BuildSense in Durham Hosts “Thirst4Architecture” Happy Hour April 25

 

 

April 9, 2013 (Durham, NC) – BuildSense/Studio B Architecture, a design/build firm in Durham, will host Triangle Modernist Houses’ (TMH) popular “Thirst4Architecture” happy hour event on Thursday, April 25, from 6-8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

 

Thirst4Architecture events are casual gathering opportunities for anyone interested in architecture and design.  The host business provides refreshments.

 

“We welcome Modernist homeowners, architects, artists, designers, realtors, engineers, contractors, property investors, building managers, Modernist homeowners, materials and furniture dealers, and anyone else with a huge crush on great architecture,” said TMH founder and director George Smart. “T4A events focus on building relationships, generating passion about good design, creating strategic alliances, and connecting people to each other.”

 

BuildSense/Studio B Architecture building.

BuildSense/Studio B’s Randy Lanou and Erik Mehlman will open their sustainable offices for April’s T4A. The building is an old Tire King location that the partners transformed into an exemplary “green” commercial structure complete with wind power, solar power, sustainable materials, and a charging station for electric cars. The building utilizes about 35 percent of the energy required to power a typical building of the same size and use. As a result, it was named Triangle Business Journal’s Green Commercial Project of the Year in 2012.

 

Build Sense/Studio B shares the building at 502 Riggsbee Avenue, Durham, with ClearVue Glass and a yoga studio. For more information and directions, visit www.buildsense.com.

 

For more information on Triangle Modernist Houses and other T4A events, go to www.trianglemodernisthouses.com.

 

 

 

TMH To Host Public Tour of The Larson Residence

Late architect Jon Condoret’s favorite project will be open to the public for the first time.

March 20, 2013 (Durham, NC) – Triangle Modernist Houses (TMH), the award-winning non-profit organization dedicated to documenting, preserving, and promoting Modernist residential architecture, will host a tour of the unusual 1973 Arthur and Florence Larson Residence in Durham on Saturday, April 13, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

Originally designed by the late Chapel Hill architect Jon Condoret, the Larson home began at 4825 square feet. When the Larsons sold the house, the new owners engaged California architect Fu-Tung Chung to design the renovation, which was built by Landmark Renovation with the late landscape architect, Judy Harmon, designing an entrance path and garden. A further 2011 addition expanded the house to 6040 square feet.

“Jon Condoret considered the Larson house his favorite project,” said George Smart, TMH Executive Director. “It’s easy to see why. The expansive walls and ceilings, combined with exposed beams, echo the angular exterior.  The house is filled with natural light and views of the wooded surroundings. We are very grateful to the current owners for opening it on April 13 to the public.”

According to the Durham Herald’s 1993 obituary, Arthur Larson joined the Duke faculty in 1958 and became only the second James R. Duke professor of law after having served as Undersecretary of Labor, Director of the U.S. Information Agency, and as special assistant in charge of speeches for President Dwight E. Eisenhower. He also served as consultant on international affairs to President Lyndon B. Johnson, the U.S. State Department, and the United Nations.  While the Larsons lived in their Modernist home, they frequently entertained friends and fellow Duke Faculty, often holding classical music concerts in the large two-story-clear living room.

Tickets to the tour are $6.50 in advance or $10 at the door. (Advance sales close a week before the tour.) Admission is on a timed-entry basis every 30 minutes. Photography is allowed anywhere inside and outside the house. Architects can earn continuing education credits for attending the tour if arrangements are made with the American Institute of Architects in advance.

To order tickets, select an entry time, get directions to the house, and for additional information, go to www.trianglemodernisthouses.com/tour. Proceeds benefit TMH’s ongoing mission. Call George Smart with any questions: 919-740-8407.

