Welcome Modernist architecture fans to the USModernist newsletter, sharing the best of Modernist MCM and M21M news since 2008! | |
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News Editor: Ron Gallagher / Newsletter Staff: Virginia Faust, George Smart
Meet the USModernist Team
Got Modernist News? Send a quick note to Ron Gallagher at rpg.modernist@gmail.com.
USModernist is a nonprofit 501C3 educational archive for the documentation, preservation, and promotion of Modernist architecture.
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Join our community and support the architecture you love! USModernist Mod Squad membership provides important financial support for the documentation, preservation, and promotion of residential Modernist architecture. Become a member!
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Bay Area Modernism Weekend!
Exciting Modernist House Tours, Saturday, September 21
Bluff House Sunset Cocktail Party, Sunday, September 22 Los Altos, Portola Valley, Tiburon
Five Extraordinary Modernist Houses
on a Special Benefit Weekend for USModernist
For over 30 years, CHENG Design, led by acclaimed designer Fu-Tung Cheng, has been at the forefront of crafting exquisite award-winning custom homes in California with sustainable, emotional, and timeless design - and a unique focus on crafted concrete. You'll visit five immaculate houses, never before open to public touring, built with a keen understanding of concrete's inherent beauty and structural integrity. Details and tickets!
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Saturday, September 14, 8-5pm
An All-Women-Designed Modernist Architecture Tour
(the first in the nation!)
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Enjoy a great day touring eight exciting new and renovated Modernist houses around Raleigh, Durham, Hillsborough, and Chapel Hill NC – without the hassle of driving, parking, and finding your way around. At the houses, you'll meet these talented architects and designers, including: Arielle Schechter, Erin Sterling Lewis, Katherine Hogan, Sharon Xu, Alicia Hylton-Daniel, Rebecca Necessary, and Jessie Braverman.
Modapalooza includes the delightful company of Modernist architecture fans plus coffee and bagels / a USModernist tote bag with snacks / bottled water / a delicious lunch / free WiFi / in our luxury, restroom-equipped, air-conditioned fleet of buses. Proceeds benefit NCModernist.
Act now - one full bus is already sold out. Details and tickets.
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Endangered: The Colony, a cluster of cottages on Chequessett Neck in Wellfleet MA is up for sale. It was designed by Modernist architects Nathaniel Saltonstall and Oliver Morton in 1949 and is featured in the book Cape Cod Modern by Peter McMahon. The listing says "this is an excellent opportunity for a builder or investor." Uh-oh. | |
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Public voting ends today at 5pm ET for the 2024 George Matsumoto Prize, hosted by NCModernist and sponsored by Fitch Lumber / MARVIN. The George Matsumoto Prize is North Carolina's highest honor exclusively for Modernist residential architecture. This year, 16 spectacular houses from Asheville to Wilmington.
Vote here! The awards ceremony is Wednesday, July 24, 6-8pm at Leland Little Auctions, 620 Cornerstone Court, Hillsborough NC. Free, registration required. The 2024 George Matsumoto Prize Awards are sponsored by:
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Doomed: the demolition of a bank building on East Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs CA is moving forward. The building in the Smoke Tree Village shopping center had housed Bank of America for almost 40 years. Last Tuesday, the city's Historic Site Preservation Board decided against considering the building for elevated historic designation, allowing the demolition to proceed. From the Palm Springs Post. | |
Yours for $68M: The massive Beverly Hills fortress house of Oakley-brand founder James Jannard is for sale. The 18,000 square feet include a 1961 house by architect William Stephenson and a 2016 Brutalist addition by designer Jeff Vance and others gobbled up the original structure. | |
Frank Lloyd Wright's 1950 Robert and Winifred Winn House in Kalamazoo MI is on the market for $1.9M. The sellers bought it in 2012 and put four times their purchase price into renovations, according to the listing. | |
A charming retro 1950's documentary about Modernist architecture. Hat tip to Adrian Volz. | |
Perkins & Will has named the winners of the firm's 2024 Phil Freelon design competition, whose topic was a library reimagined for 2049. First place went to Nest, a design for San Francisco's main public library. | In Burlington CT, the 1956 glass house designed by the late Joseph Stein, recently renovated by architect Donald Billinkoff is on sale for just under $1.5M. | |
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Know of an endangered Modernist house in your neighborhood, city, or state? Through our preservation alert program, Modernism In Danger, USModernist calls attention to the Modernist houses around the country that are at risk for deterioration, demolition, or inappropriate renovation (like turning your Modernist house into an Italianate villa). Tell us about Modernist houses in trouble.
