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October Mod of the Month Houston Mod invites you to join us this Sunday, October 27, 2019 for a Mod of the Month open house event from 2 - 4 PM. Please help us find a new preservation-minded owner for a vintage modern commercial building located 2 miles southwest of downtown Houston. Thanks to Houston MODern Market for sponsoring this FREE event. 4900 Travis Street, Museum District, Houston, TX 77002 LoopNet Link | Google Map Ideally situated a block off Main Street in the Museum District, this handsome vintage modern building has made an important contribution to Houston's architectural scene and still provides a world of options. An L-shaped layout creates a generous shaded park-like central courtyard open to the interior spaces. The 1952 building was originally the offices of architect Philip G. Willard, designed and constructed by him with his Ceramic Construction method. Philip Willard had one of the busiest architectural firms in Houston where he employed a number of talented architects and architecture students who went on to have successful offices of their own. Some include Lucian Hood, Lars Bang, David Brooks, Edward Brooks, Arthur Flynn, Charles Flynn, A. Carroll Brodnax, Donald Minzenmyer, James Magee, Donald Baker, and G. Marvin Watson. The building also contained offices for William Jenkins, William Hoff, Gerald Tackett, Richard Neugebauer, William F. Stern and Associates, Stern and Bucek Architects, and Curtis and Windham Architects. In addition, it was a Golemon and Rolfe satellite office for the design of Houston Intercontinental Airport. Designers Jens Risom, Ben Rose and Boris Kroll had one of Houston's first modern design showrooms there. Artists have also used the spaces. Philip G. Willard was from San Antonio and a 1934 graduate of the University of Texas. He was first registered to practice architecture in Texas in 1937. He moved to Houston from Ft. Worth about 1945 and opened a successful firm where he employed many of the top students from the UH College of Architecture. He developed a masonry construction system called Ceramic Construction. His buildings using the technique are durable and highly acclaimed. Mrs. Willard was an interior designer who had her own furniture and design store. Houston Mod's latest publication, described below, contains further details about Willard's work. Across the street from Sunday's MOTM, don't miss the Art Deco style Lawndale Art and Performance Center (1930) by Joseph Finger and next door is MacKie & Kamrath's Weldon Cafeteria (1949). These buildings were the location of Houston Mod's first event. Nearby at 5115 Main is the endangered Bank of Houston Building (1967) by Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson. If you can provide further information about these or other mod buildings, please contact Houston Mod so it can be included on our Modern in Houston collection. The Mod Squad will be on hand at Sunday's event to assist with membership and publication purchases. Memberships and publications make excellent gifts! News & Upcoming Events Docomomo US National Tour Day in Houston Thanks for attending the tour held on Sunday, October 13 where we explored the work of John S. Chase and others on the TSU campus and beyond. The event consisted of a walking tour and a driving tour. Requests for additional dates are being considered. After Alden: Midcentury Architecture in Brazosport, Texas Houston Mod's new publication by Marty Merritt, with a forward by Stephen Fox and photography by Benjamin Hill, will be available at Sunday's event along with our other publications. Or, you may purchase a copy online at the Houston Mod Squareup shop Houston Mod Preservation Awards Members should submit nominations for the 2019 slate. Awards will be presented at the Houston Mod holiday event scheduled for Thursday, December 5th.

Docomomo US Diversity Tour John Chase, FAIA, Texas Southern University and the Third Ward Houston Mod invites you to join us Sunday, October 13, 2019 for a walking tour of the Texas Southern University Campus at 2:30 PM and Self-guided driving tour of the Third Ward Walking Tour Start South side of TSU East Parking Garage - 3711 Cobb Street (enter parking garage from Tierwester Street, north of Cleburne Street; fee $1/hr up to $3 max; usually free on Sundays) Martin Luther King, Jr. School of Communications (1969) John S. Chase FAIA (1925 - 2012) was from Baltimore, Maryland. After serving in WWII, he earned a degree in architecture from Hampton University in Virginia. In 1952, he earned a Master’s Degree in Architecture from the University of Texas, becoming the first African American person to do so. He soon became the first registered African American architect in Texas. Unable to find work, he started his own firm, specializing in the design of churches and houses. His early work was inspired mostly by Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian ideals. He moved to Houston to accept a position at Texas Southern University, the beginning of his involvement with the campus. Through his office in Houston, he designed a number of buildings for the TSU campus, where the largest collection of his work can be found. John Chase’s legacy extends beyond his own work. As a founding member of NOMA (National Organization of Minority Architects) in 1971 and throughout his long career, he continued to advocate for and support minority architects. Texas Southern University Campus Walking Tour: Come join us and tour the heart of the TSU campus and view the buildings designed by John Chase that established a new direction for the campus master planning and architecture in the 1960s. We will start at the East Parking Garage (Smith & Company 2006) and walk south to the Thurgood Marshall School of Law (John S. Chase 1976). At the entrance to the central campus plaza, we will pass by the newest campus building, the Library Learning Center (Moody Nolan 2019). The tour extends west to the first campus building, Fairchild Hall (Cato, Austin, Evans 1947), home to the University Museum (founded 2000). Prominent art pieces by internationally renowned African American muralist painter John T. Biggers and sculptor Carroll Harris Simms are on display in the Museum and on the campus. Following the TSU Walking Tour, we encourage you to take the Self-Guided Driving Tour of the Third Ward (map will be available online). On the tour you will see buildings designed by John Chase including churches and residences. Additional prominent Third Ward sites designed by other architects are also highlighted.

Cc Bcc Slideshow View this email in your browser September Mod of the Month Houston Mod invites you to join us Sunday, September 29, 2019 for a Mod of the Month open house event from 2 - 4 PM. Please help us find a new preservation-minded owner for an exceptional modern design located 4 miles northeast of downtown Houston. Thanks to Houston MODern Market for sponsoring this FREE event. 2316 Harlem Street, Englewood, Houston, TX 77020 HAR Link | Google Map A different twist on vintage modern architecture was recently rediscovered and refreshed in Houston's historic Fifth Ward. The design is thought to be the work of the well-regarded architect John S. Chase. It was built in 1953 for Milton and Carrie Curtis in the Englewood neighborhood, near the Houston Ship Channel portion of Buffalo Bayou. Milton Curtis was associated with the International Longshoremen’s Association Local 872. John Chase designed ILA halls for several locals in the area, including Local 872 in 1956. The Curtis house was long a gathering place and symbol of pride for the neighborhood. John S. Chase (1925 - 20012) was from Baltimore, Maryland. After serving in WWII, he earned a degree in architecture from Hampton University in Virginia. In 1952, he earned a Masters Degree in Architecture from the University of Texas, becoming the first black person to do so. He soon became the first registered black architect in Texas. Unable to find work, he started his own firm and specialized in the design of churches and houses. His work was inspired mostly by Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian ideals. Later works include a number of buildings for the TSU campus, the largest collection of his work. Near Sunday's MOTM, don't miss Chase's First Shiloh Baptist Church of 1955 located at 4420 Lyons Avenue complete with a stunning minimalistic tower. The Mod Squad will be on hand at Sunday's event to assist with membership and publication purchases. Memberships and publications make excellent gifts! News & Upcoming Events Docomomo US National Tour Day in Houston On Sunday, October 13, we will continue to explore the work of John S. Chase. The event will consist of a walking tour and a driving tour. More details will be available soon. After Alden: Midcentury Architecture in Brazosport, Texas Houston Mod's new publication by Marty Merritt, with a forward by Stephen Fox and photography by Benjamin Hill, will be available at Sunday's event along with our other publications. Or, you may purchase a copy online at the Houston Mod Squareup shop Docomomo US National Symposium September 25-28, 2019 in Honolulu, Hawaii, a collaboration with the Docomomo Hawaii chapter. Learn more about for the celebration of Hawaii’s unique blend of East-meets-West tropical modernism.