 

Leland Little Auction Gallery To Host “Thirst4Architecture” Happy Hour

The first 2013 T4A networking event sponsored by Triangle Modernist Houses

February 14, 2013 (Hillsborough, NC) — Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd., a premier North Carolina auction gallery in Hillsborough NC, will host Triangle Modernist Houses’ (TMH) popular “Thirst4Architecture” happy hour event on Thursday, March 14, from 6-8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

This will be the first of the 2013 spring/summer TMH Thirst4Architecture events, which serve as networking opportunities for anyone interested in architecture and design, including architects and designers. The host business or organization provides refreshments.

“We welcome Modernist homeowners, architects, artists, designers, realtors, engineers, contractors, property investors, building managers, Modernist homeowners, materials and furniture dealers, and anyone else with a huge crush on great architecture,” said TMH founder and director George Smart. “T4A events focus on building relationships, generating passion about good design, creating strategic alliances, and connecting people to each other.”

This will also be the first time Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales (LLAES, Ltd.) has hosted a T4A event.

“We aim to introduce our auctions to local and regional Modernist aficionados and collectors,” said Leland Little, auctioneer and founder. “We applaud what Mr. Smart has developed with TMH — an effective and energetic group of Modernist supporters — and we appreciate the opportunity to serve this cause by opening our gallery doors wide for the first T4A event of 2013.”

The LLAES, Ltd. auction gallery is located at 620 Cornerstone Ct, Hillsborough, NC 27278 (919-644-1243). For directions and more information, visit www.llauctions.com.

Triangle Modernist Houses is an award-winning, non-profit organization dedicated to documenting, preserving and promoting Modernist residential design from the 1950s to today. Future T4A events will be held at BuildSense in Durham (April 18), in situ studio in Raleigh (May 16), Byrd Tile in Raleigh (June 20), the AIA NC Center for Architecture & Design in Raleigh (July 18), and TRIG Modern in Raleigh (August 15). For more information on TMH and the T4A events, visit www.trianglemodernisthouses.com.

About Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd.:

LLAES, Ltd. specializes in consigning and auctioning estates and collections including, but not limited to, mid-century modern design, furniture, fine wine, collectible cars, militaria, silver, fine art, Asian art, pottery, porcelain, and jewelry. Our fine offerings represent various styles, cultures, and histories.

 

Preservation Greensboro Inc. To Host “Mayberry Modernism”

 

George Smart

Triangle Modernist Houses’ founder will present his signature talk on North Carolina’s Modernist legacy.

February 4, 2013 (Greensboro, NC) –Preservation Greensboro, Inc. and Triangle Modernist Houses’ founder and director George Smart will present “Mayberry Modernism: North Carolina’s Modernist Legacy” on Wednesday, March 6, at 6 p.m. in the Elon School of Law building at 201 North Greene Street, room 207. The event is free and open to the public and seating is limited.

“Mayberry Modernism” showcases the state’s surprising collection of Modernist residences from the 1950s through today, many in great shape but some endangered or even destroyed. In 2007, Smart discovered that many of the state’s “livable works of art” are endangered or have already been destroyed.

“Most people, even architects, are surprised by the number of Modernist houses in the state,” Smart said. “ ‘Mayberry Modernism’ discusses the history of Modernist houses in North Carolina and showcases multiple photographs of these terrific houses — from both the past and the present.”

Benjamin Briggs, executive director for Preservation Greensboro, Inc., expressed his interest in partnering with TMH for this presentation:

“There is a growing awareness and appreciation of Modern architecture in Greensboro, especially among young people. Whether it is our Walter Gropius-designed factory, Edward Jenkins’ gymnasium at Dudley High School, or Eduardo Catalano’s Government Center – people are interested to learn more about this period of history that is so important to our city as a whole.”

Founded in 1966, Preservation Greensboro, Inc. (PGI) is Greensboro’s only citywide nonprofit membership organization that encourages the conservation of Greensboro’s architectural history by preserving or helping to preserve such sites as Blandwood Mansion, the Troy-Bumpass House, Dudley High School, Blue Bell Manufacturing Company, Lindley Park, and the UNCG Chancellor’s House. For more information, visit www.preservationgreensboro.org.

