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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
Weese Unmasked
Blair Kamin reports that the recent article in Chicago Magazine about late Chicago architect, Harry Weese, is causing quite a stir in the architecture community. Read more about it here.
Image via Cityscapes blog
Rethinking The Evolution Of Modern Design
Chicago Magazine website discusses the new Smart Museum of Art "Good Design" exhibit and shows-off some photos of what can be seen in the show. More here.
Image via Chicago Magazine website
A Sullivan Obsession?
Hot on the heels of the opening of the two new Sullivan exhibits, TimeOut Chicago ponders whether or not Chicago is collectively obsessed with all things Louis Sullivan. Read it here.
Image via TimeOut Chicago/Art Institute of Chicago
Miller In Modernism
The newest issue of Modernism Magazine has a great article about Chicago's "handmade residences" by Edgar Miller. Reading about this amazing Modern Renaissance man and his work in Chicago made me really want to pick up a copy of the new monograph about him to learn more. Sounds like a trip to the bookstore! Read more about the magazine article here.
Room & Board Teams Up With Dwell Magazine
Room & Board + Dwell Magazine = a chance to win $10,000! Read details and sign-up here.
Image copyright Room & Board
The Fortunate Mr. Ware
I love Chris Ware's graphic illustration style and up-front satire. Apparently, the editors over at Fortune don't share that same appreciation. A recent cover illustration they commissioned from Chris was rejected for reasons unstated—but a close look at the illustration reveals several elements the "Fortune 500" would likely find a little too personal. Check it out here.
Image copyright Chris Ware
One Foxy Magazine Cover
Mod-tastic illustrator, Matte Stephens, will grace the cover of the Spring 2010 Uppercase magazine with one of his whimsical creations. See more here.
Image copyright Matte Stephens
Wallpaper Magazine Hearts LEGO Fallingwater
Our friends at Taliesin West let us know that the Frank Lloyd Wright LEGO Fallingwater set was named one of Wallpaper Magazine's best designs of 2010! See the list here.
Image via LEGO.com
Wright Sites In The Spotlight
The Spring 2010 issue of Style 1900 magazine features several great articles, including a spotlight story on three Frank Lloyd Wright sites in need of support for major restoration projects: Unity Temple, Taliesin North and Taliesin West.
Of special note, PrairieMod Squad member Lisa Kelly has two of her photos of Unity Temple published along side the article--way to go Lisa! Pick up a copy on news stands today or follow the link for more info.
Image via Style 1900
Unhappy Hipsters
In The Wright Spirit
The Fall 2009 issue of Modernism Magazine features a really interesting article on a 1962 house designed by Wright-admirer Louis Mosbrooker in Beverly Hills, CA. Current owners have renovated
and completed an addition that embraces the original home's intent while functioning for their family. Read more about it here and pick up a copy today.
Image copyright Modernism Magazine
Fall 2009 Wright Lecture Series
PrairieMod reader Scott T. gave me the heads-up on some great Organic Architecture-related lectures coming up this Fall at Monona Terrace in Madison, WI. Read more after the jump...
Not Just Another Brick In The Wall
Speaking of Blair Kamin, he wrote a great article for the current issue of Dwell magazine discussing the Modern merits of a recent residential renovation by rising starchitect, Jeanne Gang of the Chicago-based firm of Studio Gang. Gang used the humble brick to stunning effect in a house that was once a "remudled" horse stable. Read more here.
Image copyright Gregg Segal
The Mannahatta Project
The September 2009 issue of National Geographic Magazine has a really interesting article about a project undertaken by the Wildlife Conservation Society to envision what the island of Manhattan looked like in 1609 when Henry Hudson first visited (in honer of the 400th anniversary.) Through extensive research and computer generated graphics, they now have a pretty complete idea (and look) of what a pre-NYC island looked like.
On a whim, I checked out what the site of the Guggenheim Museum was in 1609: apparently trees and a Native American trail existed there long before the famous spiral. Explore and learn more here.
