Background

 

Victor Lundy's home and studio are currently pending deconstruction by Habitat for Humanity Houston after it was purchased earlier this year by a family who promised not to demolish the home. The property was sold by Nick Lundy following his father's passing on November 4, 2024. The Lundy home and studio are located in the Houston suburb of Bellaire, Texas, which has no local historic preservation ordinance.

 

Lundy, best known for his innovative contributions to modernist architecture was a member of the Sarasota School of Architecture and his designs blended sculptural form with practical function, creating expressive, light-filled structures that emphasized openness and a connection to nature. His notable works include the U.S. Tax Court Building in Washington D.C., the Unitarian Meeting House in Hartford, Connecticut, and several striking churches and public buildings in Florida and beyond. In addition to his architectural achievements, Lundy is also recognized for the sketchbooks he kept as a World War II soldier, offering a rare, artistic glimpse into the life of a young architect at war. His work continues to be celebrated for its imagination, elegance, and humanism within the modernist tradition. The short documentary Victor Lundy: Sculptor of Space produced by the General Services Administration on the life and work of Lundy can be found here. 

 

Advocacy Response

 

Earlier this summer, a coalition of preservation advocates—including Docomomo US, Houston Mod, Preservation Houston, and the Texas Historical Foundation—came together to express concerns about the future of the house and studio, which are at risk of being deconstructed. The group chose to approach the property owners respectfully, sharing their concerns in a letter accompanied by a signed copy of Victor Lundy: Artist Architect by author Donna Kacmar and a bona fide cash offer of $1.75M intended to fully compensate the owner and more. The offer was firmly rejected, and construction fencing has now been erected at the site, signaling that demolition plans may be moving forward.

 

Alana Amselem for Architect's Newspaper published a piece on the issue: https://www.archpaper.com/2025/09/victor-lundy-house-studio-demolished/

 

The coalition has reached out to other stakeholders including owners of other Lundy properties in addition to the local and national offices of Habitat for Humanity.

 

This is a developing story Docomomo US and the coalition continues to work on. Updates on the house and studio will be posted here.