PrairieMod

If Saul Bass Used The Force

Saul Bass used his design genius to create several iconic movie posters and opening title sequences. But what if he had worked on the original Star Wars? One fan decided to find out by designing his own homage. See it here.

Image via notcot.com

The Vienna Way

The good people at Marmol Radziner are digging through the past to create a new line of furniture called Vienna Way, which recalls built-ins and freestanding furniture by 20th century Viennese American architects R. M. Schindler and Richard Neutra. Read more about it here.

Image via Marmol Radziner

The Failure Of Urban Utopias

The Frank Lloyd Wright Newsblog posted a link to an interesting list of "13 Failed Urban Design Ideas", which included the often maligned "Broadacre City" concept by Frank Lloyd Wright (and something called "Boozetown"). Read more about it here.

Image via Web Urbanist

The Man Who Saved Mackintosh

Gallery owner Roger Billcliffe has spent the last 30 years of his life saving the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Glasgow, Scotland's design genius, from fire, rats and the town's own people. Read more here.

Iamge via Herald Scotland

Japanese Prints Back At Martin House

Six Japanese prints, chosen by Frank Lloyd Wright specifically for the Darwin D. Martin family, have been donated to the Martin House Restoration Corp. by grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other relatives of the Martin's. Read about it here.

Image via Martin House website

Walser, Walser Everywhere

PrairieMod reader, Debbie B., sent us a head's up about another J.J. Walser House art glass sighting—this time in an Urban Remains newsletter. Other high-profile Wright architectural items are and have been offered by the salvage company. Until these items are not treated as trophies and instead as integral parts of the buildings they belong to, this issue will persist. More here.

Image via Urban Remains website

Saving La Miniatura Block-By-Block

Move Frank Lloyd Wright's Alice Millard House to Japan? Over blogger Larry Wilson's dead body. Read here about how the threat of moving the famed block house is likely just a PR stunt.

Image via Wikipedia

Modern Squared

The new Osborne-Scekic house in Racine, Wisconsin stands out amongst its century-old neighbors, not only for its cubist design, but also for being extrememly "green". Read about it here and check out some photos by Wright in Racine's Mark Hertzberg as well.

Image copyright Mark Hertzberg

Prairie-Usonian Home in Birmingham, Alabama

My buddy David D. sent an article about this home and the owners, plus a photo gallery with about 25 pics. 

It is worth checking out. For real.

"Even at the start, Anne Davis and Cris Picard followed a major Frank Lloyd Wright principle. They placed the house -- not on the apex of the hill -- but a little lower, tucked into a slope that is covered with switch grass."

"Their home combines the early Prairie and Usonian style."

Images The Birmingham News

Rescuing A Landmark

Here's a link to a fantastic article with beautiful photos of the newley restored Turkel House in Detroit, MI. The current owners have done a tremendous job saving this important Usonian Automatic design by Frank Lloyd Wright. Read and see more here.

Iamge via hourdetroit.com

Millard House Moving To Japan?

Not sure if this story should be labeled fearsome or farscical, but according to the LA Times, Crosby Doe, the veteran Los Angeles real estate agent, says after slashing the listing price of Frank Lloyd Wright's Millard House in Pasadena, CA over the last two years and not finding a buyer, Doe says he's talking to an international art dealer with Japanese art-collector clients who might be interested in buying the house and moving it to Japan. Read this bizarre story here.

Image via Millard House sales website

Hotel Lautner Update

Received a note yesterday from Tracy Beckmann at Hotel Lautner. Sadly, the opening date for this restored architectural gem has been pushed back to sometime in 2011. Check out the website after the jump.

Image copyright Hotel Lautner

Check Into This Hotel Celebration

Here's a link to an article about the upcoming centennial celebration for Frank Lloyd Wright's historic Park Inn Hotel in Mason City, IA, which originally opened on Sept. 10, 1910. Read more here.

Image via globegazette.com

House's New Prints

The type gurus at House Industries recently announced the release of some new silk screened prints on paper and plywood, featuring sweet "Mod" typographical designs. Check them out here.