Open houses August 25, 2019, 2 - 4 pm. Hear Stephen Fox at 2:20 PM at 1953 Richmond Avenue, an iconic steel-framed mod by Keeland and Taylor. Please park across the street. Visit Houstonmod.org for details.

July Mod of the Month Houston Mod invites you to join us Sunday, July 28, 2019 for a Mod of the Month open house event from 2 - 4 PM. Help us find new preservation-minded owners for these exceptional architect-designed vintage modern houses located about 3 and 11 miles southwest of downtown Houston. Noted architectural historian and Master Mod Stephen Fox will provide a brief talk at each house. Thanks to Houston MODern Market for sponsoring this FREE event. Click here for the Facebook Event Link 5306 Institute Lane, Jandor Gardens, Houston, Texas 77005 HAR Link | Google Map Architectural Talk by Stephen Fox at 2:15 PM Indoor and outdoor opportunities abound in this well organized two-level house designed by architect C. Herbert Paseur, FAIA (1925-2007) in 1968 for his family. Many original features and finishes remain intact in the well situated museum-district vintage-modern house. The original floor plans will be available. Glassman Shoemake Maldonado Architects (now GSMA) completed an award-winning renovation/restoration of the house in 2007. The Dean of the Rice School of Architecture and family later occupied the house. Herb Paseur grew up in Memphis, Tennessee and graduated from Oklahoma A&M (now OSU) with degrees in Architecture and Engineering. Soon after he joined the architecture firm of Caudill Rowlett Scott which later went public and grew to national prominence. Paseur served as President and CEO from 1971 - 1981. The firm became the largest architecture/engineering/construction corporation in the USA. In 1994, the firm was sold to HOK. 4158 Meyerwood Drive, Townhouse Manor, Houston, Texas 77025 HAR Link | Google Map Architectural Talk by Stephen Fox at 3:15 PM This is the center unit of a complex of three spectacular townhouses built to explore the practicality and advantages of the residential use of steel for the 1969 National Association of Home Builders convention. The 40,000 event attendees were driven from the Astrodome to tour the three units. The units appear unusually spacious from the use of long spanning glass walls and high ceilings. The center unit has light wells connecting the first and second levels. Forty-five tons of steel were used in the three townhouses. Visit the Houston Mod website for a full description and floor plan of the complex. Architects Fred Talbott Wilson, FAIA (1912-1988) and Hal Weatherford of Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson designed the complex. Wilson was from Houston and a 1935 graduate of the Rice Institute with a BS in Architecture degree. The Style in Steel Townhouses were designated in 2007 as a City of Houston Protected Landmark. The Mod Squad will be on hand at Sunday's event to assist with membership and publication purchases. Memberships and publications make excellent gifts! News & Events After Alden: Midcentury Architecture in Brazosport, Texas Houston Mod's new publication by Marty Merritt, with a forward by Stephen Fox and photography by Benjamin Hill, will be available at Sunday's event along with our other publications. Or, you may purchase a copy online at the Houston Mod Squareup shop. Where's the Book on my House? How to Research Historic Properties August 22, 2019, Houston Metropolitan Research Center program, 6:30 - 7:30 PM at the Julia Ideson Building, Meldrum Room. Docomomo US National Symposium September 25-28, 2019 in Honolulu, Hawaii, a collaboration with the Docomomo Hawaii chapter. Learn more and register for the celebration of Hawaii’s unique blend of East-meets-West tropical modernism. Save The Date October 12, 2019, Docomomo US National Tour Day - stay tuned for Houston Mod's Tour Day announcement! Tranquillity Park Walking Tour - Thank You! Thank you to all who participated in Houston Mod's Tranquillity Park Walking Tour in Celebration of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing 50th Anniversary on Saturday, July 20, 2019. A large crowd enjoyed the tour and discussion led by architect and Houston Mod board member, Kerry Goelzer. Houston Mod will keep you updated was we continue to educate the public on the local and national significance of the park and advocate against pending threats to this important public space. About Mod of the Month The Mod of the Month (MOTM) program, launched in 2006, was devised to promote the preservation of modern buildings by educating the public of their architectural and cultural importance in an attempt to show the buildings as desirable to a next generation of owners. The program received a Good Brick Award from Preservation Houston in 2009 and continues its important mission. MOTM's promote the preservation of Mid Century Modern architecture during a time when the properties are most vulnerable - when they are placed for sale. The value embodied within modern properties often goes unseen by the public and real estate agent who may list the property as a candidate for demolition or contemporary renovation. The original design concept, architect, and owners of modern homes are important, and provide both a quality space and history desired by many home seekers. Modern is historic? Yes! Properties that are at least 50 years old may be considered for historic designation by national, state, and local preservation programs. Most of the featured Mod of the Month homes are eligible for designation at the local level, and many at the state or national level. The City of Houston offers tax exemptions to owners for appropriate work conducted to improve locally designated historic homes. For more information on designating a modern property, contact the City of Houston Historic Preservation Office, or email Houston Mod at info@houstonmod.org.

