Project: North Dallas House
Architects: Bentley Tibbs Architect
Interior Design: Alice Cottrell
Location: Dallas, Texas, United States
Area: 8,500 sq ft
Year: 2016
Photographer: Charles Davis Smith
Taking cues from the original 1-acre site and existing live oak trees, this 8,500 square foot North Dallas house with a traditional “H” layout is very solid, and in some ways, what you expect. While the design is punctuated with surprises like an interior courtyard and visual sight lines in unexpected places, rooms are generally where they are supposed to be. The off-kilter aspects come in at key points of the structure and are used to subtly animate the solid and grounded aspects of the home. The entry and the stair tower are a few of these unexpected elements, and are set off at opposing 20 degrees, unlike the 90 degree angles throughout the rest of the home.
The intention is to highlight these elements as important – the points of entry and of change in elevation. Continuing the theme of contradictions, the materials and detailing are at once solid and straightforward, and at times, a little surprising. Exterior materials appear inside, tall narrow slots act as windows, water allows the angled entry and stair towers to be both grounded and set off as unique, and flooring can be an unexpected mix of materials, but convey a sense of quiet.
