Memorial Bend Architecture Blog

Some good news...

2007-01-09T07:21:00.000-08:00

It's no secret that McMansions are slowly creeping into the neighborhood. Several one-story ranch-style houses have recently been razed and replaced with grossly out-of-proportion and out-of-place McMansions. Fortunately, not all news is bad news. In fact, several houses are in the process of being restored or appear to be saved.

330 Electra - Could it be that this house has finally been rescued from it's status as a rental. The new owner apparently is the owner of an art gallery and is looking forward to filling the house with 1950s furniture. While this is no guarantee that the house will be fixed up, it certainly sounds like they are the right kind of person to rescue the only example of this Floyd design in Houston.

12923 Memorial - This house was recently purchased by an architect who plans on renovating and restoring the home. The owner has the original plans which should aid in the process. Apparently, much of the house is in original condition and includes an exotic mural that was painted by the original owners. I'll post a photograph of the mural soon.

12923 Hansel - Termite and mold got a hold of Floyd's award-winning house but the new owners, an architect and his wife, are gradually restoring this home.

423 Isolde - After years as a rental property, this house was purchased by a couple that loves modern architecture and mid-century design. Chalk this house up as another success story!

New Construction in the Bend

2006-10-19T08:13:00.000-07:00

One of my frustrations with developers who come into Memorial Bend is their disregard for the character of our unique neighborhood. Build from 1955-1959, Memorial Bend has an eclectic architectural mix of predominantly one-story ranch and mid-century modern houses. Most homes are low, rambling and well-proportioned to each other. Mature trees and lushness define the look of the neighborhood with enough elbow room for neighbors to "breathe".

Yet, here comes another developer ready to plop down a house that will look utterly out of place in Memorial Bend that, given the description, will probably require scraping of trees and zero lot line construction. Get ready for a white elephant to pop up on Gretel:

Elegant new construction by Metropolitan Custom Homes in Memorial Bend. Brick & Stucco exterior w/grand 2-story foyer,French doors leading into a cathedral ceiling study& formal dining with butlers pantry & wet bar. Chef's kitchen w/granite,curved island & ss appliances. Wonderful great room w/fireplace,built-ins & French doors leading to the veranda. Master down w/granite bath. Media/bedroom#5 + gameroom up. Hardwood & Travertine floors down,mud rm w/built-in lockers&computer alcove & 3/4 bedrm up.

Say goodbye to this...

...and hello to this?

or this?

...or who knows what!?

Gretel "mystery" house for sale

2006-10-18T13:16:00.000-07:00

You might have seen me post this little tidbit on the Memorial Bend web page before.

Well, this house has always intrigued me. There were a couple of pictures a while back posted on an HAR listing but it looks like a new listing shows much more.

Really, little is known about it... I don't know who designed it and the position on the lot really makes you wonder what's hiding behind the plain facade. The closed in carport seems to be a rather unsightly addition but it looks easily fixed. Anyway, wonder no more...

HAR listing

Hopefully someone will restore this great house before some developer razes it and replaces it with a zero lot line 5,000 sq. ft. Mediterranecolonialtudorgeorgian monstrosity. It needs some work but has a ton of potential. You have to dig the freestanding fireplace. Also, if I remember correctly, the roof may be butterfly shaped.

Wow... so slow to update

2006-10-12T11:36:00.000-07:00

Yes... I know... it's been a long time since I've updated the page and there is so much news to share - houses that have been restored, preservation battles, houses for sale and more great publicity for the Bend.

Let's take it one bite at a time... so, for today, here is some exciting news:

12923 Memorial is for Sale

Little was known about this house until it recently turned up on HAR.com. The house is similar to other mid-century homes with similar designs... private from the front but the insides are usually light and very open.

A shot of the house taken last year:

Anyway, by looking at the HAR listing, you can see some great shots of the interior. The house was apparently designed by a David Crocket and it appears to be in rather original condition. At $249,900, let's hope a mid-century lover picks it up before a builder does.

