A Dallas Victorian rebuilt inside another house

This Dallas project starts with a house that was very nearly lost. A 1903 red brick Victorian in the Cedars had no proper foundation, suffered heavy water damage and was leaning badly enough that engineers judged it close to beyond repair. Rather than patch it up, architect Russell Buchanan proposed something far stranger: document the building in detail, dismantle it brick by brick, then rebuild it inside a new aluminium-clad structure designed to shield it from sun, wind and rain.

The result is less a replica than a preservation experiment. The original house was carefully recorded, its bricks cleaned and stored off-site, and key elements including wood beams, doors, windows and the fireplace were returned to their original places. The floor plan also largely stayed intact, apart from switching the bathroom and kitchen to make room for a more contemporary cooking space. Around it sits a much larger, gallery-like interior with white walls, glossy terrazzo floors and an in-between space that leaves visitors wondering whether they are indoors or out.

Owner Shannon Wynne says the team wanted to make a case for protecting ordinary architectural fabric, not just landmark buildings with famous histories. It was built as a residence, though Wynne and business partner Casey McManemin are still deciding its future use, which could include a museum, event space or non-profit headquarters. Not somewhere to visit as things stand, then, but a thoughtful piece of preservation worth reading for anyone interested in how a city keeps its everyday past.

Our summary of a story from Architectural Digest, published 5 October 2026. Read the original

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