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Mainspring Narrative Films and producer Jake Gorst announced the production of a new short film Curating Modernism to be released in 2025. Sadly, 20th century modern architecture in the United States is being threatened. Most preservation efforts predominantly focus on the architecture of the 18th and 19th centuries, while modernism is often viewed as expendable because it is typically modest in scale. As a result, many historically significant structures have been demolished for redevelopment, or renovated beyond recognition. Why should we care? What are the benefits of preserving modern architecture? How can this be done and still satisfy the programatic needs of the modern world? Curating Modernism provides compelling answers to those questions. |  | Auction July 9-29: A signed record from the personal collection of Nancy Sinatra! An autographed biography of legendary architect William Krisel! These are just a small sampling of the items up for a fundraising auction sponsored by the nonprofit Mainspring Narrative Films, the folks who produced New England Modernism to finance their next Modernism-related films. Winning bidders receive amazing items or experiences plus actually take part in documenting important architecture history and trends - AND get their names in the credits of two new short films to be released in 2025: Curating Modernism and Metamorphosis of a Modernist. Visit the auction portal and bid! | |
Update: This 2019 Des Moines IA house featured last week, for sale for $1.2M, was designed by Main Built Custom Homes. Foreclosed, and a Credit Union bought it for about $350,000. | |
Correction: The house in Malibu CA designed by architects Michael Boyd and Laurel Broughton, for sale for $22M, was built in 2016, not 1964. | |
A tree-house home in LA's Silver Lake built in 1960 and designed by Raúl Garduño and Peter Heiser has come onto the market for a bit over $2.3M. | USModernist accepts tax-deductible donations of Modernist furniture, contemporary art, and architecture coffee-table-style books. Contact us. | |
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Modernist fans know that MCM refers to midcentury modern, that period of time in the middle of the 20th century. Now there's a term for the middle of the 21st century - M21M defines Modernist houses starting now and going through about 2070.
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Attention Libraries and Collectors! What’s better than opening up lots of linear feet of coveted storage space – without the pain and guilt of throwing architecture magazines away?
USModernist's archiving project solves that dilemma and gives architecture and design magazines new, text-searchable, online life – with free open access. Here are the magazines we need. We pay shipping - and you help the world get free, searchable, downloadable content for the first time. Contact us.
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June Goldfinger has joined the USModernist National Advisory Board. The wife and business partner of the late architect Myron Goldfinger, she designed interiors for most of Myron's architectural projects, including furniture and flatware to lighting and rugs. June is an international fashion designer who had her own atelier in Katonah NY, where she designed 90% of the merchandise sold—everything from jewelry and eyeglasses to shawls and shoes. With Ralph and Ricky Lauren, Martha Stewart, and opera singer Jessye Norman among her past devoted clients,
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• Andrew Romano discusses his Schindler house in Los Angeles.
• The Village of Southampton Architectural Review Board (ARB) continues to pursue landmarking of five Modernist houses, three by Norman Jaffe, and one each by Myron Goldfinger and Ward Bennett. The next meeting is Monday, August 12, 6pm ET. This often-dramatic discussion tends to be at the end of the meeting, between 8pm and 930pm. Watch it over Zoom.