Memorial Bend House featured in Atomic Ranch

2005-12-23T14:07:00.000-08:00

The house of Cathie and Rick Johnson is currently featured in the Winter 2005 issue of Atomic Ranch magazine. The article is a product of Atomic Ranch's visit to Houston in May of 2005 and truly showcases the effort they have put in restoring and preserving a great William Floyd design. If you haven't picked up a copy of the article, here are scans (large images) of the eight page spread:

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

Page 5

Page 6

Page 7

Page 8

This is a fantastic article and, once again, great publicity for Memorial Bend... something that we won't continue receiving if our houses are replaced with McMansions.

Updates on The Bend

2005-07-31T18:39:00.000-07:00

The past few months have provided Memorial Bend with a great deal of publicity, from mentions in local newspapers to visits from national magazines. If you live in the neighborhood, check out this month's newsletter to find out where Memorial Bend has been mentioned.

Not mentioned in the newsletter was an interview that took place on Friday, July 29th on National Public Radio and KPFT Houston. Karen Lantz, president of well-known preservation group
Houston Mod was interviewed by Gertrude Barnstone, widow of architect Howard Barnstone. Karen focused primarily on the efforts of Houston Mod and the challenges the organization faces in Houston. When asked about specific areas with concentrations of great modern architecture, Karen went into detail on Memorial Bend and the Memorial Bend Architecture web page. Very exciting!

On a less-than-exciting note, two houses in the Bend will soon be demolished and replaced with McMansions. A "French tudor" house in the 4,000 - 5,000 sq. ft. range will be built on the east side of Memorial Bend. The other will replace a William N. Floyd-designed home on the 12900 block of Figaro... a well-maintainted and cohesive block on which 9 out of the 10 houses were designed by Floyd. The new house is believed to be similar in size to the one being built on the east side. Surely, both will "blend in" with the surrounding neighborhood... (!) While assurances are being made that the houses will be lived in by the current owners and builders, speculation is that both are indeed spec houses.

For those looking for a modern houses, I've heard rumors that a fantastic Floyd-designed home will soon be coming on the market. From what I've heard, the house will list somewhere are the $240,000 range and is a great modern house with some very cool original features. More to come...

Alan Hess coming to speak to Houston Mod

2005-06-30T15:53:00.000-07:00

Many of you know that I am a cofounder and board member with Houston Mod, an organization dedicated to preserving modern architecture in Housotn. Well, Houston Mod just announced their third annual lecture to the press. If you care about preserving Memorial Bend, be sure to make it out to the lecture. You'll get a chance to see the HISD Administration Building one last time before it is demolished and, if you're a member and buy tickets, you can visit the iconic Gordon House by Howard Barnstone.

Here is the official press release...

2005 HOUSTON MOD LECTURE AND RECEPTION TO FEATURE PROMINENT AUTHOR AND LECTURER, ALAN HESS

Website www.HoustonMod.org Offers Group Information, News and Calendar of Events

HOUSTON, TX – June 28, 2004 – Houston Mod, an organization dedicated to promoting knowledge, appreciation and preservation of modern architecture and design in Houston, will host its third annual lecture on Friday, August 19th at 6:00 PM at the auditorium of the Houston Independent School District Central Administration Building at 3830 Richmond Avenue. Author, lecturer and practicing architect Alan Hess will be speaking on the importance of preserving modern architecture in Houston and across the country. His latest books are The Ranch House and Googie Redux: Ultramodern Roadside Architecture and he is currently writing books on The Houses of Frank Lloyd Wright, The Houses of Oscar Niemeyer, and Organic Architecture: The Other Modernism. Following the lecture, a members-only reception will be held at 8:00 PM at the Gordon House of 1955 at 2307 Blue Bonnet, designed by Bolton & Barnstone.

Hess will discuss mid-century modern architecture and the role it plays today by taking a look back at the 20th century, assessing its architecture and then discussing how a city like Houston benefits from an effort to preserve pieces of yesterday's city. Understanding Houston’s wealth of mid-century modern architecture and the role it plays today will serve a central theme to the discussion. “As one of America's great twentieth century cities, Houston's historic architectural landmarks are more recent than those in Boston or Williamsburg,” notes Hess. “But Houston's mid-century modern style captures a great era in the city's growth in the same way Boston's Colonial buildings symbolize another great era. Houston's Modern architecture matches the best in the nation. Cities that destroy their past suffer from mass amnesia; the only antidote is respecting and protecting the past.”