Since its start-up in 2007, Triangle Modernist Houses (TMH) has become the largest archive of Modernist residential architecture in the nation. The award winning non-profit continues to facilitate public discovery of the state’s architectural legacy through its website, awww.trianglemodernisthouses.com, through multiple and single house tours, through trips in and outside the state, and other events. TMH also actively works to preserve Modernist houses by maintaining free, exclusive For Sale listing on the nonprofit’s website.

For more information on “Mayberry Modernism: North Carolina’s Modernist Legacy,” go to www.trianglemodernisthouses.com/presentations.htm.

About Preservation Greensboro Inc.:

PGI is a dynamic and resourceful organization that contributes a key role in the growth of Greensboro’s economy. With such diverse initiatives as Architectural Salvage of Greensboro, the Blandwood Museum, the Preservation Greensboro Development Fund, informative meetings, seminars, and special events, Preservation Greensboro is a constant voice within the community for revitalization efforts, improved quality of life, and conservation of historic resources for future generations. For more information: www.preservationgreensboro.org. On Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Preservation-Greensboro.

 

Triangle Modernist Houses Presents “Eames: The Architect and The Painter”

A documentary film on designers Charles and Ray Eames ends the 4th annual Nowell’s Architecture Movie Series.

Charles and Ray Eames

January 23, 2012 (Raleigh, NC) — Triangle Modernist Houses (TMH) will conclude its 4th Annual Nowell’s Architecture Movie Series with a special screening of “Eames: The Architect and The Painter” on Thursday, February 7, at 7:30 p.m. at the Raleigh Grande cinema in Raleigh.

Charles Eames and his wife and partner, Ray, are widely regarded as two of America’s most important designers. They are perhaps best remembered for their mid-century modern plywood and fiberglass furniture, yet their Venice, California-based firm created an astonishing variety of other products, from splints for wounded soldiers during World War II, to photography, interiors, multi-media exhibits, graphics, games, films, and toys.

Their personal lives and their influence on significant events in American life have been less widely understood – from the development of modernism, to the rise of the computer age.  In its review of the documentary, the New York Times suggested that Charles and Ray Eames’ approach to product design and the presentation of information “was in its way as influential as [Apple founder Steve] Jobs’…[and] left traces in nearly every aspect of contemporary life.”

Created by Jason Cohn and Bill Jersey and narrated by James Franco, “Eames: The Architect and The Painter” is the first film since the Eames’ deaths dedicated to their creative geniuses and work. To view a trailer, go to www.trianglemodernisthouses.com/movies.

Lee Hansley Gallery in Raleigh is sponsoring this special screening. Modern Home Auction, Go Realty, The Kitchen Specialist, and Carrington Electric LLC, and VMZinc, as well as Nowell’s Contemporary Furniture, have sponsoring the entire series.

Individual admission is $9 per person per film, available at the door. Mod Squad members are admitted free. Proceeds benefit TMH’s ongoing documentation, preservation, and promotion programs for modernist residential architecture from the 1950s to today. To order advance tickets, go to www.trianglemodernisthouses.com/movies.

The Raleigh Grande is located at 4840 Grove Barton Road, Raleigh NC 27613, just off Lynn Road and Glenwood Avenue/Highway 70 West (919-226-2012).

For more information on Triangle Modernist Houses, visit www.trianglemodernisthouses.com.

Triangle Modernist Houses Announces 2013 Appetite 4 Architecture Series

 

Vinny Petrarca of Tonic Design will attend the January 15 A4A Dinner.
(Photo by Allen Weiss)

Informal dinners connect noted local Modernist house architects with the public.

January 2, 2013 (Raleigh, NC) — For anyone dreaming of a new Modernist house, or interested in  the work of a local architect or designer, or perhaps thinking about architecture as a career, Triangle Modernist Houses (TMH) offers them public the opportunity to enjoy dinners with prominent members of the Triangle’s design community in a casual, small-group setting during the nonprofit organization’s annual “Appetite 4 Architecture” (A4A) series.