Image copyright House Industries

Chicago's Best Kept Music Secret

Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple is not only one of the most important works of modern Architecture, it's also one of the best spaces to hear music in. Here's a link to an article about the relatively unknown Unity Temple Concert Series. Read it here.

Image via Unity Temple Concert Series

If You're Looking For Shark's Teeth Or Wright Windows...

The belongings of avid Kalamazoo, MI art collector, John Marquis, including taxidermy sharks and a pair of Frank Lloyd Wright stained glass windows, will be sold at an estate sale in Plainwell this weekend. Not sure where the windows are from, but they are valued at $40,000. Read more here.

Introducing Arrowroot

ODO (Organic Design Operatives) recently announced the launch of their Arrowroot Collection of furniture and home decor. Inspired by nature and the American Prairie School of design, this unique collection of home furnishings goes beyond the typical historical reproductions of the classics. Each piece is an original design created by ODO using the same organic design principles pioneered by Prairie School masters like Frank Lloyd Wright, Purcell & Elmslie and George Mann Niedecken. Check out the entire collection here.

Image copyright ODO

A Look At Walser

After running the post yesterday about the eBay sale of art glass from the woeful J.J. Walser, Jr. House, PrairieMod reader, John C., was kind enough to share some photos of the home. More after the jump...

Stay of Execution?

The clock is ticking down for the John Lautner-designed Shusett House in Beverly Hills, CA. But preservationists are working hard to find an 11th-hour solution to try and save it. Curbed LA has an update to the last-ditch effort to save Shusett by potentially moving it to a new site. Read it here.

Image via Curbed LA

Tour of Beth Sholom Synagogue

Beth Sholom Synagogue is a structure I passed countless times growing up in Northeast Philadelphia. On a recent trip home, I scheduled a tour of this breathtaking and historic synagogue and took some photos. Not only is the building itself a marvel, but the visitors' center contains many original correspondence between Frank Lloyd Wright and Rabbi Mortimer J. Cohen; there's a great interactive feature that allows viewers to see this translucent building from inside and out at various times of day and year. Also, the moving 20-minute film (narrated by Leonard Nimoy) actually left me a little verklempt. My tour guide, who has been a member of the congregation for 35 years, is proof that worshipers take great pride in their synagogue and appreciate its architectural and spiritual significance.

PrairieMod Feature: CONNECT :: A New Look At Mr. Wright's Towering Masterpiece

Now in the Features section - an interview with author, photographer and blogger, Mark Hertzberg, about his new book Frank Lloyd Wright's SC Johnson Research Tower.

To stay on top of new PrairieMod features as they roll out, subscribe here. 

Image copyright Mark Hertzberg

Florida Southern College Floods

Frank Lloyd Wright's Florida Southern College was inundated last Sunday by heavy rain, flooding the performing arts center. Read more about it here.

Image via abc action news website

Walser's Woes

The J.J. Walser, Jr. House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1903 has had a rough life. Built on the West side of Chicago near to Oak Park and River Forest, the Prairie Style home (and its neighborhood) has not fared as well. Originally stripped of most of its art glass decades ago, some examples have recently turned up on eBay. Its another example of architectural speculators trying to make a buck off of an unfortunate situation. It would be great if the home could some day be restored and its glass returned to where it belongs. See the listings here and here.

Image via eBay

Suntop For Sale

We previously had posted on the opportunity to rent one of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Suntop Homes in south eastern Pennsylvania. We recently ran across a post on the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy's "Wright Chat" by user "jhealy" that one of the units is now for sale. Check out the details here.

Image via Long & Foster Companies

Losing A Lautner

The LA Times reports that one of John Lautner's earliest commissions, the 1951 Shusett House in Beverly Hills, CA, is on a final countdown to destruction to make way for a larger house. Read this disturbing developing story here.

