect Max Levy and other pals like architects Frank Welch, Dan Shipley and Ron Wommack, one would expect something special. I did and it was a real treat when I visited the home Saturday morning.
Landscape Design
Just as Frank Lloyd Wright consistently fiddled with his Oak Park home, using his own residence as a laboratory, Dave Rolston will rework areas of his garden, a small creek will become a pond, sight lines will be improved. Dave Rolston has created a garden of paths, ponds, quiet sitting areas, terraces and broad lawns for entertaining. From every approach, new spaces become evident. There is no single landscape feature that jumps out at you, but a series of pleasing surprises that leave the visitor exhilarated.
I might also note architects often find the best sites. Who would ever know walking down Tokalon that behind this home is a several acre greenbelt separating this rear garden from White Rock Lake Park.