“A4A offers the public a unique opportunity to enjoy easy, informal discussions in an upscale dining environment with direct access to some of the area’s best residential architects and designers,” said TMH founder and director George Smart. “Participants are welcome to discuss anything they want with an array of award-winning professionals. They can discuss architecture, homebuilding, furnishings, real estate, or anything else. There are no presentations or PowerPoint slides, just great conversations.”

Each A4A dinner will be held at 18 Seaboard Contemporary American Grill in Raleigh and begin at 7 p.m.  The dinners include three courses (appetizer, entree, dessert) from a pre-selected menu, plus coffee/water/tea, tax, and gratuity. Vegetarian options are available and alcoholic beverages are available separately.

Matsumoto Award First Prize winner will also attend the Jan. 15th dinner.

The architects and designers on tap for this year’s series of A4A dinners are:

January 15:  The winners of the 2012 juried Matsumoto Prize for North Carolina Modernist residential architecture: John Reese, Mike Rantilla, and Vinny Petrarca. (Sponsored by VMZINC)

January 22: The “People’s Choice” winners of the 2012 Matsumoto Prize: Adam Sebastian, Will Alphin, and Scott Ogden. (Sponsored by VMZINC)

January 29:  architects Ellen Cassilly and Phil Freelon, along with jazz singer Nneena Freelon. Cassilly designed the Freelons’ 2200-square-foot penthouse condominium in downtown Durham’s Kress building. (Sponsored by Steelcase)

Tickets are $59 per dinner and are available at www.trianglemodernisthouses.com/a4a. A4A dinners tend to sell out far in advance, Smart said, so he encourages those interested to reserve their tickets soon. The deadline for reserving a seat at each dinner is one week prior.

All proceeds benefit TMH’s ongoing mission to document, preserve, and promote Modernist residential design. For more information and to reserve A4A tickets, go to www.trianglemodernisthouses.com/a4a.htm.

 

Architect Dion Neutra To Bring His Famous Father’s Work To Raleigh

Triangle Modernist Houses continues the 2012 TalkModern Lecture Series.

Dion Neutra

October 30, 2012 (Raleigh, NC) – In 1949, Time magazine named modern master Richard Neutra (1892-1970) the second most important architect in America, second only to Frank Lloyd Wright. On Tuesday, November 13, at 7 p.m., the master’s son, architect Dion Neutra, AIA, will discuss his father’s celebrated work and philosophy when he presents “Neutra Architecture: The View From Inside” at the AIA North Carolina Center for Architecture and Design in downtown Raleigh.

Dion’s lecture is the second half of Triangle Modernist Houses’ 2012 TalkModern Lecture Series this fall entitled “A Fistful of Neutras.” His brother Raymond spoke in October.

A partner in his father’s firm, Dion will share his personal and professional views of the sensitivity to the relationship of man and nature that he and his father called bio-realism.

“The Neutras sounded the environmental alarm in the 1950s many years before ecology, Green architecture, and Sustainable Design became buzz words for politicians and recently concerned organizations,” according to the Neutra Institute for Survival Through Design.  “As far back as [Dion] can remember, his father was warning that ‘today’s man-made environment has become an irritating, increasing threat to the vitality and soundness of mind and body.’ “

Charlotte landscape architect Ted Cleary will introduce Dion Neutra before his Raleigh lecture.

Advance tickets to the lectures are $12.50. Tickets per lecture at the door are $15. $5 for NCSU students and faculty with identification will be admitted for $5.

To purchase advance tickets and for more information, go to www.trianglemodernisthouses.com/lecture.  Proceeds from this lecture will benefit TMH’s ongoing programs.

The AIANC Center for Architecture & Design is located at 14 East Peace Street, Raleigh, NC 27604. For directions: www.cfadnc.org.