All In The Family

The Washington Post recently ran an article with a photo slide show looking at the home that Frank Lloyd Wright designed for his son, Llewellyn, in Bethesda, MD. Now, Llewellyn's son and his wife live there, continuing the family legacy. Read it here.

Image copyright Katherine Frey

Chicago's Top 40

Chicago Magazine ran an interesting list of the top 40 artistic breakthroughs the "Second City" proudly claims. Read it here. Thanks to Kevin B. for sending the link.

More On Larkin's Demise

Thanks to PMod reader, Kevin B., for sending a link following-up on a previous post about losing the iconic Larkin Administration Building in Buffalo, NY. Here's the next installment from buffalorising.com about the ill-fated company and its amazing building that you can read here.

Image via buffalorising.com

Well Hello, Dolly!

The Mad Men Barbie dolls would feel right at home in this modern doll house designed by architect Tim Boyle. It has solar panels that power LED lights throughout the building and the construction uses non-toxic and lead-free stains and paints. A furniture kit will follow in fall 2010.

Check it out after the jump.

Via Unica Home.

Unity Temple Needs A Break!

Someone really has it out for Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple in Oak Park, IL. Three of the copper letters that make up the famous statement above the entrance to the building have been stolen. The theft took place between July 22 and July 27 and the letters were valued at $5,200. Unity Temple, which desperately requires a multi-million dollar restoration, doesn't need to have insult added to injury with these acts of cowardly vandalism. Read the local police blotter about the crime here. Please, be part of the solution and show your support for Wright's masterpiece by being a part of the effort to save it! Follow the link to help.

Image via www.appraisercitywide.com

Bridge To Receive Some TLC

Blair Kamin reports on his Cityscapes blog that the Art Deco era Ashland Avenue bridge in Chicago will be receiving some much needed repair and maintenance by the city. Read about it here.

Image via Blair Kamin/Cityscapes

Palm Springs' Founding Family

Here's a link to an interesting article on the history of the McCallum Family, which was instrumental in founding Palm Springs (which ultimately grew to become the Mecca of desert Modernism). Read it here.

In Memoriam: Herbert B. Turner

The Del Mar Times reports that artist and builder Herbert B. Turner died this week. Inspired by hearing a talk by Frank Lloyd Wright, Turner came to Del Mar to seek an apprenticeship with Frank's son, John Lloyd Wright, who was also an architect. Read more about Mr. Turner's life and work here.

Image copyright Gina McGalliard

Taliesin Day-By-Day

Celebrate the Taliesin's 100th Birthday by ordering this exclusive 2011 calendar. Dedicated to the Centennial Anniversary of Taliesin, this beautiful calendar is a must-have, with all proceeds supporting the preservation and operation programs of Taliesin Preservation, Inc. Get yours here.

Image via Taliesin Preservation, Inc.

Sign-Up Soon

If you're planning on going to this year's Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy Annual Conference in Cincinnati, OH then make sure you register by Monday, August 23rd! Follow the link for info.

Image via savewright.org

Wright At Auction

Antiques and Arts Online reports that two Wright-related lots at the June 23, 2010 Bonhams auction saw much interest and sold for hefty sums. An archive relating to the Hartford, Conn., "New Theatre" project, including a number of letters between Wright and actor/director Paton Price, brought $27,450. Additionally, a group of 13 original blueprints from Wright's "Fallingwater" project more than doubled its estimate of $4/6,000, realizing a final price of $12,200. Hopefully they went to a place where they can be accessed by scholars and the public. Read more about it here.

Image via Bonham's/Antiques and Arts Online

The House: Drawings For Residential Architecture

The Chicago based ArchiTech Gallery has assembled dozens of historical works for their upcoming exhibition which will include such works as 18th Century villas, Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie houses, a Rodin House drawing (shown here) by Bruce Goff and more. "The House: Drawings for Residential Architecture" opens the Fall season on September 10th and continues to December 25th, 2010. Look for details at the ArchiTech Gallery website.

