PrairieMod

Berwyn's Bungalows

If you enjoyed the recent article in the newest American Bungalow magazine about the bungalows of Berwyn (a suburb of Chicago) then you'll enjoy the opportunity to tour some of them in person. This weekend is the Historic Berwyn Bungalow Tour, held Sunday, June 3, 2007 from noon to 5pm. As stated on their website:

Celebrate a housing style that defined an era and join us for this leisurely walking tour featuring a variety of the community’s finest homes and an historic church open to the public on Sunday, for a one day showing. Learn the history of each home while being treated to a variety of interior spaces. You'll gain valuable ideas and insight for your own vintage home.

Check out this link to learn more or to order tickets. See you there!

Image copyright berwynbungalow.org

iPhone Still on Track for June 2007 Release

I still haven't received a single email update from the official Apple iPhone list I signed up for, so I went searching on the web today for info about this highly anticipated item. On May 17th, 2007 MacWorld posted an update on their website discussing details of the FCC's approval of the phone -- indicating that the iPhone is set to release in late June 2007.

That same day, MacWorld also posted an provocative Editor's Note titled, iResist iPhone. You can view four reasons why some people are not going to buy the iPhone when it is first released.

Image copyright Apple, Inc.

MSN Shopping Green

While checking my hotmail this afternoon, I saw a quick blurb for a new MSN link called "Shop Green." If you're looking for a list of products made from recycled materials, or chemical free products, sustainable material made products---then you'll have to check out this link. It seems like a good place to get some basic info and to start the sustainable shopping ball rolling. Check it out and tell us what you think!

Image copyright MSN.com

Sky, Florida: The New US "Green" Town

Sky is a community that will be built in the Florida Panhandle as a model "green" community. Read a snippet from the CNN.com article below or view the whole article online.

Homes here could be heated or cooled using the Earth's natural underground temperature. Appliances would be run by solar-powered batteries. Houses would be oriented to avoid the summer sun.

And everyone could grow some of their own food in the garden each house will have or in community orchards. If all goes as planned, the 600 families in this proposed Florida Panhandle town will lessen the carbon they spew into the atmosphere by walking just about everywhere they go, except maybe work or school.

"You've got almost a zero-carbon footprint just by living here," said Bruce White, one of the developers of the town, who envisions creating the climate steward's dream community. "Just by being here you will be an environmentalist."

Image copyright Associated Press

Talkin' To Phil

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Whitney Gould recently interviewed Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation CEO, Phil Allsopp, on his mission to breathe new life in the organization he now heads-up. She didn't pull any punches, either when asking about the desire to fit the venerable architect with new labels every time a social trend hits--like sustainability. To his credit, Mr. Allsopp intelligently points out what makes Wright so pertinent to the world today--his amazing talent coupled with his groundbreaking ideas. Read the article and find out more on Phil's plans to make the Foundation sound for the 21st century.

Image courtesy of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

PrairieMod Monday

For the last entry this month on the PrairieMod Principle of "Go Green," I thought I would share an article that was sent to us by a faithful reader that summed up an important observation on how our modern lives have lost focus from the knowledge learned from the past. Written on May 20th for the New York Times, Adam Goodheart wrote an article titled This Old, Organic House. What he discusses is the fact that "Green" living and architecture is not a new phenomenon--it goes way back into human history, and even our own American history. Sadly, what's happened is that our growth as an industrial powerhouse and consumer-based culture has turned us into a "live-for-today" society that has lost touch with its original values and the link to the "organic" knowledge of the past.

Now we find ourselves at the crossroads of change and we have the opportunity to alter our self-destructive course by listening to the sage "organic" voices of the past: Thomas Jefferson, Henry David Thoreau, Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright and a host of others. These people realized the value of nature and our place as apart of it. It's not that we can't have a modern lifestyle, no one is advocating a regression to 1776. Instead, we need to utilize the knowledge that's come before us and recognize its value in our lives for today.

Learn from the past. Live in the present. Consider the future.

Enjoy the article and let us know what you think. Next month we reach the home stretch in our principled exploration with a look at the 10th PrairieMod Principle of "Uniquely You."

Big Shoulders Realty Chicago, Illinois

I got on a email list for a new realty company in Chicago that is very hip and unique. Big Shoulders Realty seems to offer many innovative programs that you don't find at other companies. Below are some examples from their website:

A full-service classic home restoration contracting and consulting team called RESTORATION, NOT REHAB. The goal is to provide old-world craftsmanship, not “flip-quality” rehab work. In cooperation with Nathan McBride of the MCBRIDE COMPANY, we can help clients locate, purchase and then completely restore their classic Chicago home. We can also help existing homeowners with full-home restorations, or project based work. 