For more information on Triangle Modernist Houses, visit www.trianglemodernisthouses.com.

Richard Neutra

About Richard Neutra:  In 1929, Viennese-born architect Richard Neutra rose to prominence with his visionary design of the Lovell “Health House” in Los Angeles. In 1932, Neutra was included in the seminal MoMA exhibition on modern architecture, curated by Philip Johnson and Henry-Russell Hitchcock. The ensuing decades solidified his place as one of the giants of the Modernist movement. TMH features a nearly complete catalog of his residential works.

 

Architecture Movie Series Presents “Modern Tide”

The TMH/Nowell’s Architecture Movie Series continues with midcentury architecture on Long Island.

October 22, 2012 (Cary, NC) — Triangle Modernist Houses’ Nowell’s Architecture Movie Series continues on Thursday, November 8, at 7:30 p.m. with a special screening of “Modern Tide: Midcentury Architecture on Long Island.”

“Modern Tide” is a new independent documentary that explores the work of the region’s best post-war architects and designers, including Albert Frey, Wallace Harrison, Frank Lloyd Wright, Horace Gifford, Edward Durell Stone, Marcel Breuer, Andrew Geller, Philip Johnson, Charles Gwathmey, Barbara and Julian Neski, and others.

The film features interviews with architects and historians, as well as friends, families and clients of these influential designers. Both rare archival material and current-day cinematography highlight Long Island’s Modernist architectural treasures.

In an article about the film, ArchDaily.com writes: “After WWII, the East End of Long Island played host to a variety of architectural styles.  From modernism, through post-modernism, and deconstructionism, architects experimented with social ideas and aesthetic expressions, which culminated in ‘small’ houses scattered about the Island’s natural backdrop. Now, with the advent of the mega-mansion and the desire for ‘bigger,’ it is becoming increasingly difficult to preserve such iconic and progressive architectural projects.”

Yet 20th century modern residential architecture by top architects and designers is being systematically deleted from Long Island’s cultural landscape. “This rich asset is disappearing,” says director Jake Gorst. “We believe the film will foster renewed awareness and appreciation for Long Island’s remaining modernist structures and its unique architectural history.”

In situ studio is sponsoring this special screening.  Modern Home Auction, Go Realty, The Kitchen Specialist, and Carrington Electric LLC, and VMZinc, as well as Nowell’s Contemporary Furniture, are sponsoring the entire series.

Admission is $9 per person per film, available at the door each night. TMH Mod Squad members are admitted free. Proceeds benefit TMH’s ongoing documentation, preservation, and promotion programs.

To see the entire series line-up, go to www.trianglemodernisthouses.com/movies. The Galaxy Cinema is located at 770 Cary Towne Boulevard (www.mygalaxycinema.com; 919-463-9959).

To view a trailer of “Modern Tide: Midcentury Architecture on Long Island,” go to www.trianglemodernisthouses.com/movies.

For more information on Triangle Modernist Houses, visit www.trianglemodernisthouses.com

House Tour: “Modernism in Duke Forest” To Take Place In September

Duke President’s House

Triangle Modernist Houses, Preservation Durham present a six-house tour.

August 14, 2012 (Durham, NC) – Triangle Modernist Houses (TMH) and Preservation Durham have announced “Modernism In Duke Forest,” a tour of six modernist houses in Durham’s Duke Forest neighborhood, to be held on Saturday, September 15, from 1-4 p.m.

Duke University originally developed the Duke Forest neighborhood, just south of Duke University’s campus, faculty and staff. Many of the homes are still owned by their original occupants.

Huttemeier /Benveniste House

Architecturally, the Duke Forest is an eclectic mix of styles, including mid-century modernist houses. In fact, there are more mid-century modern homes in Duke Forest than anywhere else in Durham, according to local realtors.

Triangle Modernist Houses, an award-winning non-profit organization dedicated to documenting, preserving, and promoting modernist residential design, has teamed up with Preservation Durham, a non-profit organization that promotes the restoration of historic homes and commercial properties, to present the September tour.