The 2004 lecture was given by architect Leo Marmol of Marmol Radziner and Associates. The lecture was held at the Brown Auditorium of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston and attracted over 400 people. Lea Bass, Houston Mod Board Member, explains how the success of the first two Houston Mod lectures serves as proof of a rising interest in mid-century modern architecture. “The full house at each of Houston Mod’s past two lectures and the interest in our architectural tours and exhibits have taught us that Houstonians are truly enthusiastic about preserving our wealth of mid-century architecture,” explains Bass. “Prominent speakers like Alan Hess help focus our growing efforts on the preservation of an architectural style that is often overlooked in our city.”

Hess has served as the architecture critic for the San Jose Mercury News since 1986. As an architect, he served as design consultant for the Petersen Automotive Museum of the Natural History' Museum of Los Angeles County, and was a principal contributor to its interpretive exhibits. He has been active in the preservation of roadside and post-War architecture, qualifying the nation's oldest McDonald's drive-in (Downey, CA 1953), an early suburban department store (Bullock's Pasadena, 1947), the 1956 Hotel Valley Ho Motor Inn in Scottsdale, AZ, and the Stuart Pharmaceutical Factory (Edward Durrell Stone, 1958) for the National Register of Historic Places. He received a 1997 Honor Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation for his efforts to preserve the McDonald's, and a 1999 President's Award from the California Preservation Foundation.

Hess' other books also document and interpret often neglected mid-century, popular and West Coast architecture. His writings have appeared in the Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Architecture, Architectural Digest, Architectural Record, Interiors, Progressive Architecture, Stadt Bauwelt, Arts + Architecture, Fine Homebuilding and other journals. He has also appeared on the CBS Sunday Morning News with Charles Kuralt, CNN, Good Morning America, BBC-TV's Late Show, NPR's Morning Edition, California Public Radio's California Reports, and other broadcast media.

The Houston Independent School District Central Administration Building, site of the lecture, is Houston’s best extant example of the New Brutalism. The building is notable not only for its award-winning architectural design, which employed a dramatic multi-level sky lit atrium, but also for its stylish interiors which made liberal use of the iconic Eames Aluminum Series furniture. Completed in 1969 by Neuhaus & Taylor, the landmark building and its large property will be replaced with an apartment development and lifestyle center. The pending demolishment secured the building its place on Houston Mod’s 2004 “Top Ten Endangered Moderns” list. Houstonians attending the lecture will receive one of the last glimpses of a building that represents an era from the mid 1960s to the mid 1970s when public institutions in Houston commonly commissioned challenging works of architecture to embody their progressive ideals.

The Gerald Gordon House, site of the post-lecture reception, was the most widely recognized modernist house in Houston of the 1950s. It was perhaps the most perfect example of high style Miesian architecture in Houston with its Knoll interiors selected by Florence Knoll herself and landscaping by Thomas Church of San Francisco. Architectural Record lauded it as being “very much in the ‘grand manner,’ translated into a completely modern idiom.” James Toland of the Los Angeles Times saw it as “an example of Houston’s awakening architectural attitude.” Houston Press journalists Beverly Maurice and Ann Valentine visited the house in July 1956, and wrote “As soon as we arrived at the Gerald Gordon home, the spell of grandeur that it casts fell over us like a cool shadow.” Its current owners, Blanten Filak and Diane Tanking, carefully remodeled the Gordon House between 2001 and 2003.

Sponsors and donors who have come together to graciously support Houston Mod’s third annual lecture include Baker Communications, Bury + Partners, Hotel ICON, Jim Manning Catered Affairs, Lighting Associates, Inc., McCoy, Inc. , Morris Architects and Tito’s Handmade Vodka.