Tranquillity Park Walking Tour In Celebration of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing 50th Anniversary Saturday, July 20, 2019, 6:00 PM Free, open to the public Tranquillity Park, Downtown Houston Meet at the corner of Smith St. & Rusk St. - plus - optional post walking tour moon landing anniversary activities at Discovery Green Tranquility Base was the landing location for the Apollo 11 Lunar Module, or “Eagle”, on July 16, 1969. Four days later, on July 20, 1969, astronaut Neil Armstrong declared upon landing on the moon, "Houston, Tranquility Base here, the Eagle has landed”. On July 20, 1979, Houston celebrated the anniversary of the first men to land on the moon at the opening dedication of Tranquillity Park. Before there was Discovery Park, Tranquillity Park served the role. Describing his design for the Houston Chronicle in July 1979, architect / landscape architect Charles R. Tapley said: “I see the park as a firecracker… It’s a place where things are going on, a place to mark a momentous event in an unusual way. It’s a discovery park.” Tranquillity Park design sketch by Charles R. Tapley, FAIA Houston Mod invites you to join us Saturday, July 20, 2019 to celebrate Tranquillity Park's 40th birthday and the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. Learn more about the park, including why the park’s name features two ‘Ls’, and explore commemorative design features including the earth and moon mounds; replica of Armstrong’s footprint on the moon; and rocket-like fountain heads that double as exhaust outlets for the parking garage below. After the tour, participants may choose to walk or ride the rail to Discovery Green's family-friendly Apollo 11 moon landing celebrations, which includes a screening of the widely acclaimed 2019 documentary, Apollo 11. Completed in August 1979, 10 years after the initial design concept was announced and the parcel was secured by the city, the creation of Tranquillity Park required conquering many complications. Planning, funding and implementing the design included several starts and stops. Now, at 40 years old, Tranquillity Park is vulnerable to insensitive alterations or demolition as its historic value becomes lesser-known, maintenance decreases, and current downtown improvement plans fail to recognize the importance of the site to our city and nation. Houston Mod seeks to shed light on the significance of Tranquillity Park as a masterful modernist urban park designed in celebration of one of our nation’s most significant historical events by Charles R. Tapley, an award-winning and influential architect and landscape architect. The design of the park is iconic of its era, defined by distinct geometric forms, dramatic topographic changes, water features, and native Texas trees and plants. We hope you will join us on Saturday, July 20 to learn more.

April Mod of the Month Houston Mod invites you to join us this Sunday, April 14, 2019 for a Mod of the Month open house event from 2 - 4 PM. At mid-point in MODern Month, we hope you will help us find a new preservation-minded owner for this outstanding vintage modern house located three miles west of downtown Houston. Thanks to Houston MODern Market for sponsoring this FREE event. 2930 Lazy Lane Boulevard, River Oaks Homewoods, Houston, Texas 77019 HAR Link | Google Map The John F. Maher House was designed by the firm Howard Barnstone (1923-1987) and Partner (Eugene Aubry b 1935) in 1964 and slotted between Bayou Bend and the Hugo V. Neuhaus residence, along Buffalo Bayou in the prominent Homewoods section of the River Oaks neighborhood. Barnstone described the steel framed house as a p-a-l-a-c-e. Architectural historian Stephen Fox describes it as Barnstone's most assured project of the 1960s and says it's epic. Many of Barnstone's buildings are threatened and others have been lost. Finding a preservation-minded owner for this house will allow it to remain one of Houston's most prominent architectural landmarks. Stephen Fox will give a talk about the house and about his soon to be released publication about the architecture of Howard Barnstone during the April Mod of the Month event. You may read a previous article on Barnstone by Stephen Fox in Cite Magazine, Fall 1987. The Mod Squad will be on hand at Sunday's event to assist with membership and publication purchases. Memberships and publications make excellent gifts! About Houston Mod & Mod of the Month Houston Mod is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to promoting knowledge and appreciation of modern architecture and design in Houston and Texas. Houston Mod advocates the preservation of this cultural legacy and seeks support from its members and the general public in achieving this goal. The Mod of the Month (MOTM) program, launched in 2006, was devised to promote the preservation of modern buildings by educating the public of their architectural and cultural importance in an attempt to show the buildings as desirable to a next generation of owners. The program received a Good Brick Award from Preservation Houston in 2009 and continues its important mission. MOTM's promote the preservation of Mid Century Modern architecture during a time when the properties are most vulnerable - when they are placed for sale. The value embodied within modern properties often goes unseen by the public and real estate agent who may list the property as a candidate for demolition or contemporary renovation. The original design concept, architect, and owners of modern homes are important, and provide both a quality space and history desired by many home seekers. Modern is historic? Yes! Properties that are at least 50 years old may be considered for historic designation by national, state, and local preservation programs. Most of the featured Mod of the Month homes are eligible for designation at the local level, many also at the state and/or national level. The City of Houston offers tax exemptions to owners for appropriate work conducted to improve locally designated historic homes. For more information on designating a modern property, contact the City of Houston Historic Preservation Office, or email Houston Mod at info@houstonmod.org. MODern Month Continues! MODern Month April 2019 continues with an AIA Houston Urban Art Walking Tour, Preservation Houston Victor Lundy book talk, Jones Hall concert, AIA Houston Historic Resources Committee Speaker Series, Miller Outdoor Theater concert, RDA Architecture Tour, Eames film screening, and much more. We hope you will all join us on Thursday, April 25 at 6 p.m. for the Houston Mod MODern Month Celebration at Design Within Reach. Marty Merritt will give a brief talk on his new book, After Alden: Midcentury Architecture in Brazosport, Texas. We have temporarily sold out of the publication online, but more will available at the event. Click the image below to download the complete MODern Month calendar of events PDF.

March Mod of the Month Houston Mod invites you to join us this Sunday, March 17, 2019 for a Mod of the Month open house event from 2 - 4 PM. Please help Houston Mod find a new preservation-minded owner for this vintage modern house in the Glenbrook Valley Historic District, located approximately 8 miles southeast of downtown Houston. Thanks to Houston MODern Market for sponsoring this FREE event. 8015 Glenforest Court, Glenbrook Valley, Houston, TX 77061 HAR Link | Google Map Last month's Mod of the Month house was the home of a NASA astronaut - the Space Age theme continues with the marvelous Sputnik House as the focus of the March event. The house was built in 1957, the same year as the launch of the world's first space satellite called Sputnik, which so captivated the period that the original owner put into orbit a replica floating above the front door. The Sputnik fixture is sensational as is the rest of the custom built house complete with sought after features like poured terrazzo floors, brick interior walls, pecky cypress siding, loads of custom cabinets and shelving, colorful original light fixtures, a handsome brick fireplace wall, baths with sparkling original ceramic tile, and glass sliding doors leading to a spacious patio and back yard. The house is prominently situated along a sweeping curve on a street of attractive mid-century era houses in the Glenbrook Valley neighborhood. In 2011, after a three year struggle, the neighborhood of 1,256 houses was designated the city's first historic district outside of the loop 610 freeway and is believed to be the largest mid-century era residential historic district in the United States. It is within Harris County and served by the Houston Independent School District. If you have more information about this, or other vintage modern houses and/or architects, please contact Houston Mod so we can include it in our Modern Houston Index on our soon to premier new website. In Other News April is MODern Month in Texas! This is the 10th annual celebration. The calendar will be available soon. If you are aware of an event focusing on modern design, please inform Houston Mod so it can be included. Look for a kickoff event at the first of the month. Modern Month brings attention to the importance of protecting modern architecture and design in Houston and Texas. Houston Mod publications and membershipsmake great gifts and are available online and at events. Our most recent publication, Constructing Houston's Future, The Architecture of Arthur Evan Jones & Lloyd Morgan Jones, by Ben Koush is our gift to you for joining or renewing at the benefactor level or above. Look for our upcoming publication release titled After Alden about vintage modern architecture in the Brazosport-Lake Jackson area, available in April. Houston Mod is a friend organization of Docomomo US. Visit Docomomo US Latest News to keep up to date on the latest news on modernism celebration and advocacy efforts going on across the country. We hope you'll join us at Mod of the Month!