Kaufman House

Houses on the tour are:

1.    The Knight house/Duke University President’s House designed by Alden Dow.

2.    The Kaufman House designed by Brian Shawcroft, who will be on hand to answer questions.

3.    The Schanberg House designed by Jon Condoret. Condoret’s daughter, architect Audie Schechter, will be there to answer questions.

4.    The Crovitz House designed by Frank DePasquale.

Obrist House

5.    The Obrist House designed by Walter Obrist.

6.    The Huttemeier /Benveniste House designed by Keith Brown.

The tour will start at the Judea Reform Congregation parking lot at 1933 West Cornwallis Road, Durham, where free parking will be available. From there, shuttle buses will run to the houses every 10 minutes throughout the afternoon. Tour-goers may choose to bike or walk to the houses from the parking lot, but automobile traffic is seriously discouraged.

Crovitz Housoe

Advance tickets are $19.95 per person and are available online only at www.trianglemodernisthouses.com/tour, where more details about the tour can be found. Day-of tickets, if available, are $25. Children carried or in strollers are free.

“Best of all, for those new to Preservation Durham, each ticket comes with a free full year membership in Preservation Durham,” noted George Smart, founder and director of Triangle Modernist Houses.

Schanberg House

Proceeds from ticket sales benefit both Preservation Durham and Triangle Modernist Houses.  “Modernism in Duke Forest “ is also part of the DOCOMOMO 2012 Fall Tour Day Network.

For more information on Triangle Modernist Houses, visit www.trianglemodernisthouses.com. For more information on Preservation Durham, go to preservationdurham.org.

Durham Engineers Club Welcomes “Mayberry Modernism”

Triangle Modernist Houses’ director George Smart will present his signature address.

July 5, 2012 (Durham, NC) – George Smart, founder and director of Triangle Modernist Houses, will present “Mayberry Modernism: North Carolina’s Modernist Legacy” to a gathering of the Durham Engineer’s Club on Thursday, August 9, beginning at 7 p.m.

Triangle Modernist Houses is an award-winning non-profit organization that documents, preserves and promotes Modernist residential design from the 1950s to today.

“Mayberry Modernism” showcases North Carolina’s surprisingly large collection of Modernist residences, particularly those in the Triangle region. Many of these houses are in good shape, some are endangered, and many have been destroyed.

“Most people, even architects, are surprised that the Triangle has the third largest number of Modernist houses in America,” Smart says. “Through ‘Mayberry Modernism,’ I discuss why we have so many and share photographs of over 50 eye-popping, award-winning Modernist houses in the region from mid-century to new construction.”

Smart’s discovery of the Triangle’s large number of “livable works of art” in 2007 led him to found Triangle Modernist Houses.com. Today, the TMH website is the largest single archive of Modernist residential architecture and architects, in the nation.

Open to the public, the club meeting and presentation will be held at Croasdaile Country Club, 3800 Farm Gate Avenue, Durham (27705). Tickets are $25 for members and $35 for non-members. The price includes a buffet dinner. Social hour is from 6 to 6:30 pm and there is a cash bar. Dinner is from 6:30 to about 7. The presentation will begin at 7 and last for about an hour with a question and answer period following it. To register go to: http://conta.cc/R4GLT7 or call 919-560-4326, ext. 30266.

Local engineers from Durham and the surrounding areas founded the Durham Engineer’s Club in 1944. Its mission is “to promote the general principles and policies of engineering and to share in the advancement of engineering projects of civil interest.”

A member of the North Carolina Society of Engineers and the Durham Chamber of Commerce, the DEC meets monthly, generally on the second Thursday of each month. For more information visit durhamengineersclub.com or contact Michael Hughes at Michael.hughes@durhamnc.gov.

For more information on “Mayberry Modernism” visit www.trianglemodernisthouses.com/presentations.