Subdude Posted February 1, 2005 Share Posted February 1, 2005 January 2005THE WORD OF MODHighlights from 2004 include:House Party #62 - A members-only party at the Carter House of 1960 designedby Wilson Morris Crain & AndersonParticipation in the Rice Design Alliance "Snapshot Exhibition", featuringHouston Mod's list of "Top Ten Endangered Buildings in Houston"Houston's Mod's first Architecture Tour - a two-and-a-half hour tour withhistorian Stephen Fox and preservationist Anna Mod of the Upper KirbyDistrict's Richmond Corridor. The tour was held in conjunction with theLawndale Art Center's 20th Century Modern MarketOur second annual August lecture - Over 400 people attended a lecturepresented by Leo Marmol of Marmol Radziner and Associates at the MFAH,Houston. Marmol, along with founding partner, Ron Radziner, was named one ofthe "hottest young architects in Los Angeles" by The New York Times. Hislecture focused on his firm's experience in restoring historic modernproperties while also discussing the tragic loss of modern structures suchas Richard Neutra's Maslon house of 1963 in Rancho Mirage, CaliforniaA post-lecture reception at the L.D. Allen House of 1936 designed by Wirtz &CalhounPress coverage in publications such as Architecture, Architectural Record,Cite, PaperCity, Houston Chronicle, Houston Lifestyles & Homes, ArtsHouston, Houston Business Journal, Houston Press, 002 Magazine andPreservation Texas Reporter____________________In the coming year, we have more exciting events planned to raise awarenessof the importance of preservation and modern design to the community.____________________MOD DOCUMENTATIONBousquet House, 1941, Donald BarthelmeThe Bousquet house is of the utmost significance to the architecturalheritage of Houston. The architect, Donald Barthelme, was the perhaps the most important modernist working in Texas from the late 1930s to the early 1950s. His work was widely published and he was considered significantenough to be listed as one of the "Masters of Modern Architecture" along with Mies, Le Corbusier and Wright in John Peter's widely read book of 1958 of the same title.The Bousquet House is the last example of Barthelme's work in Houston that remains in a recognizable form. His two masterpieces, the ADA Oil Building of 1957 and his own house of 1941 have been destroyed in the last few years. The current owner of the Bousquet House, Henry Wightman, has resided there since the early 1960s when he purchased the house from the Bousquet's. Mr. Wightman has made relatively few changes and the house is a perfect illustration of pre-war domestic architecture and technology.The Bousquet house is located on its original lot in River Oaks, wheresurging property values often relegate houses of this size and age to the status of "tear-down". Realizing the importance of this structure and the tentative nature of the Houston residential market, Houston Mod hasorganized an initiative to document the house.Houston Mod, with permission from Mr. Wightman, has sponsored the historic preservation program of the University of Houston to document the house for the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS). In addition to assisting with the organization of an exhibition for the Bousquet House and HABSdocumentation, Houston Mod also assisted in securing a place for the houseon the upcoming RDA Spring House tour: Modern Mode: Houston Architecture at Mid-Century (see below).The exhibition will be held at the University Of Houston College ofArchitecture Archives from March 14 to April 22. A reception showcasing the student documentation of the Bousquet house and work of the architect,Donald Barthelme will take place at the Archives on Friday, March 25. All Houston Mod members are invited to attend.Lastly, Houston Mod is currently at work on producing a document to record all the information gathered about the house by the students and from the archives of Donald Barthelme. The archives were recently donated to theUniversity of Houston due largely to the efforts of Houston Mod co-founderBen Koush, who initially contacted the architect's heir and made the request.Houston Mod will produce the document with the aid of award-winning graphic designer Chris Promecene of PaperCity Creative Services. The publication will be available for sale at the exhibition and upcoming tour. Initial estimates for the production costs are approximately $5,000. If you would like to make a monetary donation or take sponsorship of this publication, please contact Sally Joyce at sally@houstonmod.org. If you would like to volunteer time and talent to the effort, please contact Ben Koush atben@houstonmod.org.