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Our friends at Wright in Wisconsin sent us exciting news that exterior restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright's American System-Built Home at 2714 West Burnham Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin has begun. You can check-up on the restoration progress each week by reading the newsletters at their website. Follow the link to learn more.
Image copyright Wright in Wisconsin
If you're in the Chicago area (or want to travel here), don't miss this tour of amazing MCM homes in Chicago's Riverwoods suburb. Seats are limited, so get the details here and sign-up here.
Image copyright CBB
Here's a project to be lauded. George Smart Jr. oversees America's largest and most detailed database for modernist homes in Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, NC. Lot's of stuff to explore, so check out the site by following the link.
Photo courtesy of Triangle Modernist Houses
Here's a great photo of Louis Sullivan's Golden Door--well, at least a wall painting of it. This masterpiece of "graffiti" is an interesting representation of the original door from Sullivan's Transportation Building from the 1892 Columbian Exposition. Check it out in more detail here.
Photo copyright Atelier Teee, via Flickr
Cool Hunting featured a European product that trys to circumvent the dork factor of bicycle helmets. I'm not sure it entirely accomplishes what it sets out to do, but I'll give the good folks at Yakkay an "E" for effort.
Image copyright Yakkay
If the usual Holiday Inn stay isn't doing it for you, then check out these hip MCM places to rent on your next trip. You can lounge around in a Schindler, Lautner, Krisel, a Frey or even a Wright. Check out the photos and the (*gulp*) prices by following the link.
Photo courtest of ifitshipitshere.com
August Fields is Amy Butler's brand new home decor collection for Rowan fabrics. Four diverse color stories celebrate the inspiration of gardens and wild fields in "high season." Everything peaks in August! Poetic combinations of elegant natural prints and modern textures make it easy to mix and match designs for your next home decorating or fashion project.
Also new on Amy's site is their new fabric pop-up windows. Now you can set the fabric prints next to each other in true related scale as large repeats to help you design your next project. The "actual" repeat sizes are listed with each print too! Visit the website to learn more.
Image copyright Amy Butler Design
There's been a lot of talk about gas stations this year, what with the Wright one in Cloquet celebrating its golden anniversary. While it will ultimately be great when gas stations are a thing of the past, here's your chance to vote for your favorite modernist station in the mean time. Cast your vote by following the link.
Image copyright oobject.com
It's "Pre-Fab Friday" over at Inhabitat.com, and there's a post called "The Great Pre-Fab Debate." It talks about the efforts of Freegreen to develop affordable pre-fab designs for all to enjoy. Personally, I think the "Great Pre-Fab Debate" should be about...
Couldn't make it to the party celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Frank Lloyd Wright designed gas station in Cloquet, MN? Then check out Paul Ringstrom's flickr.com photo set by following the link.
Image copyright Paul Ringstrom
Lynn Becker wonders what Daniel Burnham, great city planner that he was, would think of the influence he's had on Chicago if he saw it today. Burnham's famous 1909 plan for the city turns 100 next year and much is underway to celebrate it.
One item of note: The Chicago Architectural Club has announced a new competition to design a solution to upgrade Burnham's Union Station as a center for high-speed rail. Check out Lynn's article by following the link.
Image courtesy of the CAC
Mark your calendars: September 13, 2008 is the date for the 6th Annual Restoration Gala for Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple. As always, there will be great food, great drinks and great entertainment courtesy of Orbert Davis, jazz master.
In addition to all of that, this event will be extra special this year because it is the kick-off event for the year-long Centennial Celebration!
Click the image for details or call 708.383.8873 for info and to order your tickets. See you there!
If you are looking for that last summer getaway before school starts, you might want to check out the new condos for rent at Canoe Bay in Chetek, Wisconsin. Designed by SALA Architects, Inc., they are the perfect expression of Prairie design for a modern audience. Check it out by following the link.
Image copyright SALA Architects, Inc.
I just found this great pattern site called PatternHead.
Patternhead supplies patterns that you can digitally download. The patterns repeat on all sides. You can use them to fill backgrounds and shapes in your own designs. All patterns are supplied in both vector and raster formats and all patterns are royalty free. Once you’ve bought a license to use a pattern you can then use it as many times as you like.
Does anyone else have a source for patterns?
Image copyright PatternHead
Frank Lloyd Wright's Unitarian Meeting House located in Madison, Wisconsin is an architectural tour de force. With its new addition, it's also an environmentally aware tour de force as well. Find out more after the jump...
