Max Significance

Max Levy has emerged as a link to the great architects of the past, i.e., Bud Oglesby and Frank Welch, and those younger architects joining him in winning awards now. My first thoughtful exploration of Max Levy, FAIA, and his work came when I chaired the Dallas AIA 50th Anniversary, 50 Significant Homes project. Discovering and reviewing significant homes in Dallas built in the 20th century, I came to see Max as an architect that embraced and was inspired by the nuance and broad strokes of nature, while loving the city and designing the homes for Dallas. My appreciation of Max’s work and approach has only grown as I have watched his work over the last 25 years. This Preston Hollow home provided my first Max revelation when it was selected as a significant home. It made me much more aware of Max’s architectural affection for sunlight and the effects sunlight can have in a house and on a house. In Texas, diffused light has always been important. Max illuminated this aspect of architecture by distinctly emphasizing sunlight and shadows. The play of light is a constant theme in the homes he has designed over the 30 years since this Preston Hollow home was built. While each home is distinctly different, reoccurring themes appear in his work. I will be doing a series of ten city houses Max has designed the last 30 years. In addition to sunlight, we will see houses that submit to the landscape and houses that define a featureless lot; homes that are respectful of the neighborhood and simultaneously advance design; we will see homes that redefine a neighborhood and increase its value. Finally, we will see how Max accentuates the brilliance of another architect’s design, further complimenting that design when renovating and adding onto an architecturally significant home.
Dallas has many extraordinary architects whose work can be seen regionally and across the country. These architects have been influenced by many of the same influences and each other. Max Levy’s always probing and evolving work will continue to have impact on architects and architecture for decades and, I am confident, for generations.
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