Tickets for the August 19th lecture are $10.00 to the public and $5.00 for Houston Mod members. A limited amount of tickets for the Gordon House reception are available to Houston Mod members for $30.00. Both can be purchased via Houston Mod from sally@houstonmod.org. Additional information on Houston Mod and the lecture can be found at www.houstonmod.org.

About Houston Mod

Formed in 2003 by architects, designers and concerned Houstonians, Houston Mod is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to promoting knowledge and appreciation of modern architecture and design in Houston and Texas. Named by The Houston Press as the Best Preservation Group of 2003, Houston Mod’s programs include exchange of information, classes, lectures, study tours and preservation advocacy. For more information on Houston Mod, interested individuals may visit www.houstonmod.org or can contact Houston Mod at info@houstonmod.org.

Houston Business Journal Article

2005-06-18T20:04:00.000-07:00

Two entries ago, I mentioned that Memorial Bend was featured in a Houston Business Journal article. Well, thanks to "subdude", a poster on the Houston Architecture Forum, we now have a copy of the article. You can view the article online at the Memorial Bend Architecture page.

I'll update you in a couple of weeks as it looks like Memorial Bend will be mentioned in an upcoming article in Zest magazine. Our community continues to get good press thanks to the quality of houses and history of our neighborhood. The houses that make up our neighborhood are one of the key reasons why we stand out... do your part in helping preserve the integrity of Memorial Bend.

Atomic Ranch Magazine visits The Bend

2005-06-16T19:05:00.000-07:00

Good news for Memorial Bend... this past May, Atomic Ranch Magazine visited Memorial Bend to photograph three houses for an upcoming issue. Three houses in Memorial Bend, all three designed by William Floyd, were photographed for a feature article on Houston. Two other houses, one in Ayrshire and the other in the East End, were also photographed.

If you're not familiar with the magazine, bills itself as "a quarterly devoted to 1940's - 1970's ranch houses and modernist tract homes. They're cooler than you think..."

The Sacramento News & Review sings the praises of Atomic Ranch, stating,

Atomic Ranch, a quarterly publication and accompanying Web site, is the perfect resource for the renovation, retro décor and relaxed lifestyle associated with the forward-thinking ranch homes of the late 1940s and 1950s. It reads like a middle-class Architectural Digest crossed with a retro-centric Sunset. Articles focus on homeowners’ stylish houses, along with features about mid-century accessories such as electronics, cars and fashion.

A Memorial Bend house appeared in Atomic Ranch's "Home Page" section in the summer of 2004...

If you have a house you'd like to submit to their "Home Page" section, visit the Atomic Ranch webpage. Also, be sure to subscribe so you can be one of the first ones on the block to see Memorial Bend in print.

Memorial Bend in the Houston Business Journal

2005-06-11T11:01:00.000-07:00

I just spotted this posted on the Houston Architecture forum...

It won't be posted online, but the current (May 27) print edition of Houston Business Journal has a history of the Memorial Bend subdivision in the "Houston Heritage" column. There is some discussion of the architects William Floyd, Lars Bang, etc.

Does anyone have a copy of this article? If so, please let me know... I would love to post a copy online.

The Early Years of Memorial Bend

2005-06-07T09:47:00.000-07:00

I receive at least an e-mail a month from someone who grew up in the Bend and has some interesting stories or memories to share of the neighborhood. Listed below is part of an e-mail from a Houstonian who grew up in Memorial Bend when the neighborhood was still being developed..

My friends and I were "horse crazy" and we used to ride our horses up and down Memorial Drive. . . Our pasture was on Memorial Drive (across the street from Gaywood). . . Dairy Ashford was a gravel road.

I used to meet my best friend (via bicycle) at what we called then the "bird pond" (Memorial Drive and West Belt). She lived west of West Belt on Memorial Drive. . . and that was 1/2 way for both of us.

My brother and I have many wonderful memories in the Memorial Bend area. I took life saving classes at the Memorial Bend pool and we were both on swim teams. . .

I was in the first graduating class from Memorial High School. My brother went to Bendwood. We both went to Spring Branch Junior High.

I can remember my mother going to the A&P on Long Point to buy groceries. . .