I've been a fan of Agent 18's since last holiday season when I received the Eco Shield for my iPhone. I've been toying around with the idea of getting a MacBook Air and was excited to see the Agent 18 has a new Shield for the "world's thinnest notebook laptop". Get the lowdown via MacWorld.
Image copyright Agent 18
Have you ever dreamed of walking on the balcony of Fallingwater at dusk and gazing back at the house all aglow? Then you will not want to miss this year's Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy Annual Conferrence! Titled "Frank Lloyd Wright and the Roots of Sustainability", it promises to be an event not to be missed. Check out the details after the jump...
Continue reading "2008 FLW Building Conservancy Conference" »
How do you sell a relatively small home with odd-shaped beds, small bedrooms, narrow hallways and a very restrictive conservation easement...all at a $1.5 million dollar asking price? Check out this article to find out how one realtor plans to do it.
Photo copyright Robert Ramey
Check out this article on CNN about a fruit called Jatropha that could be another fuel alternative.
Jatropha means "doctor food." It originated in South America, where it was once used for medicinal purposes. When pressed, its seed oil can be used as fuel in any standard diesel engine with zero processing, experts say.
Image and text copyright CNN
I love these bracelets from Tivi, available through feelmorehuman.com. I'm a sucker for silkscreened products.
Tivi designs reflect a mixture of hard and soft, tough and elegant, wood and steel, art and function.
Image copyright Feel More Human
I remember my first college dorm room, 4 white concrete walls and a cold floor. Not a inspirational place to live and learn. Today, college students have so many more options. For example, Flor has lots of floor covering options for under $200. I love the Stampede tiles pictured. Head on over and check it out, even if you're out of college like me.
Image copy right Flor
The Mid-Century Modernist receives regular posts from people to their Flickr photo pool. The most recent uploads by m.bibelot feature some gorgeously warm images that are a tasty little afternoon treat.
See all of them here.
Image copyright m.bibelot
Ever wonder where the "Wright" house that appears in the Alfred Hitchcock movie "North by Northwest" is located at? According to a great Jetsetmodern.com article, it exists only as movie magic! Check out the article and the history behind this famous fictional house by following the link.
Image copyright MGM, Turner Entertainment and Warner Bros.
Treehugger.com has a sneak peek of eco-designer Ryan Frank's new design for a funky/cool stool made from compressed straw and covered in wool felt. It's an alternative way to create furniture that does not use hardwood. Check it out by following the link.
Image copyright Ryan Frank
If you're a fan of the PBS show "Antiques Roadshow" then you've probably seen appraiser David Rago in action. He's an expert in the Arts and Crafts movement and the pieces in his auctions regularly go for big bucks. Check out this recent article where he runs down the best Arts and Crafts Collections you can visit.
Image copyright ragoarts.com
Love them or hate them, the Suburbs have played an important role in defining American culture. However, with the increasing challenges posed by the energy and environmental crisis, what is the future of our often sprawling suburbs? Check out this recent "Freakonomics Quorum" from the New York Times...it's bound to get you thinking about what the future holds.
Photo copyright Peter Katz
Did you ever think a prefab house would be made out of styrofoam?
Well a Japaneese manufacture has been using the material to make the Dome House, an easy to assemble modular kit home. Check out this article for more about the Dome House.
Image copyright Erika Snyder
According to a recent Treehugger.com article, small house designs just aren't worth it for most architects. This means most Americans live in a house with shoddy design, cooked up by a developer or builder concerned more about profit than principle. So how do we get good design in reach of average people and make it a financially beneficial model for architects? Read the article to learn more.
Image courtesy of Treehugger.com
I stumbled upon an interesting cross-pollination of inspirations. Memories of Fallingwater helped fuel the creative juices behind the "Form and Function" of this quilted runner. Check out more by following the link.
Photo copyright Victoria Gertenbach
With more young people getting into the mix of politics, there's more of a hip flavor in the design of political t-shirts. The two Obama shirts at left were done by local designer, Adam Frint and reflect the spirit of unity and change embodied in the campaign. Young Republican voters can show their support by ordering their "McCain is my Homeboy" t-shirt. Finally, if none of the candidates float your boat, you can always sport the "Vote Robot Nixon" t-shirt. Who knows, maybe he could take it all come November!