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One thing even devout Classicists and Modernists agree on is that New York's Penn Station should have never been destroyed. USModernist presented a Zoom talk with legendary architecture photographer Norman McGrath, who was there during the demolition, taking photos, in the early 1960s. Enjoy! | |
July 9-14: West Coast Modern Week, Vancouver, British Columbia. Information. | |
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This Saturday, July 13: The 1955 Elmo and Alice Williams House Tour, Raleigh NC. Designed by Carter Williams. Sold in 1967 to architect Gil Slack who worked for Terry Waugh and Leif Valand before starting his own practice in 1968. This is a classic midcentury modern Raleigh house by one of Raleigh's great architects. NCModernist did an interview with Gil Slack, recorded in his 90's. Advance discount tickets available through Wednesday 5pm ET. Price $20 at the door.
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Thursday, July 18: Thirst4Architecture Happy Hour, 5-7pm, at 1410 Duplin, Raleigh. Enjoy food and refreshments in a brand new Nick Hammer House. Sponsored by Doro Taylor, daughter of architect Ben Taylor. Free, registration required. Enter HAMMER on the form.
Wednesday, July 24: The George Matsumoto Prize Awards, 6-8pm, at Leland Little Auctions, Hillsborough NC. Sponsored by Fitch Lumber and MARVIN. Enjoy wine and appetizers as you peruse Leland Little's extensive array of Modernist art and furniture which goes on auction the next day. Free, registration required. Enter PRIZE on the form.
July 28-August 6: RealMatter lecture series in Raleigh NC, sponsored by in situ studio and MYRIAD. Free. Details.
August 11, 10-4pm. Hamptons Modernist House Tour, sponsored by Hamptons Cottages and Gardens and by Hamptons 20th Century Modern. USModernist's George Smart will be leading a panel and recording podcasts. VIP event on August 10. Details and tickets.
August 22, 5-7pm: Thirst4Architecture Tiki Party! At the Ark Royal, Raleigh's premiere tiki lounge, where there's a tropical getaway in every glass. Sponsored by Anna Hartwell of Hartwell Financial Group and Jeni Snider of NCSnider Law. Limited to 60 people. Free, registration required. Enter TIKI on the form.
September 7: AIA Triangle Tour of Residential Architecture. Details coming soon.
September 14, 8-5pm: Modapalooza Modernist Bus Tour, Raleigh/Durham NC. The nation's first all-women-designed Modernist House tour! Details and tickets.
September 13-15: Hollin Hills Celebrates Charles M. Goodman, a prominent and nationally influential architect, through panels, discussions, and tours. Tickets are now available here.
September 15-17: AIA Regional Conference, ASPIRE, Asheville NC.
Fascinating Keynote speakers Erin Brokovich, tech guru Beth Ziesenis, and investor/advisor Evelyn Lee. Details.
September 21-22: USModernist Moon Over Modernism Bay Area Modernist House Tours and Sunset Cocktail Party. Los Altos, Portola Valley, Tiburon CA. Five Extraordinary Modernist Houses on a Special Benefit Weekend for USModernist. Details and tickets!
September 27, 5pm. Modapalooza Wine-Tasting Challenge at a beautiful Raleigh Modernist house. Featuring wines that are either $15 or $50. Your challenge: figure out which is which! Details coming soon.
September 30: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Through March 16. Materialized Space: A Paul Rudolph Exhibition, featuring his Modernist Sarasota houses to his controversial Brutalist buildings and later international projects featuring unpublished drawings, models, and furniture. Based on the new book by Abraham Thomas. Details coming soon.
October 17, 5-7pm: Thirst4Architecture Happy Hour! Ambiente Modern Furniture, Raleigh NC. Ambiente started as a Scandinavian Furniture Store 30 years ago. Now they have modern furniture from all over the world; Italy, Germany, United States, Norway and Denmark, more than 200 manufacturers. Free, registration required. Enter AMBIENTE on the form.
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October 5: The La Jolla Modernism Tour, La Jolla CA. USModernist is a sponsor! Join USModernist's Michela O'Connor-Abrams to explore stunning Modernist houses in La Jolla and a cocktail party in an incredible house, soon to be announced. Details.
October 17, 5-7pm. Thirst4Architecture. Ambiente Modern Furniture, 210 Hampton Woods Lane, Raleigh NC. Ambiente started as a Scandinavian furniture store 30 years ago. Now they have modern furniture from Italy, Germany, United States, Norway, and Denmark, more than 200 manufacturers. Free, registration required.
October 24-27: Modernism Week Preview Weekend, Palm Springs CA. Tickets go on sale August 1.
November 14-16: WestEdge Design Fair, Santa Monica CA. Details.
November 14-17: Architecture Sarasota Weekend, Sarasota FL. Registration open now for members; open to the public on August 1. Information. Details and tickets.
At the National Building Museum in Washington DC: Frank Lloyd Wright's Southwestern Pennsylvania through March 17, and Capital Brutalism through February 17.
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Next USModernist Radio Podcast | |
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#360/ Michael Kimmelman of the New York Times + Musical Guest Monika Ryan
Michael Kimmelman is the architecture critic for The New York Times. He writes on design, housing and homelessness, neighborhood development, cities, the environment, and civil society. Host George Smart visits Kimmelman at his NYT office. Then it's a delightful visit with returning musical guest Monika Ryan.
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USModernist Radio is underwritten by June Goldfinger and Jeff Taylor, sponsors of Circle Square Triangle: A Traveling Exhibition on the Architecture of Myron Goldfinger, and by Diane Bald and The Budman Family, restoring significant architecture in Toronto, Los Angeles, Malibu, and Palm Springs. New to podcasts? You can listen to USModernist Radio on any major podcast platform or through any computer. | |
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Milton Small Home Security Life Building Update: Preservation Durham continues to meet with stakeholder groups to educate on how historic preservation can be an ally in this project, not an impediment.
How can you help? Durham's elected officials need to hear from the community that historic preservation is important. Contact information for Mayor Williams and all Council Members can be found here. Your message can be short - just let them know you want to see the building preserved and incorporated into the development.
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Refer to the new Comprehensive Plan, specifically Policies 29-32 that identify preservation as a priority for future development.
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Remind them that financial incentives exist for the renovation of the historic building through the use of our Federal and State Historic Tax Credit Programs. (20% Federal and 15% State)
- Let them know preservation is sustainable: the building has high-quality materials including granite, marble, walnut, and Macassar ebony. Avoiding the $2M+ cost for demolition also avoids environmental impacts of sending 2,500 tons of waste to the landfill to build new. Policies 113 & 114 in the new Comprehensive Plan support and encourage building reuse.
- Let them know that with tax credits, the cost of renovating the building is $150/sf. The cost of building new is $500/sf.
- Share your own memories and personal connections.
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Visit the building’s Open Durham page for more history.
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Preservation easements are like a homeowner's association for just one house and are the only legally enforceable way in most jurisdictions to keep a Modernist house from being destroyed in the future. National Register status? Famous architect? Local historic designation or tax credits? At best, these things may delay demolition six months to a year but they won't stop it. Here's the Zoom video presentation featuring Preservation North Carolina and NCModernist, along with Jane Levy, Greensboro Modernist homeowner. | |
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Vacancy, not development, is the enemy of mid-century Modernist houses. Preserve and protect the architecture you love by notifying us when North Carolina houses go vacant or on the market.
Check out the NCModernist For Sale/Rent Database. Realtors and owners can list their NC Modernist houses for sale or rent there for free! Submissions are subject to approval: single family Modernist houses only, they can be old or new, the architect or designer can be from anywhere, but the house must be in North Carolina. Exclusively sponsored by:
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Donate to USModernist's nonprofit mission of documenting, preserving, and promoting Modernist residential architecture. | | | | |