Yes, I remember the adults getting upset about something commercial going in on Katy Road at West Belt. . . The Texaco station. . .

My first charge account was at Interurban Pharmacy. . . Fudgesicles were 5 cents.

Should you have any stories to share, please feel free to share them and I'll be glad to post them anonymously.

Modern Resources and a Housing Update

2005-04-24T11:59:00.000-07:00

Mid-Century Resources

We're gradually working on our house to remove some "traditional" elements and add some nice modern touches. Listed below are some links to resources that we've come across.

House Numbers

We had been looking for some nice house numbers that would make a good addition to our 1959 house. One of the more popular types is the well-known but expensive "Neutra Face" house number. Richard Neutra used them on his own designs. They're great... but for a house like ours, the cost would've been $300!? Not so great.

We found an affordable alternative while wandering the aisles of Great Indoors. Atlas Housewares manufacturers the Avalon (also known as Metropolitan) house numbers that offer a mid-century look at a reasonable cost. Rather than $60.00 a number, the price is closer to $10.00 a number. You can see these numbers at 12906 Figaro and 331 Electra.

Visit their web page at Atlas Housewares

Retro Planters

Hip Haven, an Austin-based company, manufactures great bullet shaped planters in a multitude of colors. The planters, made of fiberglass, come in three heights and with multiple base options.

We should have on in place in the next week or so... Check out their web page at Hip Haven

Lamp Shades

We're still not sure where we could use these lampshades but we're committed to finding out some use for them. Check out Moonshine Lampshades - they're great hanging from the ceiling or on your grandmother's retro lamp base...

For more great options, visit Moon Shine Lampshades

Two New Houses for Sale

Two houses have just been listed by their owners on Electra - both are for sale by owner. One is a large 5 bedroom modern at 411 Electra...

You can find it listed at the BuyOwner.com web page as listing Number 4139

The other house is located two doors down at 419 Electra...

The good news about this house is that the formal rental property is being sold by the current owner. Rumor had it that the owner was planning to eventually raze the house. This is a William N. Floyd designed house.

Feedback

A big thanks to those of you willing to share information with me about your Memorial Bend house or what you might be doing to restore a mid-century pad. If you'd like to share some of your work with the readers of this blog, please let me know and I'll be glad to post images, information, etc. Also, feel free to share any resources you have come across.

Why Memorial Bend Matters

2005-01-23T17:45:00.000-08:00

Over the past three years, many residents in Memorial Bend have become aware of the importance and achitectural significance of our neighborhood. Yet, some still wonder why they should care about preserving the integrity of Memorial Bend. I thought the following e-mail from Robert Searcy, a Houston-area realtor, might shed some light on the issue. Robert specializes in helping Houstonians find modern houses in Houston and has brought some of his own clients to Memorial Bend. This e-mail points out the recognition Memorial Bend is now receiving not only locally but on a national level.

When I talked to people at the Recent Past Preservation Network, or Atomic Ranch magazine about Glenbrook Valley the usual question comes up, “is it near Memorial Bend?” It seems to really validate the comments made by Joe at Jet Set Modern. Many mod enthusiasts I deal with are very specific about wanting “inner-loop” or very close to it. I have had them turn up their nose at areas outside the loop along Braeswood, or in Glenbrook as being “too far out” then turn around and want to see homes in Memorial Bend. I really think the internet presence and the careful documentation of the architects and history has given Memorial Bend a near iconic status with modernist nationwide. It gives it a certain cache’ to local modern enthusiast who might not otherwise ever consider living as far out as the beltway. (yes there are those who think the world falls off flat at Post Oak). A good deal of Memorial Bend’s newfound growing prestige, a growing prestige that can make it rise above comparable neighborhoods around it, rests on the backs of its modern houses. It is an asset the residents of the community would do well to promote and preserve, even if they don’t live in one or particularly care about modern style. It is what sets that neighborhood apart & gets it noticed.

Robert was also kind enough to share we with me part of an e-mail he received from Joe Kunkel, publisher of online magazine, JetSet Modern Magazine. Like Robert's e-mail, this one speaks for itself...