An innovative approach to human resources benefits for small to mid-size employers, REAL ESTATE REWARDS is an extension of a company’s benefits program that involves a 25% rebate on our total commission for any purchase or sale. 

A totally innovative way to search for properties and learn about neighborhoods on our monthly NEIGHBORHOOD BIKE TOURS.

The ability to search for your home by ARCHITECTURAL TYPE SEARCH and information on classic Chicago Architectural styles and building type such as Chicago Bungalows, Two Flats, American Four Square, etc.

Image copyright Big Shoulders Realty

 

Summer Of Pottery Love

There are some cool events happening this summer that should make it an art pottery lover's dream. Here's a rundown of a couple of events to look forward to:

• Pottery Lovers Reunion Week • July 13-21 • Zanesville, Ohio: Billed as the "greatest pottery show on earth" this show is a week long gathering of art pottery collectors and dealers from all across the county. If this sounds like your sort of scene, then cruise over to potterylovers.org for details.

• 12th Annual Wisconsin Pottery Association Show & Sale • August 25 • Madison, Wisconsin: Over 50 dealers will offer antique and contemporary pottery including favorites as Fulper, Van Briggle, Clifton, etc. You'll also have a chance to bring in that unknown piece and have an expert identify it for you (it's art pottery Antiques Roadshow!) Check out wisconsinpottery.org for event details.

Looks like it's shaping up to be a pretty exciting summer for all us pottery enthusiasts! Stay tuned for more info and more events as we find out about them.

Diggin' in the Back Issues: Metropolis Magazine June 2006

If you're anything like me, you're on way too many mailing lists or email lists and subscribe to more magazines that one could possibly ever read. So when I have downtime, I pull out some old issues and play catch-up. Well, one back issue I pulled out recently was Metropolis Magazine's June 2006 issue with Yves Béhar and his Leaf Lamp on the cover. I kid you not, this entire issue blew me away!

Here are some highlights below (you must be a subscriber to view these articles online, but you can sign-up here if you like)....

All About Yves
With a new lamp for Herman Miller—and an emerging role as an educator—Yves Béhar brings his story-driven approach to the mainstream.

From Here to Utopia       
Joel Sternfeld’s engaging look at experimental communities taps into the American quest for the perfect alternative.

Is Sustainable Luxury An Oxymoron?        
A humorous survey of opulent goods and services.

Charles and Ray’s Timeless Take        
On the 50th anniversary of the Eames Lounge Chair, an intriguing new book and exhibition shed light on the arduous process behind the making of a Modern classic.

Image copyright Metropolis Mag

JMJ Tile

I stumbled across an ad in the new American Bungalow magazine that had a particularly nice looking tile in it, so I thought I'd go check out the website. JMJ Tile has an amazing range of handmade tiles and tile mosaics, produced in the tradition of the Arts and Crafts Movement by artisan Joshua M. Johnson (hence the JMJ.)  I was especially taken by the tile tree designs---my favorites being the Banyan Tree triptych and Live Oak tile group. Check out the site for yourself and be prepared to "ooh" and "ahh."

Eames Please

Just like my friend who stopped by Room & Board last night, I also popped into a local Chicago area furniture store and found a knock-off Eames Lounge Chair & Ottoman for $1000. I'm not much of a fan for imitations, but I must say that this was a pretty good one.

The subject of Herman Miller vs. non-Herman Miller versions of this design icon is a fairly fascinating one, which is detailed in an article on Metropolismag.com.

Image copyright Herman Miller

Cool Things I Saw At Room & Board

I was out and about running errands last night, when I found myself in the neighborhood of my local Room & Board. I popped in to see what was happening in the world of modern home furnishings. Of course, I found some things that I just absolutely fell in love with:

• Noguchi Lamps: I don't know what it is about these bubble lamps, but I'm just crazy about them. The reverse pod floor lamp is especially cool and makes for a fantastic accent piece.

• Eames Lounge Chair: Anyone who loves great modern design covets this chair. It's as comfortable as it is good looking and definitely on my list of must-haves.

• Capri Rug: Room & Board has the best modern rug options of any store. period. I am especially digging the color schemes and linear graphic quality found in the Capri rug.

• Shift Bar Pillows: If you love the Capri rug, you'll want the perfect pillows to coordinate with it. The Shift Bar pillows display the same beautiful color and graphical qualities as its rug cousin.

• Copenhagen Desk: I've been looking for the perfect modern computer desk that can double as a storage unit. I think I've found it. The Copenhagen desk has a sliding flat work surface that I can use to type my posts or (sigh) balance my checkbook.

These were just a few of the great things I saw in my visit. I would suggest the next time you're in the area of you're local Room & Board, check out these and other great things. I know I'll be back!