Sorry our posts don't seem to come through very well on the new HAIF.

February Mod of the Month Houston Mod invites you to join us this Sunday, February 24, 2019 for a Mod of the Month open house event from 2 - 4 PM. Please join us for an open-house event to help find a new preservation-minded owner for this vintage modern house in the Bayou Bend neighborhood of Dickinson located approximately 29 miles south of downtown Houston. Thanks to Houston MODern Market for sponsoring this FREE event. 221 West Bayou Drive, Dickinson, Texas 77539 HAR Link | Google Map This true space age mod, built in 1962 for the NASA Director of Engineering & Development, is situated on 1.4 waterfront acres along picturesque Dickinson Bayou. The property has recently been thoughtfully restored and updated by the daughter of the original owners. The approach to the house is made by a sweeping circular drive leading to a spacious covered porch complemented by an open screen block wall, large spherical hanging light fixture, and a double-door entrance surrounded by glass. The entry sequence continues through an ample brick-walled foyer opening wide to the family room with high beamed ceiling and three walls of glass viewing the swimming pool and treed bayou-scape complete with dock. Four bedrooms, 4-1/2 baths, fully stocked mother-in-law apartment, and many more additional features complete the scene. The house was built for Maxime A. Faget (pronounced fa-jay) who came to the area in 1961. He designed the Mercury spacecraft and contributed to the design of the Gemini and Apollo spacecraft as well as the Space Shuttle. Bayou Bend is a subdivision of 59 properties located in Galveston County and served by the Dickinson Independent School District. Another Mod of Interest: This house on Oleander Drive will also be open on Sunday, 2 - 5 PM, and is only a few miles away from the Mod of the Month. 1701 Oleander Drive, Dickinson, Texas, 77539 HAR Link | Google Map If you have more information about these, or other vintage modern houses and/or architects, please contact Houston Mod so we can include it in our Modern Houston Index on our soon to premier new website. News & Upcoming Mod-ness April is Modern Month in Texas! This is the 10th annual celebration. If you know of an event focusing on modern design, please inform Houston Mod so it can be included on the event roster. Look for a kickoff event at the first of the month. Modern Month brings attention to the importance of protecting modern architecture and design in Houston and Texas. Special thanks to architectural historian Stephen Fox for guiding a marvelous two day tour of Corpus Christi past weekend. The excitement was so great over all there is to see that the list of things to see next time is already being compiled. Thanks to everyone who participated! We welcome your thoughts on the next mod tour at info@houstonmod.org Houston Mod publications and memberships make great gifts and are available online and at events. Our most recent publication, Constructing Houston's Future, The Architecture of Arthur Evan Jones & Lloyd Morgan Jones, by Ben Koush is our gift to you for joining or renewing at the benefactor level or above. Look for our upcoming publication release about modernism in the Brazosport-Lake Jackson area very soon. Houston Mod is a friend organization of Docomomo US. Visit Docomomo US Latest News to keep up to date on the latest news on modernism celebration and advocacy efforts going on across the country Visit their Latest News (click) to keep informed on additional modern preservation issues.

Sorry for the delayed post. HAIF was offline when this took place. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- December Mod of the Month Houston Mod invites you to join us Sunday, December 30, 2018 for a Mod of the Month open house event from 2 - 4 PM. Please join us for an open house to help find the perfect tenants for this vintage modern house for lease in the Parkwest neighborhood, located approximately 10 miles southwest of downtown Houston. Thanks to Houston MODern Market for sponsoring this FREE event. 10911 Rampart Street, Houston, TX 77096 HAR Link | Google Map This feature-packed 1959 vintage contemporary house was custom built by the parents of its current owner who has respectfully refreshed it to sparkle once again. The design responds to the corner location providing entrances within brick walled courtyards from both streets. Each entry courtyard features perforated brick walls and illuminated landscape features. The U-shaped plan yields a central patio, accessible from several rooms, viewed through an expansive array of plate glass windows in the den. Many original features remain including light fixtures, wood cabinetry and terrazzo floor. The original kitchen has been revived with sensational turquoise-colored retro appliances. Parkwest is a deed-restricted community within the City of Houston and is served by the HISD. There are 956 houses with a median size of 2,200 SF and median 1960 construction date. Several vintage contemporary style houses are generally located on each block. Another Mod of Interest: This home on Sandpiper Drive in the Larkwood neighborhood, located only a few miles from the Parkwest Mod of the Month. The house was featured as a Mod of the Month in 2014, and once again is in need of a mod-minded new owner. See it on Saturday, December 29, 10 AM – 1 PM at an open house hosted by the listing agent, or drive-by Sunday after visiting the Mod of the Month. 8901 Sandpiper Drive, Houston, Texas, 77074 HAR Link | Google Map If you have more information about these, or other vintage modern houses and/or architects, please contact Houston Mod so we can include it in our Modern Houston Index on our soon to premier new website. Houston Mod publications and memberships make great gifts and are available online and at events. Our most recent publication, Constructing Houston's Future, The Architecture of Arthur Evan Jones & Lloyd Morgan Jones, by Ben Koush is our gift to you for joining or renewing at the benefactor level or above. Save the Date! Noted architectural historian and Master Mod Stephen Fox is planning the third segment of a mod tour of Texas, this time covering the Corpus Christi area planned for February 15 - 16, 2019. More information will be made available soon.