I think what Michael has done for Memorial Bend with the website will have a large impact on the appreciation (and therefore, preservation) of that subdivision. People all over the country know about Memorial Bend because of his website, which I also featured prominently on my website. Whenever I talk to modernists in other states and we get on the topic of regional concentrations of modern houses, Memorial Bend usually comes up. I know there must be quite a few other areas worth mention, but they are not effectively promoted.

Nearby neighborhoods like Rustling Pines have seen one house after another razed as anonymous McMansions have been slapped up in their place. These houses tower over original houses and take away from the character and integrity of their neighborhoods. Let's hope that Memorial Bend doesn't fall prey to this type of McMansionization, lest it become just another neighborhood.

Houses for Sale in the Bend and Info. on Glenbrook Valley

2005-01-11T19:39:00.000-08:00

Houses for Sale in the Bend

While Houston's real estate market has been on an upswing for years, right now is a slow time of year for those in the market for a house. Juding by the current listings at HAR.com, there are two modern houses for sale right now in Memorial Bend. They are as follows:

12827 Tosca - MLS #1711206
Though listed on HAR as a traditional, this 1956 definitely has a clean, modern look with a flat composition roof, clerestory windows over the living areas and a nicely incorporated carport. Architect unknown. The house is listed at $319,900.00

330 Electra - MLS #3829714
This was architect William Floyd's favorite design in the Bend, incorporating some interesting design features like three barrel vaults over the living/dining areas. Other interesting design touches include slat screens by the front entrance and the dining room (see below). The plans for this house were included in the 1960 Summer/Fall issue of New Homes Guide Magazine as well as an early 70s issue of Living Now Magazine. A few modern touches like the original sputnik lamp have been removed. Some sympathetic landscaping and a bit of help on the inside would make this a great mid-century home. The house is listed at $330,000.00

Glenbrook Valley

I think it's great when other neighborhoods decide to start appreciating the mid-century architecture that so many people unfortunately take for granted. One such neighborhood is Glenbrook Valley, a 1950s neighborhood that hosted the 1956 Parade of Homes.

Robert Searcy, a local real estate agent and Mid-Century Modern enthusiast is building a web page dedicated to the great houses in Glenbrook Valley. Be sure to visit the page or, better yet, take a spin down to the Hobby Airport area to check out some cool architecture. Some houses you'll see include:

What Happened?

2004-12-23T11:51:00.000-08:00

One day I was posting about mixing up gin smashes to avoid the summer heat and the next day... it's December 23rd (!?). Time to get this site back on track.

Bend News:

The ranch-style house that once stood at 410 Electra was razed in December to make way for a two-story house. The original house was a typical one-story traditional house found in this area. The house was in good shape and blended in well with its neighbors. Time will tell how the new house will look and the effect it will have on the neighborhood. This was the first house torn down in Memorial Bend in years and may be a bad sign of thigs to come.

Cataloging Modern Houses in Houston

Given that there isn't any one place on-line to dig up information on mid-century houses in Houston, I've put up a new page. It isn't fancy and will be a work in progress but it should allow up to keep track of existing modern houses in Houston as well as those that have been torn down.

Be sure to visit Space City Houston

Christmas is Here

Christmas is upon us... the lights are strung on the house, your tree is up and hopefully you've finished shopping. Have you wondered how to give your house an additional modern touch next year? Aluminum trees have made a huge comeback and are once again in demand. Purists go for the vintage aluminum trees that were once available in the late 1950s and 1960s. Evergleam aluminum trees can be found on eBay for as little as $40.00 for a four foot tree.

Of course, what is an aluminum Christmas tree with a color wheel? These can be found on eBay for around $30.00. We found ours on South Congress in Austin.