Image via the Mannahatta Project websiteDwell Wright's A Wrong
It takes a big magazine to admit when they've been wrong--especially about Wright. Dwell Magazine recently "Wrighted" itself when Editor-in-Chief, Sam Grawe admitted what we had noticed for some time: that the periodical had been treating FLW as "...a persona non grata," excluding him from the pages of the modern mag. Mr. Grawe had a recent change of heart upon seeing the Guggenheim exhibit "Frank Lloyd Wright: From Within Outward" and wrote as much in the September 2009 issue of Dwell. Pick up a copy on the newstand to read his mea culpa. Hopefully we'll start seeing a little more of the "Wright Stuff" in Dwell.
Image copyright Dwell
Old House Journal & Old House Interiors Merge
Active Interest Media, which owns Old-House Journal, has purchased Old-House Interiors, Arts & Crafts Homes, and their accompanying online brands. More details here.
Guggenheim In Modernism Magazine
You're going to be reading about the Guggenheim Museum in New York a lot in the next few months. The fact that it turns 50 and their holding a huge Frank Lloyd Wright exhibition this summer means that it will get plenty of press. Case in point: check out this online article in Modernism Magazine about the spiral wonder written by author and Wright expert William Allin Storrer.
Photo copyright William Allin Storrer/via Modernism Magazine
Saarinen In Metropolis Magazine
The November issue of Metropolis Magazine has a great feature article on "Team Eero", exploring the man and what it was like to work with one of Modern Architecture's icons. Follow the link to see more.
Image copyright Metropolis
I.D. Magazine and The Top Designs of 2008
The new issue of I.D. Magazine has over 200 items chosen for their ingenuity, craftsmanship, sustainability and beauty. The issue will be on newsstands October 28, follow the link for a short slide show and see if you agree with their picks.
Image copyright I.D. Magazine
Teco in Modernism Magazine's Fall 2008 Issue
There is a brilliant feature in the new issue of Modernism about the rich history of Teco pottery called Modern Before its Time: Teco Art Pottery. The in depth 8-page feature is worth reading and you can access the online version of the magazine by registering here.
The issue also has some other great items like an article titled Ancient Meets Modern, An Architect's California Home, Chicago: Raising Modern Architecture and a blurb about Frank Lloyd Wright's Spring House in Florida, which has fallen into disrepair and is being brought back.
Image copyright Modernism Magazine
Restoring An Icon
Old House Journal has a great article on the restoration of the Malcolm Willey House in Minneapolis, MN in the October, 2008 issue. The PrairieMod Squad had a chance to visit this restored wonder and it is amazing! Check out the Willey House's website here.
Photo copyright PrairieMod
Dwell September 2008: Your Sneak-Peek
New Dwell magazine has arrived! I thought I'd give PrairieMod readers a little sneak
peek at what's inside...
MoCo Loco Mag Reviews
I'm kind of a magazine junky. So I enjoyed Moco Loco's recent review of three design/architecture related mags: ID, Azure and Metropolis. Check it out here.
Photo copyright MoCo Loco
Native Plantings in Chicagoland Gardening Magazine
The July/August 2008 issue of Chicagoland Gardening features a cover article on native plantings for our region. Ironically the story revolves around a landscape rich in native plants and designed specifically for a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired home.
This perfectly fits as an answer to Jaime's question yesterday, but if you have any other ideas or tips about how an owner of a Modern Prairie home can create a fitting garden be sure to leave a comment.
Image copyright Chicagoland Gardening
Sneak Peek: July/August 2008 Dwell Magazine
New Dwell magazine has arrived! I thought I'd give PrairieMod readers a little sneak
peek at what's inside...
Continue reading "Sneak Peek: July/August 2008 Dwell Magazine" »
Check Out Atomic Ranch's Summer 2008 Issue
Lots of really great stuff in the issue of Atomic Ranch that showed up at the office this morning. Here's why it's not to be missed:
• Do You Know The Way To San Jose? — A couple takes on their second major Eichler renovation, inadvertently.