Photo copyright Room & Board

Wright and Like 2007

Save the dates, June 8-10, 2007 for the annual Wright and Like tour, organized by the good folks at Wright in Wisconsin. This year's tour is dubbed "Prairie on the Lakes" and it will explore the work of Frank Lloyd wright and his contemporaries in Lake Delavan and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. According to the Wright in Wisconsin website the tour will feature:

Seven Wrights, three "likes" by architects Robert Spencer, James Dresser and Ken Dahlin; two spectacular nineteenth-century Wright predecessors by E. Townsend Mix and Adolph Cudell; and a brick-and-terra-cotta marvel of an observatory by Henry Ives Cobb, outfitted with original Arts and Crafts furniture, offer an architectural feast for our 2007 Wright and Like tour Prairie on the Lakes.

Check out this link for more information, which houses will be on the tour and how to sign-up for this fantastic event! Tell 'em PrairieMod sent you!

Photo copyright Wright in Wisconsin

Wright Pays Off

Mark Hertzberg posted an interesting article on his blog, Wright in Racine, about the economic impact that Wright-related tourism can have on a town--specifically Racine, Wisconsin. The article uses a French couple as an example of the type of tourists that seek out and spend money at Frank Lloyd Wright related venues across the United States. All-in-all, it's estimated that Wright tourism brings in $500,000 a year to the town of Racine. It's no wonder that places like Buffalo, New York and Oak Park, Illinois have put into place massive plans to position themselves as Frank Lloyd Wright destinations. Tourism is big, and as the most recent Wright Plus house walk shows, it can bring a lot of people to a single event. Read the article and let us know what you think about Wright tourism as a revenue stream generator--good, bad or otherwise.

Image copyright Mark Hertzberg

AT Chicago's Dense Coverage of ICFF

Apartment Therapy Chicago has a ton of posts dedicated to the events going on at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair. Here are some of the them from the last couple of days...

In Modern at ICFF

Niche Modern at ICFF

Hot or Not

Tay Lighting at ICFF

Unison at ICFF

Image copyright In Modern & AT Chicago

From The Library

We've got another review for all of you book worms out there! Pedro E. Guerrero: A Photographer's Journey by Pedro E, Guerrero. Published by Princeton Architectural Press.

PrairieMod Monday

All this month we've been looking at the PrairieMod Principle of "Go Green!" We've been exploring how making small, smart changes in our attitudes and actions can yield giant impacts in the long run. For this week's installment, we're going to look at another example of how sustainability can take root in our lives by very small "degrees."

More Reflections from my MOMA Visit

So I'm at the JetBlue Terminal of JFK looking out a window at Eero Saarinen's TWA Flight Center and I start reflecting on great modern design. Naturally, I was thinking about things at MOMA since I was just there recently. I recalled perusing the Muji Store at MOMA, which I first heard about from Josh Spear during his Brand Utopian lecture.

Muji is a Japanese retail company that sells a variety of household goods. Muji is distinguished by its design minimalism, emphasis on recycling, avoidance of waste in production and packaging, and a no-logo policy. Products range from pens, notebooks, and clothing for men and women to food items and major kitchen appliances. The name Muji means No Brand Name when loosely translated.

The great thing about this stuff is that it is all designed with guiding principles that provide savvy customers with products that are beautiful, useful, and essential "objects for living." It is worth checking out to see what necessities you might be able to get.

Images copyright Pheezy & Muji

Craftsmen Hardware Company

When the PrairieMod Squad cruised the 2nd Annual Arts & Crafts Chicago Show in River Forest a couple weekends ago, we saw lots of cool stuff--both antique and contemporary. One of the Contemporary artisans we really liked was the Craftsmen Hardware Company out of Marceline, MO. They had an amazingly fine selection of hand wrought craftsman hardware--anything you could ever want for that drawer, door or hinge. What really took our breath away, though, was their fantastic lighting selection. From mica lamps to the unbelievably detailed Greene & Greene inspired lanterns and hanging lamps. Quite possibly the finest handmade reproductions we've seen. Check out their website (though they say a new, updated one is on the way.) Enjoy and tell them PrairieMod sent you!

Image copyright the Craftsmen Hardware Company

Confessions of a PrairieMod Sqaud Member

I must confess that while on my trip to NYC (via JetBlue and resting my head at the modish Hotel QT), I stopped by MOMA to see two Apple Computer products in their design collection. Yeah, I swung by Van Gogh's Starry Night, Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon and even a few paintings by Matisse, Cezanne, Kandinsky and Chagall. However, the real draw for me was Apple Computer's Flat Panel iMac and their first generation iPod, designed by Jonathan Ive & Company.  Sure there were nice Louis Sullivan pieces and some sweet Frank Lloyd Wright objects, even designs by Eames, Mies and Aalto...but there is just something about those white polycarbonate and chrome objects that get me excited.