Now, if you're not sure you're ready for an aluminum tree, check out Season's Gleamings: The Art of the Aluminum Christmas Tree at Amazon.com

Summer cocktails for the Houston heat

2004-07-25T11:56:00.000-07:00

Whatever relief we enjoyed during June's endless rainstorms evaporated in July. When Houston's heat is too much to handle and you want a refreshing cocktail to enjoy in your pad, here are a few concoctions that will bring a chill to your day:

The Gin Smash was around long before Mojitos became the cocktail to drink. Similar in style, the recipe is amazingly simple to follow:

1 tbsp sugar
4 sprigs fresh mint (peppermint or spearmint are fine)
3 tbsp gin

Dissolve the sugar in a little water in your cocktail shaker. Add the mint and, using a muddler, bruise and press the juices out of the leaves. Then add plenty of crushed ice and the gin. Shake for about 20 seconds. Strain into a small glass filled with crushed ice. If desired, add fresh mint sprigs to garnish.

Now... if you do like Mojitos, below is a typical recipe. For a slightly different variation, use a flavored light rum like Cruzan Citrus Rum or Bacardi Limon.

1 1/2 oz light rum
1 lime, squeezed
2 sprigs of fresh mint
1 tsp sugar
club soda

Dissolve the sugar in the lime juice in your cocktail shaker. Add the mint and, using a muddler, bruise and press the juices out of the leaves. Add the rum and plenty of ice and shake for about twenty seconds. Pour into a collins glass filled with plenty of ice and then top off with club soda. Do not shake with the club soda or it will become flat.

Leo Marmol, AIA to Speak in Houston

2004-07-24T17:07:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't heard, Houston Mod has invited Leo Marmol, AIA of Marmol Radziner + Associates to come speak at the organization's annual lecture. If you're not familiar with Leo Marmol's work, he has been responsible for the restoration of iconic modernist houses such as...

The Kaufman House (1946)
Designed by Richard Neutra
Palm Springs, CA

The Elliot House (1930)
Designed by R.L. Schindler
Los Angeles, CA

The Raymond Loewy House (1946)
Designed by Albert Frey
Palm Springs, CA

The Rose House (1963)
Designed by Conrad Buff, Dennis Straub and Don Hensman
Beverly Hills, CA

Here is the official calendar release:

Thursday, August 19th 2004, 6:00 p.m at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston Brown Auditorium located at 1001 Bissonnet

Houston Mod is pleased to announce that Leo Marmol, AIA, managing principal of Marmol Radziner + Associates of Los Angeles, will be our second annual speaker for the August lecture. Mr. Marmol will give a talk about the preservation of modern architecture. His firm is responsible for the restoration of Richard Neutra's Kaufmann House in Palm Springs and has been recognized in many national publications. This lecture is free and open to the public.

For more information about the firm, please visit their web site: www.marmol-radziner.com

For more information about Houston Mod, please visit: www.houstonmod.org

Architect William N. Floyd Passes Away

2004-07-14T13:42:00.000-07:00

Architect William N. Floyd, a great man who served his country in two wars and placed his signature across the landscape of Houston via his designs, passed away earlier today. Bill was 94 years old.

Over the past two years, I was blessed to get to know Bill and to find out all about his work. His extensive work as an architect and a builder received a great deal of attention during the 1940s - 1960s. Sadly, later in life, many had forgotten about the numerous houses and awards he received during his career. I'm glad that Bill and I were able to put his name "back on the map" so to speak and that many more people are now appreciative of his work. He was a great man and I am sad to see him leave us. I will forever be grateful to him and his family for their kindness and willingness to share his achievements and friendship with me.

I hope to add a great deal more to the web page about Bill's work. There are quite a few additional articles, photographs and other items from his career that I hope to have online within the coming weeks. I also plan on updating his bio with some of the additional information I gathered from him over the past three or four months.

Modern Preservation Spirit is Spreading

2004-07-12T09:05:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, Houston has been experiencing a surge in the desire to preserve modern architecture. Organizations like Houston Mod have received a great deal of attention both locally and state-wide for their efforts to preserve buildings like the Prudential Building and MacKie and Kamrath's George Mitchell house. Now it looks like that desire is spreading across Texas.

