Dallas AD EX Presents Mediterranean Gardens

It’s probably a good bet that only my preservation and Midcentury Modern readers have heard of the Mediterranean Gardens neighborhood. That’s about to change. Dallas AD EX, the Architecture and Design Exchange, opens a new exhibit on Tuesday, May 6. “Preserving Tomorrow: Rediscovering Dallas’ Mediterranean Gardens Neighborhood” will run through July 6 at the AD EX, with an opening reception on May 13.

Let’s start by understanding the neighborhood. There is the larger Highland Meadows, which is a more recent name created when the neighborhood association was formed almost 20 years ago. Within Highland Meadows are 17 separate subdivisions built from the early 1950s to 2003. Mediterranean Gardens and Sylvania Dells are two of those that offer an abundance of architecturally significant midcentury modern homes. Highland Meadows Neighborhood President Michael Thomas clarified this for me, and I’m forever grateful. 

The neighborhood was developed by John Preston Travis, II, who had the brilliant Hungarian-born twin brothers Viktor and Aladar Olgyay as consulting architects. The brothers were widely known for their work in climate-responsive architecture. Travis was also a man well ahead of his time, and I encourage you to read about him on the Highland Meadows website.  Here is a little sneak peek of what you will find:

In 1950, J.P. Travis added a real estate developer to his list of job titles when he purchased 74 rolling acres from Frank C. Jones at Northwest Highway and Plano Road in Dallas County. J.P. imagined a development of modern homes by leading architects in a natural setting that would be “more beautiful than Turtle Creek.” The development, in two sections, was named Mediterranean Gardens and Sylvania Dells and is the only neighborhood developed by J.P. Travis. The first home in his beloved Mediterranean Gardens, the Lincoln Research House, was completed in 1952.

Highland Meadows Neighborhood Association

The Lincoln Research House at  8668 Langdale Circle was awarded the Highland Meadows Neighborhood Association Preservation Award in 2025. This home was originally occupied by bioclimatic researchers who measured its effectiveness. The Engineering Development Corporation used it as their field headquarters while Mediterranean Gardens was under construction, and it also became a second home for J.P. Travis II.

Thomas has been instrumental in bringing the neighborhood to the attention of AD EX. His diligent efforts to promote preservation through education are a testament to his commitment to its future. This exhibit is just the beginning of his ongoing work to preserve and celebrate the unique heritage of Mediterranean Gardens. 

“Preservation is more about the building or the architect,” Thomas said. “It’s about the stories, the people who commissioned the work, and their philosophy.”

Not only did Thomas present the idea of an exhibit to AD EX, but he is also working on a comprehensive book about the neighborhood, which will delve into its history, the people who shaped it, and the architectural significance of its homes.

The Mediterranean Gardens exhibition will explore the history behind the innovative midcentury residential development, showcase archival materials, highlight the key figures responsible for shaping this extraordinary neighborhood, and, most importantly, provide insights into sustainable design practices that are still relevant today.

AD EX is located in downtown Dallas on the first floor of Republic Center at the corner of St. Paul Street and Pacific Avenue.