• Channeling Dash: The Incredible(s) House — A split-level Denver house informed by Wright
• Ranch Roots: Wright's Usonians — Connecting the architectural dots from FLW to postwar ranches
• Strenger Homes — Austin's mid-century modern Barton Hills
• Open House: Rochester, Minn. — Budget vintage finds connect one family to their past
Continue reading "Check Out Atomic Ranch's Summer 2008 Issue" »
Sneak Peek: June 2008 Dwell Magazine
Sneak Peek: May 2008 Dwell Magazine
I got my May issue of Dwell magazine the other day and thought I'd give our PrairieMod readers a little sneak peek at what's inside...
Ode Magazine: Can Fast Food Be Sustainable?
The April 2008 issue of Ode Magazine has hit the stands and their cover article seems pretty provocative. Not the Same Old Drive-Thru is about fast food joints that are using naturally raised meats, recycled packaging, and ovens that run on renewable power. These new green fast food stops are serving up burgers and fries to feel good about. Is this possible?
You can read the Letter From the Editor where Jurriaan Kamp breifly discusses the feature.
Image copyright Ode Magazine
Sneak Peek: April 2008 Dwell Magazine
Well, it's cold, snowy February outside in Chicago--but in the world of Dwell Magazine, it's April! I received my advance April 2008 issue yesterday and it devoted to one of my favorite natural materials: Wood.
Modernism Magazine: 2007-08 Winter Issue
This latest issue of Modernism Magazine features some great MCM treasures from sunnny locales like Hawaii and Palm Springs...even Cambodia!
Hawaiian architect Vladimir Ossipof is featured in a fascinating article. Plus, there are some great photographs accompanying the article on Palm Springs architect Albert Frey and his desert home. Check out more of the highlights from the issue here.
Image copyright Modernism
Sneak Peek: March 2008 Dwell Magazine
I received my advanced copy of the March 2008 issue of Dwell Magazine
and once again, it’s filled with some great stuff. See a sneak preview
of what’s in-store after the jump.
Dwell February 2008: Your Sneak-Peek
I got my February 2008 copy of Dwell Magazine the other day. Now I know what you're thinking: "wait-a-minute...it's not even Christmas!" Yet, it's nice to get a look at what things in the new year will be like (at least according to Dwell.)
Suburbs With Attitude
I read through the Dec/Jan 2007 issue of Dwell Magazine and was enthralled with the cover article (although admittedly, I usually am) titled Suburbs With Attitude. The LeBlanc Residence is showcased, showing how a traditional split-level ranch in a suburb of Vancouver has been renovated into a home with a truly minimal aesthetic. Below is a snippet describing the basics of what was accomplished by architect Peter Cardew....
Inside the home Cardew addressed LeBlanc’s shopping list of concerns: the need for a more gracious entry, natural light, and an open feeling throughout the public spaces. By reangling the outside stairs and widening the front door to a welcoming five feet, the architect created an entry that feels both distinctive and generous. By lowering the ceiling height to seven feet in the foyer, he made the adjoining living-area ceiling feel much taller than its conventional eight feet (an old trick from Frank Lloyd Wright’s playbook). By knocking out the walls and doors that separated the living, dining, and kitchen areas, he turned a ’60s layout into an ’00s open plan that reflects the casual way the owners like to live.
Love it!
Images copyright Dwell
Chicago Home Magazine Loves PrairieMod!
We were recently featured in the September/October 2007 issue of Chicago Home magazine! We made the short list of the magazine's favorite local design blogs, along with houseinprogress.net, urbangreenproject.com, chicago.apartmenttherapy.com and designboner.com. Kudos to all of those great blogs who made the list, we feel honored to keep such fantastic company!
Image copyright Chicago Home magazine
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
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
April 07 Dwell Mag: Renovate! Reuse! Recycle!
Dwell Magazine's current issue is pretty fascinating for me as a PrairieMod Squad member. The theme of the issue, Renovate! Reuse! Recycle!, gets to the heart of some of the ideas and principles we talk about as part of the PrairieMod Lifestyle.
In the issue's Editor's Note, Sam Grawe writes about the desire that many of us have to pursue and acquire well-designed objects and/or well-designed homes. However, few of us can afford to actually own these beautiful and expensive things we long for.
From Sam Grawe's note to readers...
