A significant piece of American modernist architecture is facing demolition in Bellaire, an affluent Houston suburb known for its multi-million-dollar new developments. The modest midcentury home and studio at 701 Mulberry Lane, designed by renowned architect Victor Lundy, sits under immediate threat despite a passionate campaign by preservationists to save the historic structure. The low-slung building, characterized by expansive glass walls and rough brick construction, may appear unassuming from the street, but inside features a soaring studio space that once flooded with Texas light and gave shape to the visionary work of one of American modernism's leading figures.

A coalition of preservation organizations, including Houston Mod, Preservation Houston, Texas Preservation Foundations, and Docomomo US, has mounted an urgent campaign to save the property. The groups delivered a formal letter to the current owners along with a substantial $1.75 million offer to purchase the house and studio. However, their appeal was rejected, and the owners have proceeded with plans to demolish the structure. The owners have contracted with Habitat for Humanity's Deconstruction Program to dismantle the property piece by piece, salvaging materials for resale or reuse rather than traditional demolition.

The letter from the preservation coalition, written by Docomomo US Executive Director Liz Waytkus, emphasized the property's significance: "The house is an important local landmark, as evidenced by the awestruck crowds during recent open house events there, but also so much more. It is a testament to the life's work of an indispensable and innovative American architect of modern history who was beloved by those who knew him and also by those all over the country who have come to love his designs."

Victor Lundy, who passed away in 2024 at the remarkable age of 101, was a pioneering voice in postwar American modernism whose work brilliantly fused structural innovation with artistic sensibility. As a founding figure of the influential Sarasota School of Architecture, Lundy consistently pushed the boundaries of wood and concrete construction to create buildings that seemed to defy gravity while maintaining a deeply human scale and spirit. After serving in World War II, he trained under the legendary Walter Gropius at Harvard, carrying both Bauhaus rigor and Beaux-Arts artistry into his independent practice.

Throughout his distinguished career, Lundy designed churches, showrooms, cultural buildings, and residential projects that remain among the era's most expressive architectural works. From the dramatic soaring rooflines of the Unitarian Meeting House in Hartford, Connecticut, to the delicate sculptural curves of his projects throughout Texas and Florida, Lundy's designs embodied his lifelong philosophy that architecture could serve as both a remarkable technical achievement and a profound act of poetry.

The Bellaire residence, completed in 1988, perfectly exemplified Lundy's distinctive design sensibility. Built on a spacious half-acre lot, the two-bedroom, two-bathroom home showcased his signature use of wood, meandering organic forms, and masterful manipulation of natural light. The structure features high beamed ceilings, elegant stone floors, custom built-in cabinetry, and expansive glass walls that seamlessly open to the surrounding mature trees. A gracefully curved wall defines the main living space, while strategically placed clerestory windows and skylights bring daylight into the interior from multiple directions throughout the day.

Alongside the main residence stands a large studio that Lundy constructed in 1985 specifically for his wife, artist Anstis Lundy. This remarkable structure is particularly notable for its innovative roof composed of seven elliptical glue-laminated arches, demonstrating Lundy's continued experimentation with structural systems even late in his career. The studio space provided the perfect environment for artistic creation, with its dramatic ceiling and abundant natural light.

The property was sold to its current owners in October 2024, according to records from the Houston Area Realtors website. Originally listed at $1.7 million, the property sold within just 33 days for a price between $1.43 million and $1.64 million. At the time of purchase, the buyers reportedly expressed genuine interest in both the historic house and studio, according to Houston Mod President Steve Curry, the listing agent, and Nick Lundy, the architect's son who handled the sale.

However, the new owners have since reversed course on their original intentions, deciding that the existing house is too small for their needs and opting instead to construct a much larger replacement structure. Their decision was influenced by practical considerations, as the property lies within a designated flood zone, which would require raising the existing structure before any additions could be made. Rather than undertake this complex renovation, they chose demolition and new construction.

The owners have engaged Habitat for Humanity's Deconstruction Program to carefully dismantle both the house and studio. Unlike conventional demolition methods, this program systematically removes usable architectural elements such as hardwood floors, doors, custom cabinetry, lighting fixtures, structural lumber, and distinctive architectural details. These salvaged materials are then sold through Habitat's ReStore locations or repurposed in affordable housing repair projects, providing some environmental benefit even as the historic structure is lost.

This decision reflects a troubling broader trend occurring throughout Bellaire, where rapidly rising land values over the past two decades have created intense development pressure. Increasingly, the neighborhood's large lots are being occupied by expansive new builds that replace the modernist ranches and mid-century bungalows that once defined the area's architectural character. Bellaire's combination of excellent schools, central location within the Houston metropolitan area, and tree-lined streets has made it one of the city's most desirable residential addresses, but this desirability comes at the cost of systematically erasing the neighborhood's unique architectural heritage.

Real estate market trends show that larger, newly constructed houses in Lundy's neighborhood typically sell in the $2.5 million to $3 million range, creating powerful economic incentives for demolition and redevelopment. This market pressure makes it extremely difficult for preservation-minded buyers to compete, even when architectural significance is clearly established.

For now, Lundy's historic home stands surrounded by construction fencing, awaiting its fate. Steve Curry, who knew Lundy personally, shared his perspective on the loss: "Victor Lundy was a leader in the modernist movement when he moved to Houston in 1976, and I was fortunate to know him as my fifth-year design professor at the University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture & Design. The ensemble of his home and studio, built separately and completed in 1988, stands as a Houston landmark, a signature Lundy work of spatial grandeur and structural expressiveness. A singular masterpiece, strategically planned with modesty to the street and a remarkable exuberance beyond, it has a cultural and historical significance like no other Houston residence."

The fate of this remarkable structure echoes a broader and increasingly urgent tension playing out in American cities nationwide, where significant modernist landmarks, once considered too recent to merit historic protection, are now meeting the wrecking ball amid relentless development pressures. As the midcentury modern movement reaches the age where its importance is finally being recognized, many of its finest examples are being lost before adequate protection measures can be established.