One of ‘Architectural Digest’s’ 50 Great Houses: Douglas Friedman’s Marfa Ranch

Acclaimed photographer Douglas Friedman is renowned for his evocative images of architecture and design. His two-decade career has captured the essence of some of the world’s most iconic interior designers. His projects include a book about the California designer Nicole Hollis, another about the homes of Tommy Hilfiger, a glassware collaboration with the heritage Austrian glass maker Lobmyer, and a line of skis for Italian company Bomber Skis. It is only fitting that his own home in Marfa, Texas was selected as one of Architectural Digest's 50 Great Houses, a testament to Friedman’s refined eye for design, comfort, and landscape integration.

Also featured in House & Garden, Galerie, Coveteur, Mr.Porter, and more, the stunning West Texas ranch has just been listed for $2.995 million. An architectural landmark in Marfa, the three-bedroom, three-bath contemporary home sits on over ten acres abutting thousands of acres of ranch land for unobstructed views of the Davis and Haystack Mountains. 

The home’s unique design features a modular system of glue-laminated timber, steel connectors, and structural insulated panels. Floor-to-ceiling windows with a two-foot clerestory encircle the home for spectacular natural light and views. The home blends the latest in modern convenience and top-of-the-line appliances with thoughtful touches designed for desert living. 

Bedrooms at either end of the hallway ensure privacy, while concealed storage and mechanicals maintain a sleek, uninterrupted flow. An open floor plan connects the living and dining areas, with glass doors that open onto a seating area with a firepit, perfect for watching the sun set over the mountains. A path leads from the house to a lovely desert palapa with retractable screens, set up for lounging or outdoor dining. Further down the path is a container lap pool with a built-in hot tub. The ten acres are landscaped with native plants, including prairie grasses and trees. The expansive grounds offer a private and serene atmosphere, but the home is only two miles from Marfa’s downtown. 

A small Texas town known as an artist’s hub, Marfa has a population of only about 1,800 but draws tourism for its unique attractions, including the German POW murals at Building 98, the Chinati Foundation art museum, and the Marfa Lights, an optical phenomenon some associate with UFOs (though scientists attribute it to automobile headlights being distorted by warm desert air). Though Marfa’s most famous resident is probably Chinati Foundation founder and artist Donald Judd, numerous A-listers have visited or stayed in the town. Matthew McConaughey is a frequent visitor, and celebrities from Elizabeth Taylor to Beyoncé have stopped by for a visit. The area’s stark desert landscape has made it appealing as a film location, with the classic film Giant (starring James Dean) and the Oscar-winning No Country For Old Men a few of the notable movies shot in the area.

The listing is held by Jeff Burke of the Eklund | Gomes Team at Douglas Elliman and Marfa Vista Real Estate. Photo Credit: Douglas Friedman

Source: www.marfavistarealty.com