November Mod of the Month Houston Mod invites you to join us this Sunday, November 18, 2018, for a Mod of the Month open house event from 2 - 4 PM. Help us find a new preservation-minded owner for this vintage modern house located in the Parkwest neighborhood, about 10 miles southwest of downtown Houston. Thanks to Houston MODern Market for sponsoring this FREE event. 6027 Cartagena Street, Houston, TX 77024 HAR Link | Google Map Located about two miles outside the loop in the attractive Parkwest neighborhood, this nifty vintage contemporary style house has been carefully preserved and thoughtfully updated. The sensible flow of the original 1960 layout has been preserved yet freshened and refinished to sparkle once again. Note the broad glass expanse with views to the beamed patio. The den features a raised ceiling, and the kitchen's flush-front cabinetry has been renewed. Parkwest is a deed-restricted community within the City of Houston and is served by the HISD. There are 956 houses with a median size of 2,200 SF and median 1960 construction date. Several vintage contemporary style houses are generally located on each block. Other Mods of Interest: 5134 Braes Heather Drive in Meyerland is OPEN 12-2 on Saturday, November, 17 and said to have been designed by the same architect who designed the Astrodome! Note the vintage drawings shown in the listing. 4614 N. Roseneath Drive in Riverside Terrace is a large, well maintained early modern house, yet it is being promoted as a dream home construction site. If you have more information about these or other vintage modern homes and architects please contact Houston Mod so we can include it in our Modern Houston Index on our soon to premier all new website. We hope you will join us at Mod of the Month! News & Updates For those of you who braved the cold weather this past Tuesday evening, we hope you enjoyed the book launch event co-sponsored by Houston Mod at Pennzoil Place. Author Mark Lamster addressed questions provided by Stephen Fox. "The Man in the Glass House: Philip Johnson, Architect of the Modern Century" is available at Brazos Bookstore, as well as at several online bookstore outlets. Members, be on the lookout for your invitation to Houston Mod's greatly anticipated 2018 Holiday Party on December 8th at a spectacular 1959 vintage modern house in the Ayrshire neighborhood. Contact Houston Mod to check your membership status. The Mod Squad will be on hand at Sunday's MOTM event to assist with membership and publication purchases. Our newest publication, Constructing Houston's Future: The Architecture of Arthur Evans Jones by Ben Koush, is now available. Houston Mod memberships and publications make excellent gifts!

Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts and Tranquillity Park Walking Tour Saturday, October 13, 2018, 2 - 4 PM Docomomo US Tour Day 2018, Public Spaces - Inside and Out You are invited to join Houston Mod for a special walking tour in downtown Houston of the Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts designed by Caudill Rowlett Scott, 1966, and Tranquillity Park designed by Charles Tapley Associates, 1979. Small groups will be lead through Tranquillity Park, and around and inside Jones Hall with special access to behind the scenes areas. The tour will include a discussion on the historic significance of the spaces, the important role they have played in Houston's civic life, and future renovation plans. The event is part of Docomomo US Tour Day, an annual celebration of modern architecture and design where participants across the country simultaneously tour local modern sites. Tour Day includes over 50 tours in over 30 cities hosted by Docomomo US regional chapters and friends organizations. The theme for Tour Day 2018 is Public Spaces - Inside and Out. Houston Mod members and non-members are welcome to attend. Members were offered first chance to reserve tickets, but on Thursday, October 11 at 9 a.m. anyone may register for the event. Registration is required, so please sign up if you are interested! The event is free; a $10 suggested donation may be made if you feel so inclined. Professional AIA participants will earn 2 HSW learning units for attending. Share the tour with friends at the Facebook event page. Email info@houstonmod.org with any questions.

July Mod of the Month Houston Mod invites you to join us Sunday, July 22, 2018 for a Mod of the Month open house event from 2 - 4 PM. Help us find a new preservation-minded owner for this vintage modern house located in Katy, about 27 miles west of downtown Houston. Thanks to Houston MODern Market for sponsoring this FREE event. 1002 East Avenue, Katy, Texas 77493 HAR Link | Google Map "Contemporary Country" was the term favored by architect Wylie Vale for the style he perfected and employed for the Arthur & Madalyn Miller house, built near downtown Katy in the early 1950's. Miller was a long-time mayor and civic leader of Katy. Still prized elements of expansive windows, deep roof overhangs, natural stone walls, floors and fireplace, and fine woods enrich the design. The house has been thoughtfully preserved, keeping with the architects vision. Wylie Walker Vale (1913-2013) was from Missouri, moving to Houston as a teen. In 1939 he graduated from Rice Institute with a degree in architecture. After serving in World War II, he opened his own office often working with his wife Alliene who was an interior designer. They designed over 400 mostly upscale houses, often located in River Oaks and the Memorial areas of Houston. He also designed approximately 100 schools and 50 churches. Additional discoveries of his work are discussed on the Houston Mod page at the Houston Architecture Information Forum where an interview with Vale is also included. Vale's work is archived at the Woodson Research Center at Rice University. If you have more information about vintage modern designs or architects please contact Houston Mod so we can include it in our Modern Houston Index on our soon to premier all new website. We hope you will join us at Mod of the Month! News & Updates Landmark Pasadena skyscraper published in Architectural Forum in 1964 nears demolition. Read the Chronicle article covering the lawsuit filed by the City of Pasadena against the current owners of the former First Pasadena State Bank. Contact Pasadena officials to encourage preservation. Houston Mod Master Mod Robert P. Searcy will present the talk Glenbrook Valley: Houston's Mid-Century Modern Subdivision on Monday, July 30, 2018, 6 PM, at the Julia Ideson Library auditorium, 500 McKinney Avenue, Free Parking, additional information available by calling 713-622-5578 The Mod Squad will be on hand at Sunday's event to assist with membership and publication purchases. Our newest publication, Constructing Houston's Future: The Architecture of Arthur Evans Jones by Ben Koush, is now available. The next book talk and signing event with the author will be at Brazos Bookstore, on Thursday, August 9, 2018 at 7:00 pm. More details to follow closer to the event date.

Architects use Ram windows. Good news the 9110 Bassoon house is being saved! It seems to be having all the windows replaced with Ram products. Of course the best thing would have been to keep all the original windows in place. They can be cleaned and sealed to perform as new. Vinyl windows seem to ruin the looks of any house. They have the thick glossy plastic looking frames, far wider than the original windows, which reduces the glass area by 20-30%. They have to make the frames so wide because the vinyl is very flimsy.