Luckily, this issue of Dwell isn't about pining for what you don't have--it's about seeing the potential in what's already there. The homes we've chosen to feature are the equivalent of the nerdy girl who by the end of the movie has removed her glasses, gotten a new hairdo, won the boy, and been voted homecoming queen. These projects are also all examples of adaptive reuse--a topic that relates directly to sustainability and urban revitalization.
In relation to the unique and wonderful projects featured in the magazine...one of our own PrairieMod Squad members has been detailing his renovation project to a 1950's ranch in our regular PrairieMod Monday feature.
Remember: excellent, beautiful, innovative and inspirational design doesn't just belong to the few with deep pockets. We can all have access to an environment that comforts and invigorates us daily!
Image and text copyright 2007 Dwell
Relevant Magazine Wants to Help You Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
The current issue of the very well designed Relevant Magazine has a feature titled How to Reduce Your Environmental Footprint: 20 Ways to Go Green. The writers outline practical ways that will help a person get green in just one month; citing super useful tips, suggested videos to watch (like An Inconvenient Truth) and recommended readings of books (like Saving God's Green Earth: Rediscovering the Church's Responsibility to Environmental Stewardship).
This is interesting to me because back in August of 2006, I posted on an article Bill McKibben wrote in National Geographic. In this article McKibben argues that in order for real change to happen (change that will lead us to a more carbon neutral world), our entire culture needs to change its thinking on the topic. He believes that one way to majorly impact culture is by linking with communities of faith. In turn, this will initiate a grassroots movement among faith-based groups to lead the way to a cultural revolution.
Relevant Magazine states that they are all about God, Life & Progressive Culture. On their website they describe themselves as twentysomething Christians who want to break stereotypes, challenge the status-quo and enact change through the media. We're seeking God, living life and striving to impact the world around us.
Perhaps these are the early fruits of what McKibben was suggesting?
Get out there and Go Green! It's one of the 10 Principles of the PrairieMod Lifestyle.
Images and text copyright Relevant Media Group
Dwell Magazine Names Two Top Editors
Sam Grawe, Editor-in-Chief of Dwell, announced the appointment of two editors...Katrina Heron has been named Editor-at-Large and Michael Cannell has been named New York Editor.
Katrina Heron was Editor-in-Chief of Wired magazine from 1998 to 2001. Previously, she was a senior editor at The New Yorker and Vanity Fair magazines and an editor and writer at The New York Times. She's also co-author of Safe: The Race To Protect Ourselves In A Newly Dangerous World which explored the uses and misuses of new technologies. Katrina Heron is also a director of the wonderful Chez Panisse Foundation, working with founder Alice Waters to create food education for children and support sustainable agriculture.
Michael Cannell was editor of the House & Home section of The New York Times for more than six years. He had previously been a senior editor at Architecture magazine, and has written for The New Yorker, The New York Times magazine, Time, Newsweek, Metropolis and Sports Illustrated. Michael Cannell has also written a biography of I.M. Pei titled Mandarin of Modernsim.
The PrairieMod Squad looks forward to the great things that these two individuals will bring to Dwell Magazine!
Image and text courtesy of Dwell Magazine
Dwell and The Craft of Design
The February issue of Dwell magazine is dedicated to "craft." Usually, people hear "craft" and they confuse it with the cheesy red hats and Popsicle-stick angels you see in the park during Summer. Instead, according to Satyendra Pakhalé (one of the 5 modern makers interviewed) "craft" is defined as:
Universal, it's human reality; it's neither exotic nor ethnic. It's the repository of human warmth, of all the qualities that we have lost in standard industrial production.
Top 100 Americans
I was wandering around Borders this holiday season, when I picked up the December issue of The Atlantic, whose feature story was the "100 Most Influential Figures in American History." Naturally, I was intrigued to see where some familiar American architects would end up on the list.
• Number 59: Louis H. Sullivan
• Number 76: Frank Lloyd Wright
Not too shabby, though I'm sure there are arguments to be made about where many of the people fell on this list and who was left off entirely. You can view the entire list by following this link--we'd love to know what you think about it!