When I got back to Hotel QT tonight to crash, I looked up some info about Jonathan Ive and loved what I read on www.jonathanive.com. Below is an excerpt talking about what influences him as a designer...

• Nature – many of the products Jonathan has created at Apple are directly influenced by natural objects, such as the sunflower-inspired iMac G4 and the Pro Mouse which was inspired by a droplet of water. Indeed an organic influence can be felt in all Apple products – it is what makes them friendly, understandable and tactile.

• Honesty – Jonathan increasingly speaks about the ‘honesty’ in the way he uses materials. This is evidenced both in the design of the original iMac where there is no pretension in the use of plastics, and in more recent products such as the PowerMac G5 which is boldly formed from one piece of aluminium.

Sounds like Mr. Ive is a PrairieMod Squad member by way of his intuition!

Images copyright Apple, Inc.

Wright Plus Wrap-up

A great time was had by all at Wright Plus, the annual house walk coordinated by the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust. The houses on the walk this year were absolutely amazing. The PrairieMod Squad especially loved the Peter A. Beachy House, The Arthur B. Huertly House and the surprise of the tour, The Benjamin P. Horton House designed by E.E. Roberts in 1912. The Horton house has been lovingly restored to its full Prairie-period grandeur, with quite a few modern perks. It was breath-taking!

There was also so much to see and do around the bookshop. A flurry of activity occurred around the Prairie Arts tables with stencil demonstrations to see and an ample display of wood screens and ornaments. We also got to try out the two new Frank Lloyd Wright Collection chairs that were being shown by Copeland Furniture. Beautifully designed, exceptional craftsmanship and really relaxing to sit in. Whoever says Wright designed chairs are uncomfortable, hasn't sat in one offered by Copeland.

People were happy to be out and about in Oak Park on such a beautiful day and to be able to tour some beautiful houses, too. Congratulations to the Preservation Trust on a fantastic tour. We look forward to 2008!

How "Wright" Is Karim Rashid?

A recent interview of ubiquitous designer, Karim Rashid, for Express (a publication of the Washington Post) talks about design, the future, the past and mentions Frank Lloyd Wright. Karim is an extremely forward thinking, creative mind and in his interview he states:

"My real desire is to see people live in the modus of our time, to participate in the contemporary world, and to release themselves from nostalgia, antiquated traditions, old ritual, kitsch and meaningless paradigms. Design is about living in the present; style is about living in the past."

It's an idealistically inspired vision of the future, but one that does not take human beings into account. People need the past and all the stories, mythologies, culture and principles that come with it. Frank Lloyd Wright also placed much focus on getting away from the tangled designs of the past which, for him, stood in the way of realizing his vision of Organic Architecture taking root. But he knew enough that principles gleaned from the teachers of the past would always guide his ideals and help in shaping new directions. He took the best of both worlds and created a new one.

I would agree it's unproductive to live solely in the past and never progress, but we here at PrairieMod believe that our past has many things to teach us, and the designs and designers from then came up with some amazing ideas that have much truth for us today.

We applaud Mr. Rashid's creative energy and look forward to many more exciting things from that fruitful mind...we'd just hope that in racing for the future, he doesn't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Photo copyright Milovan Knezevic

LEED at Frank Lloyd Wright's Boulter House

We were sent a PDF via the Westcott House Foundation that is an invitation from the owners of Frank Lloyd Wright's Boulter House in Cincinnati to an introduction and network opportunity with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) professionals.

This is a unique opportunity to connect with leading businesses in the area and get specific questions answered by professionals and home owners.

Frank Lloyd Wright was the leading American architect of the 20th century in Green Design long before this term was invented by connecting the inside with the outside, incorporating natural materials into his structures and using nature as a major source of inspiration. The Westcott House Foundation is delighted to support a network of professionals who apply these principles with modern technology in the 21st century.

If you're near Ohio and would like to attend the event, make your reservation before May 17th with Chuck Lohre at Chuck@Lohre.com.

Satsuma Press: Impressed By The Art Of Less

We were put onto Satsuma Press by our friends at design*sponge and instantly fell in love with the elegant simplicity we saw. A one person letterpress operation located in Portland, Oregon, the work shown and the philosophy espoused hit very close to home and it inspired us to learn more. As stated by Satsuma's proprietor on her website:

"I fancy good, simple design that is pleasing to the eye and mind; refreshing color and lush paper; plenty of open space and quiet, graceful beauty. From start to finish, Satsuma stationary is designed, cut to size, printed, folded and packaged by me"

A true labor of love and one that encapsulates good design, a principled approach and the quality of craftsmanship. Check out the websites for all the wonderful stationary designs; or if you are in the market for custom invites, look to Satsuma for design and printing. We're especially eager to see what is offered when the limited edition prints are unveiled. Satsuma has definitely left a great "impression" with PrairieMod!

