Notes on the Geography of Oklahoma: Norman 5: Housing the Dallas Generation

Since about 1990 a new style of house, known locally as the Dallas House, has dominated new construction in Norman. Its chief characteristic is a huge attic, in most cases useless. This is combined with a wealth of fake ornamentation and lots of glass.

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Typical of the new Norman, but on the high end. The windows are all sealed, and the divided light is all snap-on fakery. What does the porch do? Provide shade? Shelter from the rain? Not likely. Impress passersby? We hope so.

The column was structurally superfluous but symbolically weighty.

The same column, in context. Call it The Last Corinthian. Maybe it was a close-out model.

Here, too, there seems to have been a special on columns at the building-supply house. You could get four for the price of two. Hard to pass it up, even we had to hunt for place to park the things.

The wing on the right is a garage in which cars are stabled, not parked. The Dutch doors are phoney, with the upper halves fixed in place.

The same house a decade later (2009). Amazing, the difference plants can make.

Houses in the neighborhood wage status combat.

Here it is before landscraping.

Cry, "I am. I am here."

Galumph, galumph.

Mind the spiral chimney.

Somebody read that straight lines were unattractive. Do they get credit for trying?

A new east-side subdivision, built on the principle of moats for all.

Do you think the Lady might make an appearance?

This is what you can get for a million dollars: a rancher-cum-castle, with a tunnel leading into the keep--oops, garage.

Late in 2001, Norman welcomed Ashton Grove, a gated community for dukes, barons, and football coaches.

Some of the homes here were nicely proportioned.

Others demonstrated the continuing popularity of stone and brick facades on wood-frame houses. 

Naked, this house was not so different from a--gasp!--manufactured home.

Almost ready for the Hamptons?

The same house a few years later.

Ho, Mercutio!

Rustic trim, with tight-squeeze stalls for hundreds and hundreds of horses.

A portcullis is an available extra.

Next door, the home of a local builder who figures that you can never have too many gables.

The grand entrance.

Dining.

Den.

Cathedral living.

Pool with nymphs.