Image copyright The Atlantic
Style 1900: 20th Anniversary Issue
One of our favorite magazines, Style 1900, will be celebrating their 20th anniversary in February 2007. We've gotten an advance list of the articles that will be covered in that special issue and we thought we'd give our readers a sneak peek. The articles include:
• Inside the Gamble House
• All About Craftsman Farms
• Landmark Prairie Architecture: The Dana-Thomas House
• More than 20 Great Arts and Crafts Destinations
• 20+ Must-Read Books
• Expanded Marketplace Section
• Index of All Style 1900 Back Issues
• Compatibles: Studio furniture by Wharton Esherick, Sam Maloof and Wendell Castle
• Collectors Counsel: Advice from expert Bruce Johnson
• The Refinisher: Advice from expert Dennis Bertucci
• Style 1900 Observer: Reviews, Events Calendar, Updates, People, Conference Reviews and more.
Promises to be a great issue, plus it'll be the perfect companion to the 20th Anniversary Arts and Crafts Conference at the Grove Park Inn, also in February 2007. Look for the February issue on news stands around the 15th of that month. Or you can subscribe at their website. Happy reading!
Image courtesy of style1900.com
This Old House Wright-up
I subscribe to a lot of magazines, so when one comes in the mail, it usually takes a few days for me to sit down and actually read it over. Yesterday was different. I received my mail and the December 2006 issue of This Old House was waiting for me. So, I flipped through it and was surprised to see several mentions of one of our favorite architects throughout the issue. Here's the run down:
• pg. 15 — A company called Big Chill Fridge offers custom detailed refrigerators in their Architectural Series, notably the Coonley Playhouse inspired one shown in the magazine and on their website. While we're pretty sure Frank Lloyd Wright would have given this adaptation of his designs the "cold shoulder", it's still interesting to see how his work inspires people from all walks of life.
• pg. 70 — One of our favorite Official Frank Lloyd Wright Collection Licensees, Historical Arts and Castings is listed among the ranks of the magazine editor's "secret sources." HAC is known for their fantastic line of reproduction Frank Lloyd Wright metal objects, such as the weed holder and the copper urn.
• pg. 85 — In the magazine's "Holiday Gift Guide," The fantastic book by Alan Hess and Alan Weintraub, Frank Lloyd Wright: The Houses is listed as a perfect gift for the armchair architect on your list.
Three mentions in one magazine...not too shabby, Mr. Wright. It just goes to show how much influence his ideas still have for us today. For the Arts and Crafts crowd, this issue also has an interesting article on a couple who totally rehabbed a "bungled bungalow" back to it's former glory. Check out the December 2006 issue for yourself to read more about what's Wright, bungalows and other articles on fixing up your fixer-upper.
Photo courtesy of thisoldhouse.com
Wright Now In November Dwell
We reported earlier on the article in the November 2006 issue of Dwell Magazine about original Frank Lloyd Wright clients that still live in their homes. We've had a chance to read the article and thought we'd give you a little more insight into it.
The Wright Owners in Dwell
Dwell on Green Living & Design
You may have noticed that we've been "dwelling" on green living in many posts as of late, but we're not the only ones!
Modern design and "green" living have been naturally intersecting for quite some time now. However, over the last year or two this topic has been slowly breaking into the mainstream consciousness. We recently got our hands on a early copy of the September 2006 issue of Dwell Magazine and it is completely centered on "Green Going Mainstream." Some great features in this issue include:
The magazine itself has been printed on recycled paper!
A poignant Editor's Note on how green living has been sexed up for the mainstream, but that there is much to be done in regards to green architecture.
A fantastic story on Architecture for Humanity's new book Design Like You Give a Damn.
An article on sustainable wood flooring options.
A two page spread of Eco-Impact tips provided by the increasingly popular IdealBite.com resource.
A lengthly article titled "How Transportation Shapes America."
A feature on an alternative paradigm in manufacturing that has been championed by Michael Braungart and William McDonough's book Cradle to Cradle.
Plus, too many other great things to list!
This might be the only place online where you can get a sneak peak at this issue. But if you can't wait until it hits your bookstore, these resources have plenty of wonderful things to offer regarding green living: Treehugger.com, IdealBite.com and Inhabitat.com. Don't forget to tell them the PrairieMod Squad sent you!
Image courtesy of Dwell Magazine
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