Iconic 'Darth Vader House' Sells

TK Images
Iconic 'Darth Vader House' Sells

IT TOOK OVER the internet when it first listed, and now, West U's iconic "Darth Vader House" has a new owner.


The mansion at 3201 University Blvd. is an icon familiar not only to Houstonians, but to Star Wars fans around the globe. Nicknamed such for its resemblance to the villain's helmet, it hit the market in May for $4.3 million, causing quite a stir on the interwebs, seeing as the previous owner famously turned down interviews and photo ops.

Real estate aficionados and movie buffs alike enjoyed flipping through the image gallery, which revealed a counterintuitively light, open interior. A sunken portion of the living room makes a unique seating area, surrounded by curiously patterned concrete and stone flooring; other oddly shaped areas are found throughout the home, which has a distinctly '80s, yet surprisingly fresh, vibe.

Last listed for $3.1 million by Wade Knight and Nadia Carron of Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty, the property officially sold this week. Time will tell what the new homeowners choose to keep and forego.

TOMORROW, JULY 29, at 7pm, Discovery Green celebrates Ukrainian culture with a special screening of Mavka: The Forest Song. The kid-friendly, computer animated fantasy film features a romantic story, plenty of cute forest creatures and humor, and lots of edge-of-your-seat (or blanket) excitement. With Houston temperatures finally out of the danger zone, the free family friendly event is a great way to chill out and enjoy the summer at one of downtown’s most attractive and greenest of green spaces.

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment

Topchy with dozens of his portraits that will hang at the Menil Aug. 4-Jan. 21. (photo by Caroline Philippone)

PAINTER, SCULPTOR AND performance artist Nestor Topchy is so integral to the history and social landscape of Houston’s art world that it’s impossible to imagine what the city might be like without him. From co-founding the sprawling art and performance compound Zocalo/TempIO in 1989 with Rick Lowe, to envisioning the potential of HIVE (Habitable Interdisciplinary Visionary Environment), an artist-run community in development near EaDo, Topchy has always realized his artistic and architectural dreams.

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment