PrairieMod reader Paul R. gave us the scoop on a cool event this weekend we thought we'd share with you all. The Wilmette Historical Museum is hosting a walking tour of Prairie School architecture in Wilmette from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. July 12. The tour is free to museum members and costs $5 for non-members. Pre-paid reservations are required. Call (847) 853-7666 or follow the link for info. Thanks Paul!
Image copyright Rick McNees
The New York Times featured the new glass viewing boxes at the Sears Tower as part of an article discussing the new ways in which architects and engineers are using the transparent material. Read it here.
Wooden pallets and plastic zipties seem unlikely candidates as building materials. But, as this post on the blog dinosaursandrobots.com attests to, sometimes genius comes in the unlikeliest form. See this pallet paradise come to life here.
Image via dinosaursandrobots.com
Edward Cella Art + Architecture announced its debut architectural exhibition: Drawings and
Objects by Architects which will feature drawings by many
of the 20th Century's most iconic architects (including Frank Lloyd Wright.) The exhibition will also
include studies for the Empire
State Building and the World Trade Center. Read more about it here.
Image via Dexigner.com
MocoLoco gives us a peek at Architect Franklin Azzi's "Shelter House" in its realized form. As described on the website, Shelter House is
"a sustainable design for a house in Normandy in Yport, where the
structure is entirely made of wood, with water recuperation and solar
panels for all domestic needs. The external skin will be made of a
fabric, it's a convertible house." Check out more photos here.
Image via MocoLoco
Here's an article discussing the history of one of Geneva, Illinois' more colorful residents, Colonel George Fabyan. Secret codes, monkeys, mummys, and Frank Lloyd Wright architecture...this story has it all! Read about it here and visit the Fabyan Villa the next time you're in the Fox River Valley area.
The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed William Ross House in Glencoe, IL has been reduced in price to $470K. It needs TLC, but could be the chance of a lifetime to own Wright in a beautiful neighborhood. find out more here.
Image courtesy of Baird & Warner
Author, architect and architecture critic for the San Jose Mercury News, Alan Hess, will be giving a talk on Sunset Magazine and the California Ranch House July 9, 2009 at 7 pm at the Museum of American Heritage (351 Homer Avenue, Palo Alto, CA). Follow the link to learn more.
Image via Amazon.com
Taschen, publishers of several beautifully designed books on art, architecture and design, are getting ready to release a set of 25th anniversary books on such architectural subjects as Aalto, Case Study Houses, Saarinen, Neutra, etc. for the thrifty price of $14.99! Check the list out here.
Image via Taschen
Even though the recession has hit big building projects hard, there's news today of the plans to build a new 19-story glass complex at the corner of Lake Street and Forest Avenue in downtown Oak Park. The design by Chicago firm Epstein will have condos, a hotel and much needed parking--but does it radically alter the face of this tree-lined little village. Read this article and this article to find out more.
Image copyright Epstein
PrairieMod reader, Paul R. sent us a really interesting article from a blog called buildllc.com. In the article, the myths and misconceptions of pre-fab designs are laid bare, resulting in their proclamation that the pre-fab home movement is dead. Read about it here and let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
Image via buildllc
Apparently the Sears Tower in Chicago will be undergoing a green makeover including: solar panels to heat the buildings water, wind turbines and green roofs on the towers various levels, as well as replacing 16,000 windows and metal panels to save heating energy.
One of my favorite changes will be transforming the granite plaza that surrounds the tower with green space, new retail, and permeable pavement. Read more about renaming the Sears Tower here.
Slightly too modern for our place, but an interesting twist if you're convinced that the birds in your neighborhood share the same great taste in modern design as you do! We've got a nice group of yellow finches visiting our garden pretty regularly, and I'm sure they would love this upgrade.
This bird feeder has an incredibly clean design with only 8 parts that slide and lock together, no fasteners or tools required. Great design.
Image copyright The
Architect’s Birdfeeder
One of the things I love to do is look at logo designs. This especially holds true in the world of Wright-related logos. With three significant FLW building celebrations upon us—Guggenheim 50th, Unity Temple 100th and Robie House 100th—I thought it would be fun to post the different logos associated with these milestones. BTW: Prairie Design Group (parent company to PrairieMod) designed the Unity Temple 100 logo, which just goes to show how much we love logos! Got any architecture logos you'd like to share? Send them to us and we'll share them with everyone.
Images via Guggenheim Museum website, UTRF blog and Wright Plus 2009 event program
LEGO builder, Adam Reed Tucker will have several of his building block architectural works on display starting today at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Read more about it at Blair Kamin's blog.
Image copyright Blair Kamin
The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Robie House in Chicago, IL is getting ready to celebrate its centennial and the completion of a multi-million dollar restoration. A recent Wednesday Journal article reports on several of the new Robie-related programs the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust will be offering. Read about it here.
Images via The Wednesday Journal
Lloyd Wright (Frank's son) had some pretty big shoes to fill when he decided to become an architect. Though papa's shadow was long, Lloyd became pretty adept at designing and building some real gems. One in particular that is now up for sale is the 1948 Usonian-style Dorland house in Altadena, CA. Check out the "For Sale" website here, which is loaded with drool-worthy photos.
Image copyright Erik Grammer
Even though this blog promotes itself as a place for "Ugly House Photos," they recently featured several interior and exterior shots of the recently sold (and beautiful) David Wright House in Phoenix, AZ. See them here.
Image via ugly house photos.com
Seems the idea of resurrecting unbuilt Frank Lloyd Wright designs is experiencing a recent renaissance. First the Massaro House, next the Buffalo Boathouse and refilling station, next news of a new Florida Southern College design and now Hammond, Indiana officals are looking to implement shades of Wright's Wolf Lake project of 1895. Read about it here.
Image © THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH | J. Willard Marriott Library
The Philips House, a very special and fully restored Mid-Century Modern design in Austin, Texas has a very unique claim to fame: It was designed by Texas' first African American architect, John S. Chase Jr. Read all about it here.
I'm looking forward to seeing the many iterations of the Guggenheim that never came to pass during my visit to NYC in August. In the meantime, this New York Times article and the accompanying slide show prove to be a titillating preview.
Photo: The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation
Eric Hughes of Image Design, LLC thought PrairieMod readers might be interested in coming to the 2009 Michigan Energy Fair this weekend June 26th-28th in Onekama, Michigan. There will be a tour of the 2009 Michigan Energy Fair Show Home (which his firm designed) and is a projected LEED for Homes "Gold" project. Check out more about it here.
Image copyright Image Design, LLC
Well, I don't speak French–but I can pick-up on the "International Language" of Organic Design. PrairieMod reader Eric S. sent me a link to an architectural firm working in France that has apparently taken up the cause of "Living Architecture." See more here.
Image copyright Art Trait Design
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is urging everyone to urge their Congressperson to vote for the American Clean Energy and Security Act. Why? Because..."this bill includes the Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance Program (REEP), which would provide financial incentives in the form of state block grants to help owners of homes and businesses save money on energy upgrades, including weatherization or window repair. And, it would provide additional incentives for owners of older and historic properties to make these upgrades in keeping with the historic character of our homes, buildings, and neighborhoods." Follow the link, find out more and pass it on!
Image via The National Trust for Historic Preservation
Have you always dreamed of having your very own little Main Street, USA? Well, now you can cut and assemble one, thanks to the folks at the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. I'm particularly partial to the model of the First National Bank of Dwight, IL designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1906. See the models and download PDFs here.
Image via Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
I had the chance to walk through an absolute gem of a Prairie School home in Oak Park, IL last Sunday: The Mrs. Charles Yerkes House, designed and built by John S. Van Bergen in 1912. It has been immaculately restored and was recently featured in the book Prairie Metropolis by Patrick Cannon. I had the chance to see this home because it was recently put on the market. If you've always wanted to live "Prairie" then this home is well worth a look. Check out more photos and the listing here. To find out more information, contact Catherine Deam at cathdeam@gloor.com.
Images via Gloor Realty
You betcha! Iowa holds some really amazing and important architecture wonders from such greats as Louis Sullivan, Walter Burley Griffin and Frank Lloyd Wright. Find out more about taking a special tour of these gems after the jump...
Continue reading "See The Architectural Treasures of...Iowa?" »
Want to experience Usonian bliss? Now you can by renting the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Palmer House in Ann Arbor, MI. Find out how by following the link.
Image via Home Away.com
What a moving experience it must have been to hear Henry Brant's “Orbits” for 80 trombones, soprano and organ in the rotunda of the Guggenheim! Read about it here.
Image copyright Robert Stolarik for The New York Times
Interested in how the Bauhaus legacy of Walter Gropius and the city of Chicago are intertwined? Then you won't want to miss the next Chicago Architecture Foundation Eric R. Multhauf Lunchtime Lecture. More info after the jump...