Photo copyright Satsuma Press

UTRF's New Website

The Unity Temple Restoration Foundation recently launched their new website and if you haven't checked it out yet, you're in for a treat. A bold, well designed look ties together interesting facts about the history of the building, the life and work of Frank Lloyd Wright, multimedia, photos, merchandise and much more! This sleek new website, along with the recent success of the Break The Box series, really helps put the spotlight on the importance of Unity Temple and its cultural significance in the world. Well done!

Image copyright Unity Temple Restoration Foundation

Brad Ascalon Studio NYC on Exhibit at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair

We received word that Brad Ascalon will have a new sofa on exhibit (booth #871) as part of the ICFF Studio Bernhardt Design Exhibition. The name of this piece is the lowrider and I hope to be able to catch a glimpse of it this weekend when I head to NYC.

Our favorite, Amenity Home will also have a booth (#2335) at the show...so be sure to check these fantastic designers out if you're able to.

Image copyright Brad Ascalon Studios

Lake Geneva Public Library

For Mother's Day yesterday, we enjoyed a mild afternoon in Lake Geneva, WI. While we we're cruising the streets of this quaint vacation town, I came across a building that looked like a Frank Lloyd Wright design. I later found out that the Lake Geneva Public Library was designed by a former Wright apprentice, James Dresser.

The structure is constructed of Roman brick and red oak with immense glass areas. It combines beauty and utility, making it both practical and a show piece which blends into its park setting. If you Midwest readers would like to check it out, the library will be on the Wright & Like 2007 tour this June.

After doing a little digging about James Dresser, I found another interesting structure he designed....The Del-Bar near Lake Delton.

Image copyright Wright in Wisconsin

PrairieMod Monday

I recently stumbled across a wonderful little book that encapsulates the essence of the PrairieMod Principle of “Go Green!” It’s called Living Green: A Practical Guide To Simple Sustainability by Greg Horn. For this month’s series of PrairieMod Monday posts exploring the principle of “Go Green,” I’m going to be referring a lot to this great primer on an approachable path to everyday sustainability for everyone.

A New Blog By Toms-Price

After a visit to Toms-Price this weekend to hear Mike Danial talk about Stickley, I discovered that the fine furniture store has recently launched a new weblog. The blog seems to be written by one of the designers on staff at the store and proves to potentially be something worth following. Upon sampling a few of the recent posts on the new blog, I found wonderful insights about interior design through posts like the one titled A Room with a View. There is also a poignant yet positive post reflecting on the tragedy at Virginia Tech from the perspective of an interior designer.

I look forward to seeing this new blog grow and am eager for the continued development of the regular posts about interior design.

Image copyright Toms-Price

Restoring Mies

Edward Lifson has been posting several interesting articles on the state of the restoration effort for Mies van der Rohe's Lake Shore Drive Apartments (860-880 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL.) He's apparently a resident there, so has a vested interest in seeing this work of International Style art brought back to full glory. It was recently announced that the restoration architects chosen for the job are Ron Krueck, Mark Sexton and Gunny Harboe (Interesting side note, Mr. Harboe is also the restoration architect chosen to come up with a plan of action for the Unity Temple in Oak Park.)

Read through Mr. Lifson's interesting and insightful articles to get an insider's view on what's involved in restoring a Chicago landmark.

Photo courtesy of edwardlifson.com

Dard Hunter Studios

The PrairieMod Squad checked out the 2nd Annual Arts and Crafts Chicago Show this afternoon and all we can say is "Wow!"

It was quite an impressive show, with tons of dealers (both antique and contemporary) from all over the country. The show was bigger than last year's inaugural show, with a dealer list that read as a who's-who in the world of Arts and Crafts: Ephraim Pottery, John Toomey Gallery, Century Studio Stained Glass and Craftsman Hardware Company to name just a few.

One notable booth that really caught our attention belonged to Dard Hunter Studios. Dard Hunter III (grandson of the Arts and Crafts era icon, Dard Hunter) has followed in the footsteps of his famous father and grandfather and continues to offer amazing products inspired by the era. Dard Hunter III is especially known for his handmade hardwood frames, which grace some of the best A&C art and ceramic tiles on the market today. The quality and craftsmanship of his products were on full display at the show, with plenty of frames, fine china, mirrors, ceramic tiles, printed material and much more. In short, if you're looking for products that display the iconic embodiment of the Arts and Crafts era, look no farther than Dard Hunter Studios.

If you can't make it to the last day of the Chicago show on Sunday, check out Dard's product website to see the full range of products and to learn a little more about his famous lineage. Enjoy!