April Mod of the Month Houston Mod invites you to join us this Sunday, April 15, 2018 for a Mod of the Month open house event from 2 - 4 PM. Now at the mid point in MODern Month, we hope you will help us find new preservation-minded owners for these vintage modern houses located in southwest Houston , about 7 and 10 miles from downtown. Thanks to Houston MODern Market for sponsoring this FREE event. 4127 Drummond Street, Ayrshire, Houston, Texas 77025 HAR Link | Google Map This meticulously maintained vintage modern house is situated on a shady suburban cul de sac containing other well designed vintage modern houses, some by architects that worked together in varying arrangements for many years. 4127 Drummond was designed circa 1953 by the firm of Philip G. Willard (1913-1993) and Lucian T. Hood, Jr. (1916-2001). The house is modern yet remains warm and inviting due to the use of wood floors and ceilings, a magnificent stone fireplace, indirect lighting, and expansive windows opening to a spacious lawn and pool terrace. Philip Willard started his career in Fort Worth but moved to Houston around 1946 and opened his own firm. Shortly after he hired Lucian Hood, and several other top UH architecture students, who stayed with the firm after graduation. Willard was an active business developer and the firm designed over 1,000 houses (many unbuilt) in this early period. Willard was also involved with a ceramic building system he employed on many of their designs. Lucian Hood went on to work with Lars Bang, then started his own firm where he designed apartment complexes, car dealerships, and an abundance of mostly large-scale houses. He was extremely skilled in his graphic communications and drawing packages that may be considered works of art. As styles changed, his designs became more traditional. Unfortunately, many of his most spectacular modern designs have been demolished and many design records lost. The later portions of his archive are now secure at the University of Houston, having been donated by William Carl, facilitated by Houston Mod. 5702 Warm Springs, Westbury, Houston, Texas 77035 HAR Link | Google Map Design symmetry is explored in this unique flat-roofed vintage modern house built in the Westbury neighborhood for the 1959 Parade of Homes by the Houston Home Builders Research Corporation. The design was inspired by survey results of what home buyers wanted in a new home. The house has an impressive double door front entrance leading to a spacious foyer with an original floor to ceiling ceramic tile mural. The fantastic kitchen, suitable for the most stylish of mid-century TV shows, is the focal point to which the living spaces are organized. The house was designed by Knostman & Webster who were in charge of the architectural committee for the 1959 Parade of Homes and designed two additional houses in the show. More Mods of Interest Available in the Area 2527 Glen Haven Boulevard, Braeswood, 77030 - Drive-by, agent happy to show with appointment 5235 Kingfisher Drive, Westbury, 77035 - Drive-by If you have more information about these houses, architects, or others in the area, please inform Houston Mod so we can include it in our Modern Houston Index on our soon to premier all new website. We hope to see you at Mod of the Month! News & Updates MODern Month April 2018 continues with weekly museum tours, nightly light and sound show at Rice, daily John Chase exhibition, Menil art talk, film screening, architecture walking tour, a building tour, Rothko talk, and a Jones Hall concert. Download the MODern Month roster for more information. The Mod Squad will be on hand at Sunday's event to assist with membership and publication purchases. Our newest publication, Constructing Houston's Future: The Architecture of Arthur Evans Jones by Ben Koush, is now available. Memberships and publications make excellent gifts! About Houston Mod & Mod of the Month Houston Mod is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to promoting knowledge and appreciation of modern architecture and design in Houston and Texas. Houston Mod advocates the preservation of this cultural legacy and seeks support from its members and the general public in achieving this goal. The Mod of the Month program, launched in 2006, was devised to promote the preservation of modern buildings by educating the public of their architectural and cultural importance in an attempt to show the buildings as desirable to a next generation of owners. The program received a Good Brick Award from Preservation Houston in 2009 and continues its important mission. The MOTM program promotes the preservation of Mid Century Modern (MCM) architecture during a time when the properties are most vulnerable - when they are placed for sale. The value embodied within MCM properties often goes unseen by the ordinary citizen and real estate agent who may list the property as a candidate for demolition or contemporary renovation. The original design concept, architect, and owners of modern homes are important, and provide both a quality space and history desired by many home seekers. Modern is historic? Yes! Properties that are at least 50 years old may be considered for historic designation by national, state, and local preservation programs. Most of the featured Mod of the Month homes are eligible for designation at the local level, many also at the state and/or national level. The City of Houston offers tax exemptions to owners for appropriate work conducted to improve locally designated historic homes. For more information on designating a modern property, contact the City of Houston Historic Preservation Office, or email Houston Mod at info@houstonmod.org.

December Mod of the Month Houston Mod invites you to join us this Sunday, December 17, 2017 for a Mod of the Month open house event from 2 - 4 PM. Please help us find new preservation-minded owners for two vintage modern houses located in the Braeswood area, about 6 miles southwest of downtown Houston. Both houses were designed by the highly regarded architect Joseph Krakower with assistance from Herb Greene, who later achieved international acclaim with his own practice. The houses are listed in the AIA Houston Architecture Guide. Unfortunately, both houses were damaged by Hurricane Harvey. Event parking is available on Glen Arbor as well as on Edloe and Tartan Streets. Thanks to Houston MODern Market for sponsoring this FREE event. 3611 North Braeswood Boulevard, Braes Heights, Houston, Texas 77025 HAR Link | Google Map A triangular theme pervades in this 1958 house designed for the Dr. David Mendell family. Indoor and outdoor seamlessly meld, and portions of the flat roof seem to float above the dramatic fireplace. Outstanding details include the continuous ribbon windows, canted sliding cabinet doors, angled roof supports, upturned roof corners, and triangular-shaped wood siding elements. The spacious layout includes four bedrooms and three bathrooms plus a tropically landscaped swimming pool. This is a stunningly attractive creation. 3615 North Braeswood Boulevard, Braes Heights, Houston, Texas 77025 Google Map Krakower & Greene designed this house in 1957 for the Salzman family who owned it until 2014. The design details are unusually refined featuring pyramidal volumes over the front facing dining and bed rooms which also feature corner-placed plate glass windows. The house was recently renovated. The owners are considering selling or raising the house. Joseph David Krakower was born in Houston and graduated from Rice Institute in 1943 with a BS in architecture. He then attended USC where he earned a Masters in Architecture degree in 1947. He worked for Robert Kerrah and Lenard Gabert before starting his own firm in 1949. Krakower also designed the Barvin house once located at 3506 Glen Arbor. Herb Greene was Krakower's designer from 1954 to 1958. He was born in New York and graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1952. He studied under and worked for Bruce Goff in Oklahoma and also worked for John Lautner before coming to Houston. In Other News If you have more information about these houses, architects, or others in the area, please inform Houston Mod so we can include it in our Modern Houston Index on our website. Look for an all new HoustonMod.org website coming soon! The Mod Squad will be on hand at Sunday's event to assist with membership and publication purchases. The new Houston Mod publication, Constructing Houston's Future: The Architecture of Arthur Evans Jones, by Ben Koush, is now available. Houston Mod memberships and publications make excellent gifts! The 2017 Houston Mod Preservation Awards were presented last week at the Houston Mod Holiday Party. Visit the Houston Mod website or Facebook page to learn about the recipients. An architectural tour of the Mid-Texas Gulf Coast is planned for late January 2018. Ensure your membership is current to receive an invitation. We hope to see you at Mod of the Month! Houston Mod is dedicated to promoting knowledge and appreciation of modern architecture and design in Houston and Texas and advocates the preservation of this cultural legacy, seeking support from its members and the general public in achieving this goal. Copyright © 2017 Houston Mod, P.O. Box 541353, Houston, TX 77254, All rights reserved.

The folks listing 430 Faust have decided to open the house for the event. So now there are two houses to tour and three to drive-by on Sunday. These are well designed vintage mods in a great location with excellent public schools.

