Lundy House and Studio (1985–88) / by Benjamin Hill Photography
Victor Lundy’s Bellaire home and studio, which the pioneering modern architect designed in the 1980s for himself and his wife, Anstis, are now slated for demolition. Construction fencing has gone up at 701 Mulberry Lane, and the owners have reportedly contracted Habitat for Humanity’s deconstruction program to dismantle the buildings.
Preservation Houston worked with Houston Mod to raise awareness of this remarkable property, hosting a virtual program with architectural historians Donna Kacmar and Stephen Fox last summer and an open house that drew more than a hundred visitors who experienced the extraordinary spaces firsthand. Shortly afterward, the property sold to new owners who initially expressed interest in keeping both the house and studio. They have since reversed course, deciding instead to clear the site and build a new house there.
In partnership with Houston Mod, Docomomo US and the Texas Historical Foundation, PH urged the owners to reconsider. Our coalition delivered a letter outlining the property’s importance along with a bona fide cash offer to purchase the house and studio. The offer was rejected.
At nearly 28,000 square feet, the property is among the larger lots in Bellaire, a community where many original ranches and bungalows have already been replaced by expansive new builds. The site also lies in a flood zone, meaning the house would have to be raised before any additions could be made. With no preservation tools in place in the city of Bellaire, the fate of the house rests entirely with its owners.
You can read more about the situation in The Architect’s Newspaper.
Lundy, who died last year at age 101, was one of the most inventive voices in postwar American modernism. Trained under Walter Gropius at Harvard, he combined structural daring with a sculptor’s sensibility, creating works that ranged from expressive churches and cultural buildings to carefully crafted homes. His Bellaire residence and studio reflected that same spirit — a house of light, curves and crafted details paired with a soaring, elliptical-arched studio for his wife.
Losing the Lundy House and Studio is a reminder of what is at stake when our most significant buildings have no local preservation protection. Each loss underscores the urgent need for stronger preservation policies in cities like Bellaire, and reminds all of us who care about history and architecture to keep pressing for the protections that safeguard the places that enrich our communities.