Image Copyright Dard Hunter Studios

Another Reason To Come Out To Wright Plus

In case you needed another reason to come out to the Wright Plus house walk next weekend in Oak Park, we've received word that Copeland Furniture will be there showing off a few new chairs from their outstanding line of licensed Frank Lloyd Wright designed furniture. Copeland became the exclusive licensee for Frank Lloyd Wright furniture in 2006 and has introduced a collection that includes pieces designed for the Dana-Thomas, Coonley, Heurtley, Meyer May, and Robie houses, as well as Taliesin and the Oak Park Home and Studio. The two new chairs they are bringing to Wright Plus (A Morris type recliner from the Dana-Thomas house and a curved arm spindle back chair from the Heurtley house/Taliesin) will be on display in the courtyard next to the museum shop. Come check them out next weekend and look for their furniture in select stores and catalogs. See you there!

Photos copyright Copeland Furniture

Reminder: Arts & Crafts Chicago & The Stickley Story Events

This weekend will be a busy one for you Arts & Crafts Movement enthusiasts. Don't miss the 2nd Annual Arts & Crafts Chicago event in River Forest, IL. The show is May 12th and 13th at Concordia University (Geiseman Gym to be exact). You'll be able to see approximately 45 of the top dealers of Arts & Crafts furniture and accessories from across the country.

Also, stop by Toms-Price Wheaton at 2pm on May 12th to hear Mike Danial's presentation on the Stickley story, which is one of commitment to honest craftsmanship and laudable ideals. Mike serves as Stickley’s corporate historian and museum collection restoration expert. If you didn't RSVP, try calling the store at 630-668-7878 to see if there is room left.

A Visit With Edgar Tafel

Our friend, Mark Hertzberg, has recently posted some photos and an article on his visit with Frank Lloyd Wright apprentice, Edgar Tafel, on his blog Wright in Racine. Mr. Tafel, now 95, was one of Wright's earliest apprentices in the Fellowship and shared with Mark some of his collections and recollections. Check out the article and the wonderful photos by following this link. Enjoy!

Photo copyright 2007 Mark Hertzberg

Fuel for Conservation? - Grass May Prove a Better Biofuel

The current issue of Chicago Wilderness Magazine has an interesting letter that was recently written to the publication's editor. The note focuses on information about the possible benefits of using prairie grass as a biofeul. Very intriguing....what could be better for the PrairieMod Lifestyle other than prairie grass biofuel?!

Dear Editor,

We subscribe to Chicago Wilderness Magazine, and eagerly await each issue. We live west of Elgin in Hampshire Township and have set aside a private seven-acre conservation easement surrounding our home. An item in the December 12th Investor’s Business Daily caught our eye:

Univ. of Minnesota researchers report prairie grasses grown on nitrogen-poor land yield 51 percent more energy per acre than ethanol from corn grown on fertile, or nitrogen-rich, land. In addition, they say the process is carbon-negative, meaning the grasses absorb more carbon dioxide than they produce when converted into energy. The excess CO2 is left in the ground, rather than in the air, where it contributes to the greenhouse effect.

We just thought you might be interested. We have a small tallgrass prairie that [conservation organizer] Tom Vanderpoel burns every spring, but the rest of the rural area seems to be disappearing rapidly under asphalt, concrete, and roofs. Wouldn’t it be ironic if the true value of this rich land would be in purposely growing the kind of crop that occurred naturally before corn and soybeans!

Ray & Suzanne Massion
Hampshire, Illinois

Image copyright Prairie Dunes

Chicago Looks Like Calatrava's Kind Of Town

The Chicago City Council approved the plans and gave the go-ahead for Santiago Calatrava's twisting spire of a building today. You can hear a Chicago Public Radio piece on the on-going Spire story and how things are shaping up in the path to getting it built. One big question is how the 2,000 foot tall building is going to be paid for. Check out the story and also check out the official Chicago Spire website--pretty cool. We'll keep you posted on details as they happen.

Photo copyright thechicagospire.com

Belkin Surge Protectors: Conceal, Compact or Clamp-On

I found out about this excellent Belkin product that has been recently released...thanks Serhorn & NotCot!

If you're an electro gadget user like myself and hate all the cables and cords that mess up your well-designed PrairieMod environment, Belkin has three really brilliant power strips/surge protectors. There is the Conceal, the Compact and the Clamp-On.

Innovative, gorgeous and sleek. What more could you ask for?

Image copyright Belkin

Penfield House: Part Deux

A recent article in The Plain Dealer (a Cleavland, Ohio newspaper) revealed that Paul Penfield, owner and restorer of the wonderful Louis Penfield House is taking on a new challenge--building the 2nd house that Frank Lloyd Wright designed for his father. As the article points out, this is a major undertaking--not only from a financial standpoint, but also from the controversy it's sure to stir (could it be seen as a Midwestern Chahroudi/Massaro House?) In contrast to the previously mentioned project, the article states that this venture has the blessing of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation:

The second Penfield house is one of Wright's last residential designs. It's also the only house planned by Wright that could be built on its original site and authenticated by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation in Scottsdale, Ariz., the ultimate arbiter of all things Wright. So said Bruce Pfeiffer, director of the foundation's archives.

