By Donovan Westover
The next Heritage Oak Cliff 2023 Home Tour house slips us forward a few years to 1958 in the Guggenheim Acres Addition of the East Kessler Park neighborhood. The neighborhood was established in 1937 and boasts a streamlined art modern house built in 1936 by Dallas Power & Light as the first all-electric residence in the city, a 1950s house built in the shape of the state of Texas, a first-of-its-kind cantilevered deck over the cliffs of Oak Cliff, as well as one of the oldest masonry structures in the county — the 1870 Rock Lodge — using stone quarried from the neighborhood.
Many houses in East Kessler Park blend into ultra-hilly, wooded landscape and those on high elevations have a view of the downtown Dallas skyline. Both Coombs and Kidd Springs creeks flow through the neighborhood in sight of Dallas’ skyline. For many years East Kessler Park was dubbed “Pill Hill” for its high population of doctors, and today considered to contain the most eclectic mix of architecture in the entire city of Dallas.
The Guggenheim Acres Addition of the neighborhood was originally occupied by the Dr. V.C. Guggenheim estate, which contained more than 20 acres of heavily topographical and wooded land. The land became available for development beginning in 1939 for estate homes blended with Spring Creek, as it was known at the time. Lots were one-half to more than two acres and our Rainbow Drive tour house took full advantage of the largess available. Sitting on more than two (Guggenheim) acres and accessed via bridge, this house has something for everybody.
A Midcentury Modern From An Artist’s Eye
Our Rainbow Drive house has a unique provenance subsequent to its “architect.” The apparent influence of circa 1958 regional architects, such as O’Neil Ford and Arch Swank, is prevalent in the St. Joe brick-enveloped transitional ranch house, sprawling over 4,400 square feet.
The original owner, artist Mary Elizabeth Hart (not an architect), designed the house for herself and her husband, orthodontist and Dallas City Councilman Dr. James Hart. Ms. Hart was a photographer for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram as well as a noted sculptor.
After retiring from the paper, she continued her career as a sculptor and served as a volunteer and board member for numerous arts organizations. Her network was important because I can imagine her visiting the Brombrg House, Merritt House, Haggerty House, and Penson House (RIP) for guidance. You will see it, too, in this pot of gold at the end of Rainbow Drive.
Our tour program text writer for Rainbow Drive, architect Robert Meckfessel, says:
“Rainbow Drive exemplifies Ms. Hart’s creativity and mastery of contemporary midcentury home design. The house sits gracefully on its acreage, forming a generous entrance lawn and motor court to the east, and a private lawn along a creek tributary to the west. The home is primarily one story, and features a broad standing seam metal roof resting above simple brick walls, surrounded by terraces and patios that quietly link the home to its expansive site. While an architect was not involved in the design of the home, it is clear that Ms. Hart was aware of, and perhaps influenced by, the work of Texas modernist architects.”
East Kessler Midcentury Modern Renovation
The current owners have performed a full renovation of the house and a fabulous guest cottage/pool house. Eddie Maestri led the charge and perfected Rainbow Drive for modern living for the family calling it home.
Subtle spatial and material enhancements have been made throughout the home making it appear very tactile, and to have movement. Most prominent is the stick ceiling Maestri designed (think O’Neil Ford or Frank Welch) and it is a smart addition, capping beautiful work.
The great room was vertically and dramatically expanded to more directly link to the sky as well as the lawn and patio. With a back lawn exceeding an acre, this was a wise move and the house appears much larger inside although it remains on its original footprint.
The massive tree canopy at Rainbow Drive affords the house shade in the rear, and the design and siting take full advantage it.
Much more generous rear windows lend to the great room, to the primary bath with courtyard and outdoor shower, as well as to a killer primary bedroom sitting area (this is where all the wine stains would be were it my house). A great deal of the grounds is bordered by a Coombs Creek tributary that provides not only a property outline but an ecology of greenbelt and wildlife nourishment.
Lest we not forget the all-important stimulation from the sound of the babbling brook? This sound is emulated in several water features tucked into courtyards around the house. This house opens up beautifully and has a beautiful space in which to open.
Oak Cliff has historically been favored by creative Dallasites to live in homes fitted to its bluffs, creeks and woods. These significant homes were designed by architects such as Harold Prinz, LeVere Brooks, Dave Braden, etc. Mrs. Hart would be giddy to hear the comparisons however Rainbow Drive is a remarkable combination of regional design and affectations.
Come explore this remarkable pot of gold and six others on October 28 and 29. More information and tickets are available here.
Read about our other tour homes from 1916, 1920, 1928, 1950, and 1954.
Our Rainbow Drive tour home is sponsored by:
Hewitt + Saucedo
