SpaceAge

19th Annual Sadie Gwin Blackburn Environmental Seminar The River Oaks Garden Club Modern Landscapes Presented by James Burnett, FASLA (Fellow- American Society of Landscape Architects) Nationally renowned landscape architect, James Burnett will discuss highlights of the Asia Society Texas Center, The Annenberg Center at Sunnylands-Rancho Mirage, California, and the Brochstein Pavilion at Rice University. Mr. Burnett's projects are consistently cited for their innovative redefinition of human interaction with the environment. Thursday, January 29, 2009 9:30 am Coffee 10:00 am Program The Museum of Fine Arts- Houston 1001 Bissonnet Street Brown Auditorium Theater The Caroline Wiess Law Building Admission and surface parking is free. Open to the public. Brochstein Pavilion Landscape at Rice University

Unfortunately, 423 Electra will not be open today.

Memorial Bend Area Mod of the Month Houston Mod invites you to join us this Sunday, December 14th (2:00-4:00 PM), for Mod of the Month. Three wonderful mid-century modern houses will be open for touring. All are located near Memorial Drive and the Sam Houston Toll Road/Beltway 8. Meet members of Houston Mod. Sign-up or renew your membership. Houston Mod publications make great gifts and will be available. 1. 12806 Figaro Drive- Memorial Bend HAR Link Architect William Floyd originally designed this updated mid-century modern home. It is located on a cul-de-sac street in the east portion of Memorial Bend. A wall of windows affords panoramic views of the lushly landscaped yard. The kitchen features granite counters, tile backsplash, and stainless steel appliances. A new commercial quality roof was installed one year ago. It also features newly installed recessed lighting, Phillipe Starck and George Nelson lighting, original wood floors, fresh paint, new side fences, solid wood doors throughout with Omnia door hardware, and Walker Zanger tile. The schools are excellent and it's close to parks, a bird sanctuary, and shopping. 2. 423 Electra Drive- Memorial Bend HAR Link Glimmers of the original architectural brilliance still shine through in this house designed by architect Lars Bang. The floor plan is very dynamic and exciting with huge windows and walls of glass opening directly to views of the 17.5 acre Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary. The original detailing is meticulous and mostly still intact. The kitchen is a geometric work of art and opens to very large dining and living areas and to the front garden. This is the former home of Page Parkes, world renown acting and modeling agent. The house deserves to be restored to its past splendor. Original plans will be displayed. The Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary is a 17.5 acre wooded sanctuary along Rummel Creek with a restored log cabin that houses a variety of education programs reaching out into Houston and surrounding areas. Open to the public 365 days a year, it also contains Houston Audubon offices. 3. 426 East Gaywood Drive- Rustling Pines Photos by Catherine McIntosh This well designed modern home, built in 1961 in Rustling Pines, is located just west of Memorial Bend. The brick wood and stone sided house is about 2,595 sq. ft. with 4 bedrooms, 2- 1/2 baths and a detached garage. The nicely landscaped lot is about 11,905 sq. ft. The house has a low-pitched roof, open flowing living spaces, simple clean-lined built-ins and fixtures and lots of floor-to-ceiling windows. Interesting corner windows are located at both sides of the front of the house. Close by are some of the best public schools available in the Houston area, along with the Audubon Nature Sanctuary, and a 6 mile trail. See you there! Houston Mod

This house survived the hurricane beautifully. It's had a price reduction to $319,000.00. Following is an example of the Chinese Modern style for today. The mural is an adaptation of a painting by Vladimir Tretchikoff. Chinese Modern Today