Scholars consider the Penfield House a classic Usonian, but Pfeiffer thinks the second would be even better. "It's a more elegant house in every way," he said, speaking by phone from his office at Taliesin West, Wright's home and studio in Scottsdale. "It's a lovely design."

Paul and his wife, Donna are hoping to raise the funds necessary to make the two houses a destination point for Wright aficionados, company meetings, etc. We're eager to see what develops from this interesting idea and given the tremendous care spent by the owners in restoring the original house, we are positive that the 2nd house would be just as lovingly considered. Stay tuned!

Photo copyright Scott Bultman

William Beye Fyfe House in Woodstock, IL

William Beye Fyfe was an architect who studied at Taliesin in the 1930's and was originally from Oak Park, IL. Throughout his life Fyfe remained a dedicated follower of Wright and his Prairie School architectural style. In addition to Prairie style architecture, the concepts of “organic architecture” and man’s union with nature are all themes that he continued to follow throughout his life and work.

The Blue Parrot Patio and Tea Room in Oak Park was designed by Fyfe on behalf of the Taliesin Fellowship, under direct supervision of Wright. He is also well known for his prescient master design of the Calvin College campus in Michigan. Fyfe's other architectural achievements include designing the campus of Rockford College in Rockford, Illinois, and designing a number of public libraries in the Chicago area.

Now, William Beye Fyfe's home in Woodstock, IL is available for sale. For more details, go to www.199lawrence.com.

Image copyright 199lawrence.com

PrairieMod Monday

Last month we explored the PrairieMod Principle of "Think Natural." This principle leads us directly into one of the ultimate step in thinking naturally, which is to consider how every one of our lifestyle choices affects our planet. We live in a time when the pressures of energy consumption are only going to become more pronounced and extreme. With our society held captive by the rising costs of fossil fuels, it is only a matter of time when our current lifestyle choices will no longer be feasible. Gas-guzzling SUVs, over-sized homes with enormous utility bills, and product purchases that waste valuable resources are all choices that are in conflict with a natural way of living. These type of choices are based on instant gratification, vanity or excess. The only way to break this self-destructive cycle is to focus on sustainability in what we build, what we buy and how we think. Thus, this month we'll be exploring why the PrairieMod Principle of "Go Green" must be at the very center of every decision we make.

26th Annual Illinois Statewide Preservation Conference

Chicago Bauhaus & Beyond sent out a newsletter today announcing their sponsorship of the 26th Annual Illinois Statewide Preservation Conference. The event starts June 14th and goes through June 16th in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood and the University of Chicago. Tours will feature the 1893 Worlds Fair site, Gothic Revival campus buildings, and seminal examples of Early Modernism by architects Pond & Pond, Barry Byrne and Frank Lloyd Wright. For attendees interested in the preservation of Mid-Century Modern architecture, a special Recent Past track, including 10 programs, has been coordinated as part of the program.

According to the CBB newsletter, they are participating in two events:

Friday June 15, 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. - Surveying the Recent Past...
Joan Gand will participate in a session, Surveying the Recent Past to share her experience in working with preservation issues in Riverwoods, Friday morning at 10:15 at the conference. We urge you to participate so that you can start preservation efforts in your own communities.

Saturday June 16, 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. - Modernism on the Midway...
A tour of 60th St. buildings along the Midway Plaisance by Ike Colburn, Mies van der Rohe, Eero Saarinen, and Edward Durell Stone.  The tour will be led by Joe Kunkel and is part of the Illinois Statewide Preservation Conference.

If you're interested, early Registration (before May 14th) is $100 for members of Landmarks Illinois, $125 for non-members. Registration (after May 14th) is $150 for members of Landmarks Illinois, $175 for non-members. Just register here.

Image of Eero Saarinen's Laird Bell Law Quadrangle copyright Dan Dry

How Green Is My Apple

Our friends at Inhabitat recently posted on Apple's plan to go "greener." It seems that the iconic brand had an extremely tight-lipped policy about it's sustainability efforts and as such, raised the eyebrows and ire of several groups of people. As stated in the post:

[Steve] Jobs recognized that this policy has left “customers, shareholders, employees and the industry in the dark about Apple’s plans to become greener”. In response, Jobs announced the removal of the bad stuff that can get trapped in our bodies and make us sick.

Apple has subsequently put up a page on their website explaining their position on the sustainability aspect of their business. Hopefully, Steve Jobs has recognized that all the great design in the world won't mean squat if you poison it at the same time. Cruise over to Inhabitat to read the rest of the article and if you are so inclined, contact Apple and let them know that you want your Apple green!