Continue reading "Walter Gropius in Chicago: The Forgotten Legacy" »
The rebuilding of Baghdad continues and one of the places to be rebuilt is a place called Baghdad Island. Originally built in the 1980s and patterned after Frank Lloyd Wright's designs, the site was a popular destination for weddings and other celebrations before it was destroyed in the invasion. I had no idea something was actually built in Iraq (loosely) based on Wright's design! If anyone has any more info about this, please let us know! Read more here.
AP Photo copyright Karim Kadim
Check out this slideshow of Sunset's Modern Cottage demonstration house that's all about creating an affordable eco-friendly living space.
Image copyright Sunset
Saturday was the 10th annual meeting of the Walter Burley Griffin Society of America in the idyllic suburb of Kenilworth, Illinois. PrairieMod reader, Paul R. sent us some of his photos for everyone to enjoy. See them and read more about the event after the jump...
We recently received a press release discussing the launch of The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Forum, a new series of moderated online discussions among experts from a variety of fields that will occur in conjunction with major museum exhibitions. Read all about it after the jump...
June K. from Avant Gardens emailed us about this eco-friendly development in Northwest Indiana. The project consists of twenty 1.5 acre home sites with part of the development being a 30-acre restored native prairie. The architecture for the homes is decidedly modern. Visit the website or download the brochure.
The blog Curbed LA (along with everyone else) jumped on the Ennis House-for-sale story this morning, but also added some circa-1924 construction photos of the "Textile Block" residence courtesy of the Ennis House Foundation. Check them out here.
Image via Ennis House Foundation
Mark Hertzberg sent us another update for his blog, Wright in Racine, but this time it's about Wright in Milwaukee! Check out new slide shows exhibiting the wonderful restoration work on one of Wright's earliest prefab housing designs: an American System-Built house on Burnham Street. See it all here.
Image copyright Mark Hertzberg
If so, you could be the next owner of the famed Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Ennis House in Los Angeles, CA. Stabilized and restored after almost falling down the hill it is perched upon after earthquake and rain damage, the house is ready to be sold to a private (and very rich) owner. Follow the link to read all the details.
Images via The Ennis House Foundation
Heads up! The 10th Annual meeting of the Walter Burley Griffin Society of America will happen this Saturday, 20 June, in Chicago’s north-shore suburb
of Kenilworth at 410 Kenilworth Avenue
at Richmond Road. Follow the link for more details, but don't wait--tickets are selling fast for the afternoon house tours. See you there!
Image copyright WBGSoA
The other architectural hot-spot in Lakeland, FL--Florida Southern College--has some interesting news to report. $1 million dollars has been approved towards the building of a new Frank Lloyd Wright-designed visitor's center for the campus. This would up the amount of Wright-designed buildings present at the college, which is the single largest collection in one spot in the world. Read about it here.
Image copyright FSC
Here's a link to an article in The Arizona Republic that discusses how difficult it is to pin down the elusive Frank Lloyd Wright--even by his own family members. Read it here.
A new organization has formed called "Wright in Kankakee" that is seeking to acquire, restore and preserve the B. Harley Bradley House &
Stable and the Warren Hickox House, located next to each other in Kankakee, Illinois. One goal is to open the Bradley House to the public as a museum ASAP, since it has already been meticulously restored. The Bradley House was also recently placed on the National Register of Historic Places, as well. Get more info and see additional photos here.
Image via Wright in Kankakee
Mark Hertzberg's fantastic blog, Wright in Racine, has recently posted a series of slide shows featuring photos of the first and second Jacobs Houses and the Pew House from this year's Wright & Like Madison, WI tour. Plus, there's a peek at the Frank Lloyd Wright birthday celebration at Taliesin, Spring Green. See it all here.
Image copyright Mark Hertzberg
Stephen R. posted a link on the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy forum to a really exciting film project called "Coast Modern" exploring the rise, fall and rebirth of Architecture on the west coast. Read more after the jump...
Lakeland, Florida will soon become an even bigger architectural Mecca. Why? The University of South Florida has chosen "starchitect" Santiago Calatrava to design and build the first building for their new Lakeland campus. Calatrava will have good company: Frank Lloyd Wright's Florida Southern College campus is also located in Lakeland. Read more about the news here.
We covered the news about Clayton Homes' manufactured modular i-house last month and we all felt very enthusiastic about both its eco-friendliness and its looks. Well, seattlepi.com recently featured an article all about the house and a model that has been installed at the Heritage Home Center in Everett, WA. Read all about it here.
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