Houston Mod invites you to join us this Sunday, November 9th (2:00-5:00 PM), at two Mod of the Month open houses! Two wonderful mid-century modern houses will be open for touring this Sunday for the November Mod of the Month event. Both are located in near-SW Houston, only three miles apart. Houston Mod membership information and publications will be available. 1. 3611 Tartan- Braes Heights This is a very special opportunity to tour a spectacular mid-century modern home still in near-original condition. The architect of this house is still under speculation but there is no doubt the original owners got a super swank ultra modern dream home complete with boomerang-shaped swimming pool on an over-sized lot. This part of Braes Heights was home to many successful doctors and professionals. Extremely progressive for the time it was built, the house features only one large and very open living, dining and kitchen area. Soaring beamed ceilings and walls of glass, some with marble inserts, along with stacked stone set the scene. Other features include floating cabinets, gameroom with commercial-style soda fountain, special lighting and ceiling treatments, a wall mural, indoor and outdoor copper-lined planter boxes, Nu-Tone whole house stereo intercom system with wall hung swing-out turntable, extra large rooms and closets, and pecky cypress siding. The indoor/outdoor flow is emphasized with sliding patio doors opening from the living areas to the pool terrace or to the expansive bamboo-lined bedroom terraces. This house is a dynamic mod showplace. 2. 2304 North Blvd.- Greenbriar HAR Link Here is another marvelous mid-century modern house open for tour. A sophisticated one-story home, built in 1972 and renovated in 2006, is comparable to new construction. Strong modernist vocabulary forges a thoroughly contemporary home that both pays homage to and updates mid-century modernism. Enter through a tropical courtyard. Urban retreat in backyard. Oversize 13,000+ SF lot. Airy kitchen, master suite & lavish baths. Open-plan living areas with continuous patio views throughout the house. Separate home office. Floor plans and historical photographs will be available for viewing. Meet members of Houston Mod, sign-up or renew your membership. Note the extended hours of 2 PM to 5 PM. See you there!

The Formica House has managed to attract yet another buyer who loves the place and wants to redo it and live there. There should be an announcement soon. Lets hope the sale goes through this time. Does anyone know where the PPG House of New Dimension is located? It was designed by Waller Poage, the same architect as the Formica House, as a showcase for Pittsburgh Plate Glass company in 1966, a year before the Formica house.

Cynthia Lescalleet of the Examiner has already issued an article about Lars Bang. Oct. 23-24 Mod Architect Left a Local Mark, by Cynthia Lescalleet Examiner Link

Lars W. Bang LARS W. BANG, age 87, passed away after a brief illness on October 17, 2008 in Houston, Texas. During WWII, he proudly served our country in the Army Air Corps. An architect by profession, his career spanned forty years as principal of his own firm, Lars Bang Associates. Lars is preceded in death by his devoted wife of fifty years, Billie Liese Bang. He is survived by his daughters, Lynn Riley & husband Doug and Candy Daubin; son, Dana Lars Bang; grandchildren, Scott Daubin and Christopher Daubin; sister, Naomi Curran; nieces, nephews and other loving relatives. Visitation will be held Monday from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 am on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at The Chapel of Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Just listed and open today from 1-3, this house was built by Weldon E. Countryman for the 1961 Parade of Homes in Briargrove Park. The style is exotic contemporary which was an evolution of the modern movement away from flat roofs. Banks were not making loans for flat roofed houses since home buyers were becoming increasingly leery of purchasing houses with flat roofs because many of them leaked. This house has been extremely well maintained and should only require some decorating updates. Presently it's difficult to see many of the details as everything has been painted beige but almost everything is still present and waiting to be mod again. The description from the Parade of Homes brochure reads: Mood Oriental: Tempo Modern Colorful setting for contemporary living... Weldon Countrymen's Desert-tone stone home Bedroom and dining room open on tropical gardens...a family/living room centered and extending the full depth of the home, with fireplace wall...Oriental Decor throughout! These are a few of the exciting things you'll see in this unusual home! Double closets in each of the three bedrooms, plus four more in the hall...two beautiful baths with separate powder rooms...a stainless steel all-electric kitchen and many more features make this home outstanding. The price including carpeting throughout is around $30,000.00 Carrier Heat Pump Weathermaker Designer: Weldon Countryman Decorator: Jack Foster Furnished by: Interiors, Inc. Weldon E. Countryman's Oriental modern at 10007 Burgoyne Road features a big family room with brick fireplace, built in bookcases and recessed beam ceiling. The home has many eye-catching features and decorations of the Far East such as the fireplace ornaments. The agent's present day description: 1 STORY CONTEMPORARY APPROX. 2,262 SF 3-2-2 A DISTINCTIVE HOME DESIGNED W/FLAIR OPEN FLOOR PLAN BEAUTIFUL LEADED-GLASS MAHOGANY FRONT DOOR GORGEOUS HARDWOOD FLOORS IN ENTRY... BRIGHT & CHEERY KITCHEN/BREAKFAST W/AN OPEN-CONCEPT HUGE DEN/FAMILY ROOM W/ FRENCH DOORS, SHUTTERS, RECESSED LIGHTING, FIREPLACE & BUILT-INS... SERENE MASTER W/FRENCH DOORS RELAXING PATIO POOL-SIZE YARD FINISHED GARAGE TREED HOMESITE WILL NEED SOME TLC BUT IS AN EXCELLENT VALUE FOR PRESTIGIOUS BRIARGROVE PARK !!! http://images-75.har.com/e1/mediadisplay/75/lr2219575-1.jpg HAR Link