Obama designs copyright Adam Frint
McCain design copyright pimpyourshirts.com
Robot Nixon shirt copyright Strk3
PrairieMod Squad member (and my dear wife) Lisa, shared this with us last week and we all had a good chuckle around the office. Since Eric posted news about Lincoln Logs this morning and the LEGO Utopia last week, I just had to share this....keeping track of your time with LEGOS!
Image copyright Michael Hunger
Our friend Martrese tipped us on a great resource, WalkScore.com. This site allows you to put your address in and find out how walkable your neighborhood is. Your score is rated on what amenities are in reasonable walking distance. Check it out and let us know what you scored.
Image copyright Walk Score
There were Lincoln Logs! Hugely popular since they were designed by John Lloyd Wright in 1916, they've been a mainstay of budding architects everywhere. I remember playing with a huge set of these when I was a kid and absolutely loving it! Now you can order the Nostalgia Set that comes with retro packaging and all wood pieces. Check it out by following the link and get building!
Photo copyright Houseplans.com
The Westcott House's Friends of FLW group is sponsoring a lecture on August 13, 2008 from 12-12:45pm in the Westcott House Living Room.
The Man Without a Century: FLW and the Development of Modern Architecture, by Mark Chepp. Although Wright is looked upon as America's greatest architect, there is little agreement regarding the foundations of his inspiration, his impact upon his contemporaries, or the extent of his legacy. While this lecture will answer none of the above, it will attempt to provide a framework within which to continue the dialog.
Friends of FLW is a gathering place for FLW fans. Share info and thoughts on design, architecture, gardening, living green...all things Wright! You can sign-up here.
There's been some recent talk in Wright-related circles about the very real possibility of the Dana-Thomas House in Springfield, Illinois closing as a public site...
Apparently, the new status-driven activity is to commission a high profile photographer to take architectural photos of your house. You can then proudly display the images above the fireplace.
Read about it by following the link.
Announcing our August 2008 give-a-way...
House Industries, the creators of ultra-hip fonts and products, has given us some of their fantastic stuff to give to you. This month you have an even better chance of winning because there are three prizes!
One winner will win the Alexander Girard Blocks, another will win the Studio Lettering Book and another will receive the House Ten Year Book. We will choose three winners August 31st, 2008.
Only subscribers of the Living PrairieMod weekly newsletter are eligible, so sign-up today & look for instructions in next week's issue. Good luck and thank you for reading!
Images courtesy House Industries
Check out this article on CNN about a new "Air Car" that can get 106 mpg.
The Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust recently launched their new website: ShopWright.org. The site has a nice clean look and is easy to navigate. Best of all, every purchase you make helps support their restoration efforts and education programs. Check out the site here and help support a great cause!
Image copyright the FLW Preservation Trust
Interested in finding out about how Frank Lloyd Wright's ideas inspired the "Not So Big House" philosophy of Sarah Susanka? Then you won't want to miss the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust’s inaugural At Home Series. Read all the details after the jump...
6,790,892 lbs. of CO2 reduced; 329,043,240 calories burned; $1,540,202 in gas money saved...all from 21,186 participants. These stats are from Trek's Go By Bike Challenge.
To find out more about how Trek is using the bike as a simple solution to many complex problems, visit 1World2Wheels.org. Also, they have a sweet new TV spot here.
Image copyright Trek
Check out these photos from the book Decorating Ideas For Every Room in Your Home from the 1970s.
via retroCRUSH.com
PrairieMod reader, Eric from the Twin Cities, sent us a link to a blog about a very interesting architect's work that we hadn't heard of before.
Carl Graffunder's work in mostly found in Minnesota and the Carl Graffunder blog is dedicated to finding and documenting the structures he designed during his career.
Image from the Carl Graffunder blog
2009 is shaping up to be a big year for Frank Lloyd Wright milestones. The Unity Temple is going to celebrate the Centennial of its official dedication, it's the 100th anniversary of the closing of Wright's Oak Park Studio, it's the 50th anniversary of the Guggenheim Museum in New York and also the 50th anniversary of Wright's passing. There will be lots of exhibits, books, merchandise and various celebrations surrounding all of these events so stay tuned for news here on PrairieMod as it we learn of it. If anyone has any specific information they'd like to send to us in regards to any of these events, please share!
Logo courtesy of the Unity Temple Restoration Foundation
I.D. Magazine has an interview with Phaidon Press publisher Richard Schlagman about their new Le Corbusier Le Grand book. The book was released Aug. 4 for $200.
Image Copyright Phaidon Press
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