Harlingen, just north of Brownsville and the Texas-Mexico border, has been known in the architectural community as a hidden hotbed of modernist design. A number of prominent architects worked in the valley designing sleek, modern homes from the 40s through the 60s. Even iconic architect, Richard Neutra, designed a house in Brownsville in the 1930s for a Pan Am Executive. The house is considered by many to be the first international style house designed in Texas. The house has been in bad shape for years but recent efforts have energized the Brownsville community to restore this architectural treasure. An article in the Brownsville Herald titled Kreiger House Named to State Endangered List provides some insight. Due to recent efforts, federal grants and nationwide attention will help this house survive the wrecking ball.

The Valley Morning Star recently published an article on the interest in Harlingen's modernist past titled The Modernist Era. It provides some interesting insight into the concentration of modern houses located in Harlingen as well as efforts to save these houses for prosperity.

Mid-Century Tulsa neighborhood launches page - Possible Teardown on Electra?

2004-07-08T09:03:00.000-07:00

It looks like Lortondale, a Tulsa, Oklahoma neighborhood similar to Memorial Bend, recently launched a web page to start cataloging its modern houses. The web page takes a rather light-hearted approach and features a few houses as well as articles from the neighborhood's history. Like Memorial Bend, the neighborhood received quite a bit publicity and was published in magazines like House & Home. Architect Donald Hoon was the main designer of houses in the neighborhood.

Possible Teardown?

Rumor has it that the house at 410 Electra, which had been on the market for a few months, has been purchased by a builder for roughly $280,000 and is slated to be torn down for a McMansion. This traditional style house is nearly 2,700 sq. ft. in size, one of the largest one-story houses in Memorial Bend and sits on a standard size lot. I have not been able to verify whether the teardown rumor is true. There's no telling if we'll soon end up with a McMansion that towers over its neighbors and is "designed" (most builder spec homes are not designed by architects) with little consideration on its effect on the neighborhood's character.

Two Floyd Houses Hit the Market - Two Houses Saved

2004-07-06T12:06:00.000-07:00

Scanning through the Houston Association of Realtors' web page, I noticed two William N. Floyd designed houses have gone on the market.

The first, 12923 Hansel, known as the DeGraffenreid House, received quite a bit of attention when it was first built in 1956. The house ended up earning a special award of merit from the National Association of Homebuilders in 1958 and appeared in American Builder Magazine, House & Home and The Houston Chronicle.

The second house, 318 Electra was also designed by Floyd and was build in 1959. The house across the street once belonged to noted architect and AIA Gold Medal winner, Bill Caudill.

Two Houses Temporarily Spared from the Wrecking Ball

Two houses that had been a thorn in the side of the neighborhood are no longer going to be torn down for McMansions and are back on the market. The houses are located at 403 Faust and 12810 Traviata. Both houses are typical of designs found in surrounding neighborhoods like Fonn Villas, Memorial Plaza and Frostwood as well as Memorial Bend. It is good to see that they have received at least a temporary reprieve and will hopefully end up in the hands of good owners.

A new "Bend Mention" and a link worth visiting

2004-07-04T20:27:00.000-07:00

Our Memorial Bend house was listed in the "Home Page" section of the most recent issue of Atomic Ranch Magazine. Check out a scan of the article from the Memorial Bend Architecture web page.

Pick up the magazine to get a great feel for what you can do with your house as well as what resources are available. The magazine is two issues old and definitely worth a subscription.

New link: Metro Retro Furniture in Pasadena. Trust me... it's well worth the drive. The Goodform chair mentioned in the Atomic Ranch piece was found in Metro Retro's cavernous warehouse.

Memorial Bend Blog Debuts

2004-07-04T20:11:00.000-07:00

Ever since the Memorial Bend Architecture web page went live, I've been wondering how to keep everyone update on the latest postings, news, links and other features without forcing people to dig all over the site. Thanks to this blog, you'll be the first to know... what has just been posted on the page, architectural and development news, where to find the perfect 50s era piece of furniture for your Floyd house and much more.

Given my penchant for all things mid-century, I'll occasionally post something fun like the best Miles Davis album to play in your modern house or the perfect cocktail to enjoy on your patio. My goal is to update the blog at least once a week. Whenever I have something new, I'll post it.

If you have any suggestions, let me know. Enjoy this new blog. Together, we'll find out where this goes...