October Mod of the Month Houston Mod invites you to join us Sunday, October 29, 2017 for a Mod of the Month open house event from 2 - 4 PM. Please help us find new preservation-minded owners for these vintage modern houses located in the Memorial area, about 12 miles west of downtown Houston. Thanks to Houston MODern Market for sponsoring this FREE event. 419 Isolde Drive, Memorial Bend, Houston, TX 77024 HAR Link http://www.har.com/419-isolde/sale_43615922 The Memorial Bend area includes one of Houston's greatest concentrations of architect-designed vintage modern houses. Early promotions for the area proclaimed it had more good contemporaries than any other subdivision in Houston. This circa 1959 flat-roofed house was designed by architect William Floyd in his trademark handsomely restrained manner. It has been carefully maintained and thoughtfully enlarged by its architect-owner. Unfortunately, it recently flooded, for the first time. William Norman Floyd (1910-2004) was from Oklahoma and a graduate of the University of Oklahoma. He moved to Houston after World War II and designed hundreds of modern houses for a number of subdivisions. He became an early investor in Memorial Bend and designed 50 of its houses. Many of his designs were published locally and nationally. Several architects, past and present, chose to live in houses in this area. More Mods of Interest Available in the Area: 430 Faust Lane, Memorial Bend, 77024 - stop and take a look inside through the windows 12922 Figaro Drive, Memorial Bend, 77024 - drive-by 12815 Hansel Drive, Memorial Bend, 77024 - drive-by 311 Gershwin Drive, Memorial Glen, 77079 - drive-by Learn more about the area at The Architecture of Memorial Bend website created by Houston Mod co-founder Michael Brichford. This rich online resource features researched information about the neighborhood along with addresses of the vintage modern houses, making an area tour an enlightening experience. If you have more information about these houses, architects, or others in the area, please inform Houston Mod so we can include it in our Modern Houston Index on our website. The Mod Squad will be on hand at Sunday's event to assist with membership and publication purchases. Our newest publication, Constructing Houston's Future: The Architecture of Arthur Evans Jones ,by Ben Koush, is now available. Memberships and publications make excellent gifts! The 2017 Houston Mod Preservation Awards will be presented at the Houston Mod Holiday Party on December 9th, hosted at a significant house designed by architects MacKie & Kamrath. Ensure your membership is current to receive an invitation to this can't miss event! We hope to see you at Mod of the Month.

August Mod of the Month-Part II Houston Mod invites you to join us Sunday, August 13, 2017, for a Mod of the Month open house event from 2 – 4 PM. Please help us find new preservation-minded owners for these vintage modern houses located in the Memorial area, about 7 miles west of downtown Houston. Thanks to Houston Modern Market for sponsoring this FREE event. House 1: 611 Timber Terrace Road, Houston, Texas 77024 http://www.har.com/611-timber-terrace-rd/sale_15440579 Architect Phillip G. Willard designed and built this substantial and lively house in the late 1950’s. Securely perched along a ravine edge, the design takes full advantage of the lush wooded setting. Sought-after original design elements remain in good condition including terrazzo floors, sloped ceilings, mod lighting displays, translucent fiberglass partitions, walls of glass and sliding glass doors, exposed brick interior walls, original kitchen, cantilevered room and deck, and more. The house is mainly constructed of masonry products, including the roof decking making it fire and storm resistant. Phil Willard was from San Antonio and a 1934 graduate of the University of Texas. He was first registered to practice architecture in Texas in 1937. He moved to Houston from Ft. Worth about 1945 and opened a successful firm where he employed many of the top students from the UH College of Architecture. The Ceramic Construction Company was founded to produce buildimgs with his system. His buildings using the technique are highly acclaimed. Mrs. Willard was an interior designer and had her own furniture and design store. House 2: 10326 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77024<br> http://www.har.com/10326-memorial-dr/sale_86139978 This one level vintage contemporary style house is located on a spacious Memorial Drive lot in prestigious Hunters Creek Village. The design is handsome, incorporating an asymmetrical slightly pitched roof, abundant tall windows, and exposed indoor-outdoor beams. It has been carefully maintained and is ready for its next preservation-minded owner. Other Mods of interest in the area: 11100 Wickdale Dr.- Don’t miss seeing the photos of this James Bond-worthy mod by architect Jack Stehling. 530 Trails End- Another one-owner, flat roofed, terrazzo floored modern house deserving to be saved by a mod-minded new owner. If you have more information about these houses, architects, or others in the area, please inform Houston Mod so we can include it in our Modern Houston Index on our website. Houston Mod volunteers will be on hand Sunday to assist with memberships and providing publications. Tell us about great acts of local modern preservation by picking up and completing a nomination form for the next round of the Houston Mod Preservation Awards. We hope to see you at Mod of the Month! Houston Mod is a non-profit, 501 (C)(3), membership organization dedicated to promoting the knowledge and appreciation of modern architecture and design in Houston and Texas. Houston Mod advocates the preservation of this cultural legacy and seeks support from its members and the public in achieving this goal.

I have been thinking about the Ron Stone Cowboy today. Was there a costume and special song lyrics to this routine? How about a sidekick named DJ? A video? Such fun on The Scene at Five. I am still loyal to Channel 2 from the great memories.

August Mod of the Month - Part I Houston Mod invites you to join us this Sunday, August 6, 2017 for a Mod of the Month open house event from 2 - 4 PM. Please help us find new preservation-minded owners for several vintage modern homes in Glenbrook Valley, located about 7 miles southeast of downtown Houston. Glenbrook Valley was designated as a City of Houston Historic District in 2011 and is the largest postwar historic district in the nation. Come see all of the recent improvements made by the city, county, and homeowners. Thanks to Houston MODern Market for sponsoring this FREE event. 7911 Santa Elena Street, Glenbrook Valley, Houston, TX 77061 HAR Link | Google Map Architects Symond Doughtie and Jack Porterfield took full advantage of this expansive lot in the hilly portion of Glenbrook Valley and created one of the areas most spectacular vintage modern homes. The house was built in 1955 for the Richardson family. In 1960 the family again engaged the architects to add the second level party lounge. The current homeowner received a Houston Mod Preservation Award in 2011 for the careful restoration and renovation of the house. Doughtie and Porterfield worked mainly in the Pasadena, Texas area. They participated in the design of the spectacular 1st Pasadena State Bank building with MacKie & Kamrath and maintained their offices there for many years. 8226 Glencrest Street, Glenbrook Valley, Houston, TX 77061 HAR Link | Google Map This swanky mid-century ranch-style house maintains most of its original design features and is located in one of the nicest areas of the neighborhood. The long narrow brick used on this house is known as Roman brick which was preferred by architect Frank Lloyd Wright for many of his Prairie style designs. The brick shape reinforces the horizontal theme. The tiled bathrooms have been restored to their mid-century character. 7718 Meadville Drive, Glenbrook Valley, Houston, TX 77061 HAR Link | Google Map This glider-winged-like mod floated in for landing near Hobby Airport in 1960 (but it is not in the flight path) and is now ready for its next excursion. Original design elements were refurbished whenever possible, and those that couldn't be saved were thoughtfully replaced. Vintage elements are found throughout the home including a starburst front door escutcheon, interior brick and wood walls, vintage tiles, lighting fixtures, and original kitchen cabinets. The once enclosed carport has been restored to the architects intended open vision. The architectural firm of Chustz & Wheeler designed the house. The original plans are framed and on display in the house. Roy Francis Chustz graduated from the University of Houston in 1950. If you know more about Chustz & Wheeler, Houston Mod would love to hear about it: info@houstonmod.org. Additional Area Houses to Consider: 8103 Glenvista Street: A large, very affordable, mid-century ranch-style house with many nifty features intact, just needing a bit of work. 8007 Glenloch Street: Long-time neighbors say this house originally had a flat roof and atrium. It will be a challenge to restore, but with its almost two acre bayou lot and good bones, it may be well worth the effort. If you have more information about these architects, houses or others in the area please inform Houston Mod so we can include it in our Modern Houston Index on our website. Be on the lookout for information on the August Mod of the Month - Part II event on August 13 in the Memorial area. The Mod Squad will be available Sunday to help renew memberships and provide Houston Mod publications. We hope to see you at the Mod of the Month!

