FEATURE 004 | 9014 Capri drive | re-discovered

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How is it that time has forgotten this incredible example of Wilson & Rowley's work?  Tucked away in an enclave of Mid-Century gems, possibly the best kept secret in all of North Texas, is this Japanese inspired home which has managed to stay off the radar of architecture enthusiasts for decades.  Sylvania Dells, a part of the broader Highland Meadows neighborhood located on the northeast corner of Northwest Highway and Plano Road, is in the midst of a renaissance thanks to Michael Thomas who has been an ardent champion of the importance of the MCM architecture in his neighborhood.

When Brian Niemann reached out to me in the summer of 2024 to let me know his home was missing from the recently published Ju-Nel.com website, I was ecstatic that a 'found' home owner wanted to connect.  We talked about his Ju-Nel being one of about 50 which I was not publishing...at least until I had contact with an owner.  Brian's story is a dream.  Identify the home you want to acquire, engage the owner (who happens to be the original owner) and buy what I consider one of the most important Ju-Nel homes.  

The Hoierman house is at once stoic and beautiful.  The longer I study the front elevation, the more I fall in love with this home.  Outside of the clerestory windows which flank each side, there is not a window exposed to the street.  Our Ju-Nel has only one street facing window and I thought we had a lot of privacy; this is the ultimate expression of privacy, achieved without a hedgerow or menacing wall of masonry.  Let me be clear, I really love this house.  Brian has invited me into his home on several occasions, and I have been mesmerized each time.  I am grateful to the Niemann family for the opportunity to tell the story of this unseen home.

I recently had the pleasure to speak with David Hoierman who grew up in the Capri house.  The pictures below are from David's personal collection, the scanned images courtesy of Michael Thomas who graciously shared them.  David on the left, his two sisters and his mother, Jane Hoierman.  We talked about his mother's interest in Japanese art and how her personal style and artistic direction helped influence the layout and material choices of their home.  It is a treasure to have access to images from any Ju-Nel soon after construction and while the extended beams and attached trellis work is gone, I think the home reads cleaner without them.

Original pencil drawings have been graciously shared by the Wilson family.  I have seen the copies which the Niemann family retains and currently loaned to the Preserving Tomorrow event and I am not aware that these drawings have ever been seen in the public domain. 

There are a handful of interesting observations.  The circular drive in the front was not part of the original plan and was likely added during the build.  You'll notice the spectacular steps also do not appear in the plot plan.  The garage is perfectly aligned with the North wing of the home and it is easy to appreciate the attention to detail here.  You can see the specification for the wood screen between the living room and dining room as well as the wood screen callouts in the brick wall at the front of the courtyard.  In the wall section you can see Jack & Lyle's commitment to a low profile facia with the specification of 2x4 roof joists.

The courtyard is spacious and private, and you can imagine how different the front elevation would read if the courtyard was open to the street.  Would be interesting, but I think Wilson & Rowley got it right when they hid the entrance and courtyard from public view.  The courtyard gates are not original, but before you let yourself be disappointed you have to hear the story.  When the Niemann family  bought the house, the original wood gates were in place, but they were old and deteriorating.  They found a craftsman to replicate the original design in steel.  This is the kind of dedication to preservation that I wish more Ju-Nel owners would embrace, and I believe if Jack and Lyle were alive today, they would approve.

Many of the trees likely pre-date the construction of the home as Wilson & Rowley were famous for building around trees with more than a 3 inch caliper.  In honor of Jane Hoierman's love of Japanese art, I might think about a small collection of curated Japanese maples to add to the space.  I might also consider a Koi pond  to add movement and life

The main living area is spacious and with a wall of windows opening to the courtyard, brings the outdoors inside.  It is one of a handful of Ju-Nel homes featuring terrazzo, which is in remarkable condition.  There is something about terrazzo that helps define a space, and I love that Wilson & Rowley used it here.  I believe the men must have had a relationship with Matia Flabiano, who founded American Terrazzo, and who has a very famous Ju-Nel named for him: the Matia and Shirley Flabiano House at 10476 Silverock which also boasts expansive terrazzo flooring.  The brick surrounding the fireplace is original (unpainted) and matches the exterior brick.  The tile above the firebox is not original and was installed due to the poor condition of the original tile.  The beams are typical Ju-Nel and are painted in the near perfect original standard.

"The first thought I have is that it is such a family friendly house both in the design and location. Richard Hoierman built the house for his young family (after moving from the house next door).  He raised his family and lived here until we purchased it and I raised my family here as well. The layout makes it so nice for families since the bedrooms are on one side of the "U", the living area connecting the two sides and then the office, kitchen, dining and another living area on the other side. This makes it easy for the kids to have privacy and for the office to function as it should. The fact that it all surrounds a private courtyard is a very unique element."  - Brian Niemann

One of Brian's favorite aspects of the home is the abundant glazing.  "I rarely turn on a light during the day because it is so light and bright".  There is a creek nearby, providing an environment featuring a multitude of wildlife including turtles, owls, raccoons, armadillo, opossum and a variety of birds.  The ample glazing often provides views of the wildlife in a natural setting.

It is hard to find an original Ju-Nel kitchen, and I think that is ok.  The kitchen is the lifeblood of a home, and it needs to operate in a manner which optimizes functionality.  The Niemann family updated the kitchen soon after acquisition.  Leaving the terrazzo flooring intact was a critical decision - if one must leave something original in the kitchen, this floor was best left untouched.  The cherry cabinetry adds warmth and depth and the glass tile is the same used above the firebox.  KitchenAid Architect stainless steel appliances bring the space into the 21st century, because no one really wants a kitchen from 1962.

One of the Niemann's favorite features of the home is the use of vaulted ceilings.  The low pitch roof lines created a canvas for Jack and Lyle to match the lines of the roof with the interior ceilings.  This is an often used design for Ju-Nel homes and it creates spaces which are inviting and open without seeming cavernous.

In the second living space and dining room overlooking the courtyard, the Niemann family chose cork flooring.  Not often used in modern US homes, the choice pays homage to Japanese use of the material and its popularity in the 50's & 60's.  Hard to believe, but the sliding doors to the current office are original, specified by Jane Hoierman.  This is really incredible...where are you going to find an original, 63 year old Japanese inspired door in a home in Dallas?  The adjacent wall sconce is also original.  The wood screen separating the two spaces is original, and utilizes the same design seen in the courtyard gates.  I have seen original interior screens in a few Ju-Nel homes, and while this one is painted, the pattern is unseen in any other Ju-Nel I am aware of.  It is a work of art and I am grateful to the Niemann family for keeping it.  

I recently learned from Dave Hoierman that his Mother's family has a merchant marine history, and Jane's love of pan Asian influences likely inspired the screen designs.  Dave remembers custom made carpeting in the dining room which was designed to mimic Japanese floor mats made of rice straw and woven rush grass.

The front bedroom features the original closet and built in drawers below the clerestory windows and beam construction is typical with the correct paint standard.  All the bedrooms feature the same cork flooring found in the secondary living area, office and dining room.  The closets and built-ins are original, and while the hardware has been updated, I love that the original cabinetry and closets remain.

Here you can fully appreciate the almost 1/2 acre lot  with its expansive poured concrete and stone patio blending into the field of Asian Jasmine (widely utilized by Ju-Nel).  The lot is heavily wooded, as you might expect, and the mature trees create an incredible complexity of shadows and lighting across the outside surfaces.

The Niemann's have seen the neighborhood start to turn, with aging original owners leaving their prized Sylvania Dells homes and a younger generation taking roots in this family friendly neighborhood that may be one of the best kept secrets in Dallas.  There are activities throughout the year for both small children and adults built around bringing neighbors together.  "We look forward to the Fourth of July picnic, Christmas pancake cook off and end of the year barbecue which all bring our little neighborhood together. It’s really an amazing little community here now and I love the fact that kids are all over the place." says Niemann who loves the home and neighborhood.

Updates since the Niemann's acquired the home in 2007 include cork flooring, level 5 drywall, new HVAC, new double pane aluminum windows, cherry cabinets in the kitchen and full baths, Kohler fixturing and Ann Sacks floor tile  in the full baths.

The Niemann family has given architecture and design fans everywhere the gift of preservation and thoughtful updating through the use of modern materials which make the home more livable.