Sculptor Enrique Cabrera Buys Houston’s “Darth Vader House”

One of Houston’s most recognizable homes is trading hands again, and this time, it’s being rebranded to match the seller’s artistic flair.

The 7,000-square-foot mansion at 3201 University Boulevard, known as the “Darth Vader House” for its angular, all-black facade, is under contract to Mexican sculptor and photographer Enrique Cabrera, the Houston Chronicle reported.

The home had been listed for $3.35 million by Jason Junkin of Nitya Realty, who owns the property.

Cabrera is rebranding the property as the Black Bull House and plans to install one of his sculptures, a black bull, outside of the home after the deal closes Tuesday. He is represented in the transaction by Hardy Pollard of Nan and Company Properties.

The home, on an 18,000-square-foot parcel in West University, features four bedrooms, five bathrooms and twin floating glass staircases.

It was designed in the early 1990s by Houston plastic surgeon Jean Cuckier, who was inspired by Star Wars and drew up the design himself before working with an architect to realize it. Built by Randy Hickey, the house has been featured in CNN, TMZ and the New York Times for its distinctive architecture and pop-culture mystique.

The property has bounced between owners and brokers in recent years.

It returned to market last year after a legal dispute between the LLC that owns it and the City of West University Place over alleged zoning violations tied to hosted events at the home.

White House Global Properties’ Washington Ho briefly took over the listing before it went back to Junkin, who had acquired the home after years of personally pursuing a deal. Nan and Co. represented Cabrera for 30 days before the deal, CEO Nancy Almodovar said.

— Judah Duke