Image courtesy of ArchiTech Gallery

Read All About It

I received the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy's new, color magazine in the mail yesterday. It's chock full of interesting information about the UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination for a collection of 10 important Wright buildings. Get your copy (and future copies) by becoming a member of the FLWBC here.

Cover image copyright Mark Hertzberg

Wright On The Park Centennial Celebration

Kevin B. was kind enough to forward on a link to an exciting series of events happening this September in Mason City, IA celebrating the centennial of the opening of Frank Lloyd Wright's Park Inn Hotel and the upcoming grand re-opening of this important architectural icon. Get all the details here.

Image via wrightonthepark.org

New Guggenheim DVD Documentary

Thanks to PrairieMod reader, Randy H., for the tip that a new DVD documentary on the Guggenheim Museum is now available. As Randy states: "it’s basically a casual, sometimes light, but for sure extremely informative and enjoyable narrative by Wright scholar Neil Levine with some incredible graphic effects throughout. Extremely well done, IMHO." Check out details on the standard edition here and a special edition here.

Image via Amazon.com

Eat And Drink In The Architecture

Chicago loves its food and its architecture. Why not mix the two? That's the goal behind Executive Chef Dirk Flanigan's newest restaurant, Henri, which is set to open in the landmark 18 South Michigan Ave. building designed by Louis Henri Sullivan (thus the name). Read more about it here and here.

Image via Henri website

Finalists Announced In Arch Competition

St. Louis Today.com reveals the story and the designs of the five competition finalists' visions for reshaping the grounds around the iconic St. Louis Arch. One of the finalists is Chicago's own Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Read and see it all here.

Image copyright Christian Gooden

The Inside Track On Inland Steel

The Chicago Architecture Foundation is offering a new tour of the Inland Steel Building, the first skyscraper built within the Chicago Loop after World War II. Explore the exterior and interior of this iconic 1958 modern masterpiece by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and learn the stories of who commissioned the building, who designed it, and why it has attained such fame as a classic example of mid-century modernism. Get the details here.

Image via Wikipedia

When Raleigh Was The Center Of The Design Universe

The amazing story of how North Carolina State University became a hot spot in the modern design movement is represented through a selection of furniture, textiles, ceramics and other objects in a new exhibition at the university's Gregg Museum. More details here.

Bank On This Being Cool

PrairieMod reader, Karl K., dropped us a line to say that he came across an interesting opportunity for architecture lovers in Gainesville, Florida. Apparently, there is a bank drive-in facility that's been replaced by a building-side window.  It's now available for rent along with adjacent parking and landscaping on a corner, in-town site. The design is solidly Organic in nature and some industrious person could make a killer walk-up or drive-in business. Thanks Karl! If anyone's interested in finding out more details, call the phone number pictured in the photo.

Image copyright Karl K.

A Day That Will Live In Infamy

Yesterday marked the grim anniversary of the gruesome murders that took place August 15, 1914 at Taliesin in Spring Green, Wisconsin. Read a little of the history here.

Image via chicagohistoryjournal.com

Meeting Mr. Wright

Here's a link to an article about Firoz Mistry, a former Taliesin apprentice who, in 1957, traveled halfway around the world in from India to work with Frank Lloyd Wright. Read all about it here.

Image copyright Travis Spradlin

New Book Alert!

Mark Hertzberg posted on his blog, Wright in Racine, that his new book Frank Lloyd Wright's SC Johnson Research Tower is starting to ship from the publisher to stores. Check out the details here and watch for a feature interview on PrairieMod with Mark next week!

Image via Pomegranate

See Seth's Cottage

Thanks to PMod reader, Steven S. for sending us a link to some fantastic photos of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Seth Peterson Cottage. See the photos here and if you're interested in renting the cottage for a stay, click here.

Image via boutique-homes.com

Walk Minneapolis

PrairieMod reader Jeffrey R. sent us the head's-up that Preserve Minneapolis is offering a walking tour of John Jager's Red Cedar Lane and the Purcell & Elmslie Homes on August 28, 2010. Get all the details here.

Image via Preserve Minneapolis website