____________________Rice Design Alliance, in collaboration with Houston Mod, Presents the 2005 Architecture TourModern Mode:Houston Architecture at Mid-CenturyThe Rice Design Alliance (RDA) will hold its 28th annual architecture tour on Saturday and Sunday, April 2-3, 2005, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. This year RDA will collaborate with Houston Mod to highlight the buildings and architects on the forefront of Houston's modern architecture movement in the 1950s and '60s. RDA has held architecture tours every year since 1975 to acquaint Houstonians with the best examples of architecture, interiordesign, and landscape design in the city.Houses on the tour include:6328 Brookside, 1950Allen Williams3981 Del Monte, 1941Donald Barthelme315 Teakwood, 1967Marvin K. Gordy10923 Kirwick Street, 1963Caudill Rowlett Scott5203 Stamper Way, 1955Harwood Taylor4156 & 4160 Meyerwood Drive, 1968Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson19011 Willowisp Drive, 1956William R. JenkinsThe tour is open only to RDA members and guests. Memberships beginning at $35 can be purchased at any of the houses on the tour and include acomplimentary tour ticket (Family level and above include two complimentarytickets). Tickets for all eight houses are $15; $10 for students and seniorcitizens (65 years and older). Houston Mod members can purchase a $15 ticketwithout becoming an RDA member.____________________MID CENTURY MOD MAPHouston Mod is in the process of creating Houston's first Mid-Century modern architecture map, and we need the help of all Mod members! Please emailsuggestions for works to be included to info@houstonmod.org. The map willguide modern enthusiasts on self-guided tours of a variety of modern worksand neighborhoods in our metropolitan area. In your submissions, pleaseinclude if possible, building name, address, architect, year built, and photographs. ____________________MOD OF THE MONTHHouston Mod will begin notifying mailing list members of modern houses for sale in the Houston area via a "Mod of the Month" house listing. Thismonth, the featured house is the Frank D. Lawyer house at 1030 GlourieCircle in Hilshire Village. The house was designed in 1961 by the owner and architect, Frank Lawyer, FAIA of Caudill Rowlett Scott, for his own family.The U-shaped house is located in Hilshire Village and is zoned to SBISDschools such as Memorial High School. The house includes 5 bedrooms, 2baths, brick flooring, an enclosed patio and a porte cochere on a large17,500 sq. ft. wooded lot. It is listed at $420,000 by Gerry Reel with John Byerly Properties at 713-464-1715. Photographs are also available online via the Houston Association of Realtors web page at <http://www.har.com/search/engine/indexdetail.cfm?mlnum=9308123&class=1&leadid=6&sTYPE=0&backButton=Y>http://www.har.com/search/engine/indexdeta...3&class=1&leadid=6&sTYPE=0&backButton=Y____________________ROAD TRIP TO WILSONART HOUSE The glimmer of glitter, the luster of lemon, the touch of turquoise, and a myriad of other colorful laminates make up the interiors of the former home of Wilsonart International's Ralph Sr. and Sunny Wilson in Temple, Texas. Restored to its 1959 splendor, the house received an Honor Award from The National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1999. We will depart Houston bycoach and join mid-century enthusiasts from Preservation Dallas, DOCOMOMONoTx, and The National Trust for Historic Preservation in Temple for a tour,lecture and mixer. Houston Modsters will return that evening. Date: Saturday, May 14 - MOD MEMBERS, watch for separate email announcement with details and fees. For more information contact Anna Mod. email: mod@annamod.com____________________USPS TO RELEASE MODERN ARCHITECTURE STAMPSThe U. S. Post Office has announced that it will release the "Masterworks of Modern American Architecture" series in May of 2005. The series, available in a pane of 12, will feature a dozen classics: Frank Lloyd Wright'sGuggenheim Museum, New York City; Frank Gehry's Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles; Paul Rudolph's Yale Art & Architecture Building, New Haven;William Van Alen's Chrysler Building, New York City; Mies van der Rohe's860-880 Lake Shore Drive, Chicago; Richard Meier's High Museum of Art,Atlanta; Robert Venturi's Vanna Venturi House, Chestnut Hill, Pa.; I.M.Pei's National Gallery of Art East Building, Washington, D.C.; Louis Kahn's Exeter Library, Exeter, N.H.; Eero Saarinen's TWA Terminal, New York City; Philip Johnson's Glass House, New Canaan, Ct.; and Bruce Graham/SOM's John Hancock Tower, Chicago.____________________If you are not already a member, 2005 will be a great year to be a part of the mod movement. For more information on becoming a member, visit ourwebsite at <http://www.houstonmod.org> www.houstonmod.org. Membershipforms are available online.Houston Mod is a 100% volunteer organization. For more information onvolunteer opportunities and how you can support the valuable role thatHouston Mod plays in our community, contact Wyatt Frantom at<mailto:wyatt@houstonmod.org> wyatt@houstonmod.org.Thank you for your support,The Houston Mod SquadLea Bass, Michael Brichford, Scott Buehler, Wyatt Frantom, Sally Joyce, Ben Koush, Karen Lantz and Kim Radich____________________Houston Mod is a non-profit, 501©(3), membership organization dedicated to promoting knowledge and appreciation of modern architecture and design in Houston and Texas. Houston Mod advocates the preservation of this culturallegacy and seeks support from its members and the general public inachieving this goal.www.houstonmod.org <http://www.houstonmod.org/> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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