Image copyright Apple

Break The Box: A Look At IDEO

Some of the PrairieMod Squad members had the pleasure to attend the last lecture in the Unity Temple Restoration Foundation's series, Break The Box. What a phenomenal ending to a fantastic series. Fred Dust from the design innovation gurus, IDEO, was on hand to deliver a lecture that explained their company's unconventional, yet principled approach to design. Of course, this instantly caught our attention. 

The PrairieMod Green Clean

Spring is finally upon us and that means it's time to start thinking about Spring cleaning. I've made it my mission to be part of the solution, instead of contributing to the problem, so I've decided to take the small steps toward replacing all my household cleaning products with Green alternatives. Luckily, there are quite a few options out there to choose from, and they work very well at making things sparkle. Tonight, I stopped at Whole Foods and picked up a few new products I thought I'd share with our readers:

• Seventh Generation Automatic Dishwasher Powder Detergent -- non-toxic, no chlorine and no phosphates

• Bio Pac Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tablet -- cleans, deodorizes, biodegradable and chlorine free

I'm going to add them to my stable of new cleaning products and let you all know how they work. My hope is to have both a clean house and a clean conscience as I approach my household chores. Stay tuned and I'll let you know how it goes!

Photo copyright Seventh Generation

Santiago Calatrava Complete Works 1979-2007

For those of you who are fans of Calatrava (I certainly am), Taschen has published his mid-career monograph. You can pick it up for about 125 bones.

The Taschen website has some excellent items that compliment the book like an excerpt from the book and a video interview with Santiago Calatrava himself.

I haven't picked this up yet, but it definitely is a book that we need to add to the PrairieMod library. His organic and kinetic structures are truly breath taking structures.

Image copyright Taschen

WrightPlus 2007 Sold Out!

For the first time in years, the annual WrightPlus house walk tour is sold out! It is most likely due to the fact that a splendidly restored masterpiece, the Heurtly House, is being opened for people to see. If you haven't gotten a ticket and missed the opportunity to see this special house, you can checkout a short video tour of the home via this link.

You can also purchase a fantastic DVD about the recent restoration of the Heurtly House right here.

Well, better luck next year!

Image copyright FLW Preservation Trust

Glasner House Restoration

Newsweek.com has a fascinating set of videos highlighting the restoration effort underway on the William A. Glasner house in Glencoe, Illinois. Once threatened with demolition, this house will soon experience some much needed TLC, thanks to generous new owner, Jack Reed and restoration architect extraordinaire, John Vinci. As stated in the article:

In June 2003, Reed paid $1.5 million for the unusual house, including two octagonal rooms, ornate stained-glass windows and a generous living room with a vaulted ceiling. He expects to spend an additional $2.5 million renovating it. “I was never looking to do this,” Reed says. But he took it on, “knowing that the Glasner House was threatened with destruction, and hearing about it from someone who was important to me.”

We applaud Mr. Reed's stewardship of this home and we look forward to the end result. Read the article and enjoy the videos!

Photos copyright Newsweek.com

What's Cookin' In The Kitchen?

One of our readers sent us a link to a very clever collection of kitchen towels. How many tablespoons are in one cup?  To what temperature should chicken be cooked? How long can you keep milk in the refrigerator?  If you find yourself asking these sorts of questions in the kitchen, then this practically designed towel set is a must have in the Mod Kitchen! Made by Simple Memory Art (or SMart) the towels are part of bright, fun and mentally stimulating set of products offered on their site. Check 'em out and get cookin'!

Photo copyright Simple Memory Art

Image Design Architecture Blog

Image Design is an award winning Organic Residential design firm specializing in timeless sustainable residential design and they have a blog that you "architecture-types" should check out. The photo above is of a kitchen they created for a client.

Image Design creates the designs of yesteryear while presenting a modern interior layout. They believe that most houses built today lack the personality and character of the timeless architecture of the past, such as the Arts & Craft, Prairie, Old World and Cottage Styles.

Here are some recent post on their blog that are worth a read:

Architectural Elements of Michigan

Sneek Peak of the 2007 Energy Fair Show House

Image copyright Image Design, LLC

Break The Box Reminder

Just a reminder that Thursday, May 3rd from 7-9 pm will be the last lecture in the Unity Temple Restoration Foundation's Break The Box series. They are ending on a high note, too -- unconventional space designer, Fred Dust from the design innovation group, IDEO will be on hand to deliver his lecture titled "The Importance of Naps." Sound odd and intriguing? Fred will touch on his theory of radical collaboration, why less time may yield better results, why the architectural norm doesn't always apply and certainly why catching some "Z's" can come in handy.

The cost of the lecture is $15 for UTRF members and $20 for non-members. To RSVP or for more info, call 708-383-8873. See you there!