Hello Alley. What is your fathers name? Do you have any of his archive? I toured both 10602 and 10607 Olympia in late '93 or early '94 when they were for sale. At that point, there was no information about them other than they were model homes. On 10607, the front door was a translucent plastic/fiberglass exactly like the one at our Mod of the Month on Boros Drive in Hunters Creek last year. There is another door like this in Braeburn Valley at a house by Maggie Plumb. 10607 was unique and still original and in good condition in 1994. It did not need to be put back together. Evidently the new owner did not understand/appreciate it and covered over much of the original details and added others. Do you remember the kitchen? It was covered in black lava rock and seemed like a cave. The kitchen was a small room at the rear of the house with a door that opened to the narrow strip of space behind the house. This house has two front yards, one in the normal place and another behind a wall along the building setback line. There is no back yard, only a utility easement behind the house. I have some newspaper copies about the 1960 Parade but very few stories that year mention the architect's names. The promotion for 10607 Olympia says the builder was W. L. Kilgore, JR. and the caption under the photo says SPANISH-CONTEMPORARY DESIGN EXCITEMENT...A waterfall in the living room of this 4-bedroom, 4-bath all electric two-story home...all masonry and glass. W L Kilgore, 4116 Dennis Street. 10602 Olympia was by Dick Coneway's Harmony Homes. Coneway was trained as an architect, according to Lars Bang who worked some with him but not on this house. The exterior is described as functional of new Miami Stone in a sandalwood coffee color. The east courtyard walls were originally diagonal in keeping with the floor plan but have been changed about ten years ago to align with the street. Part of the original promotion was that no flat walls face the streets.

May Mod of the Month Houston Mod invites you to join us this Sunday, May 21, 2017 for a Mod of the Month open house event from 1 - 4 PM. (Note: time schedule varies for each house) Please help us find new preservation-minded owners for two vintage modern houses located near the center of Houston, one only a mile south of downtown and the other about three miles southwest of downtown. Thanks to Houston MODern Market for sponsoring this FREE event. 1638 Banks Street, North Edgemont, Houston, Texas 77006 Open 1-3 PM | HAR Link | Google Map In February, Houston Mod featured the historic modern house of architect S. I. Morris of Wilson, Morris, Crain and Anderson. We are now pleased to feature the house his partner Ralph Anderson designed for his own use in 1960. The flat-roofed court yard house is hidden behind a nifty geometric patterned front screen wall seamlessly incorporating the entrance. Ralph Alexander Anderson (1923-1990) was a graduate of Rice Institute. He joined Wilson, Morris & Crane in 1947 and became a partner in 1952. In 1962 his name was added to the firm name. He was primarily responsible for design in the Houston office. He is most well known for his work on the Astrodome and the Houston Post building. 2918 St. Emanuel Street, Park Court, Houston, Texas 77004 Open 2-4 PM | HAR Link | Google Map Callie Cullinan Pride Hill (d. 2003), beloved Houston educator, had a goal of building an avant-garde modern house for her family. When she started the project in 1951 there were no registered black architects in the state of Texas. She turned to George Edward Haynes (1921-2001) for design assistance. Haynes was the mechanical drawing instructor at Washington High School where Mrs. Hill also taught. Haynes later was principal of Kashmere High School and an HISD administrator. The house has been lovingly maintained by the Hill family. Special features of the house include dynamic low-pitched roof planes, integral carport, hidden attached garage, textured glass entrance screen, built-in hi-fi sound system, vanity table, and a cedar closet for the fur coat Mrs. Hill planned to own one day. The house is located on the edge of downtown next to Emancipation Park. Annual Juneteenth festivities and celebrations for the completion of a major redevelopment will be hosted at the park on Saturday, June 17. The Mod Squad will be available Sunday to help renew memberships and provide Houston Mod publications. We hope to see you at Mod of the Month!

View this email in your browser April Mod of the Month Houston Mod invites you to join us this Sunday, April 23, 2017 for a Mod of the Month open house event from 2 - 4 PM. MODern Month continues with several more events to round out the celebration, including a special Mod of the Month this Sunday. Please help us find new preservation-minded owners for two vintage modern houses located in the cities of Southside Place and West University Place, about five miles southwest of downtown. Thanks to Houston MODern Market for sponsoring this FREE event. 3704 Carlon Street, Southside Place, Houston, TX 77005 HAR Link | Google Map Houston Mod ventures into the of preservation of newer modern architecture by featuring this handsome 1989 design by the noted Seattle architect Garrett Larsen. The design is a restrained postmodern style and reflects the owner’s interest in Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. Architectural historian Stephen Fox has provided a detailed description of the house and will attend Sunday’s event to discuss the design. Garrett Larsen is an architect in the Seattle area, based in Bainbridge Island, Washington. He is a graduate of the University of Washington and became a registered architect in 1975. 6707 Buffalo Speedway, West University Place, Houston, TX 77005 HAR Link | Google Map Vintage modern houses are an uncommon find in West University Place yet here is one with nifty details and in great condition. Architect Matt E. Howard, Jr. designed this 1956 contemporary /modern style house. Howard designed several of the most interesting buildings at Wharton County Junior College in Wharton, Texas. He also designed two houses in Meyerland built for the 1955 Parade of Homes located at 5114 and 5126 Jackwood. Matt E. Howard, Jr. was an award winning architect and national president of the Society of American Registered Architects in 1960 and a fellow of the organization. The Mod Squad will be available Sunday to help renew memberships and provide Houston Mod publications. We hope to see you at Mod of the Month!