The MFA-Houston book store had copies of the catalog Donald Bartheleme: A modernism suitable for everyday use, 1939 - 1945 last week. I think they are $20.00 there. Their bookstore is very well stocked with a wide variety of art and architecture books. It is located in the newer brownish boxy building, not the wonderful Mod building by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The bookstore is just inside the ground floor entrance on Binz/Bissonnet Street. I found a signed book titled Harvin C. Moore Houston Architect yesterday. It's a 60 page catalog that tells about Moore, lists his work in the archives at HMRC and features illustrations of some of the works. He designed in traditional and moderne styles. He received his BS in architecture from Rice Institute in 1930. Harvin Moore was perhaps the first local architect to become active in historic preservation and co-founded the Harris County Heritage Society. He retired in 1979. His son Barry Moore took over the firm.

My favorite design instructor had the perfect word to describe things such as this new house at 6204 Queenswood: Wretched

Houston Mod is pleased to announce two exclusive and wonderful Mid-Century Modern houses looking for new owners will be available to tour this Sunday. These are both well located near the Galleria/Uptown area of west Houston. Houston Mod membership information and publications will be available. Date: Sunday, August 17, 2008 Time: 2:00 - 4:00 PM 1. 7623 River Point Drive- Riverbend HAR Link Mid-century modern home on heavily wooded lot. This award winning home was designed by Bolton and Barnstone. Built 1955. Updated 1997. Deep screened and covered deck overlooks back of property. This house is the complete package- it has all the elements of what a MCM should be. It's a jewel. 2. 5307 Huckleberry- Tanglewood HAR Link This 1954 house by Architect Arne Engberg exemplifies the mid-century ranch archetype so prevalent in the original Tanglewood homes. The low scale street facade has many characteristics of Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie School while a sympathetic addition to the rear of the house by Architect Lucian Hood expanded both the living and sleeping quarters with a very modern plan open to the pool and surrounding landscape. The house has beautiful terrazo floors and wood beamed ceilings throughout many rooms. The floor plans will be on display.

Thank you all for another great turnout last Sunday. There is a mod out there for all preferences. One thoughtful comment about house number 3 above, 4007 Mischire, was that was just the kind of mod the visitor felt most comfortable calling home. While she and her family greatly admire the ultra spectacular mods, she felt it would be more comfortable to live in a more sedate version. We discovered that house has poured in place terrazo flooring in the expansive den (presently carpeted) as well as the foyer. All the rooms in the house were generously proportioned and the bar in the den was very swank. The photos do not do it justice. There is another MCM ranch house located at 5126 Rutherglenn presently looking for a new owner. This is a one owner home and it looks to be in excellent vintage condition. The original owner gave it all she had, maintaining it until she was 100 years of age. It will be open tomorrow from 2-4 PM. HAR Link

Houston Mod is pleased to announce three interesting Mid-Century Modern houses looking for new owners will be available to tour this Sunday. These are all located within the 77025 zip code area of southwest Houston. Houston Mod membership information and publications will be available. Date: Sunday, July 27, 2008 Time: 2:00 - 4:00 PM 1. 3506 Glen Arbor- Emerald Forest HAR Link Custom built Mid Century Modern located in exclusive inner loop location offers an unobstructed view of Braes Bayou Park. This one owner intact house has been maintained with integrity of floor plan, finishes, and style. Floor to ceiling windows in den, formal living room, and formal dining room overlook beautifully landscaped backyard. Slate tile floors and custom walnut paneling in the foyer, formal living room, formal dining room, and den. Two sided stone fireplace. Modernized kitchen with granite counters, walnut cabinets, glass panel pantry doors, and Chambers gas oven/range. Architect Joseph Krakower designed this house about 1954. 2. 3747 Gramercy - Braes Heights HAR Link Reduced and Priced to Sell! Beautifully updated modern home in Braeswood. Great price for a 4 bedroom home with 3 of the bedrooms on the first level. Plenty of yard space with an abundance of storage in the shed in lieu of a garage. Newly remodeled kitchen and master bath with granite countertops, Kenmore appliances and a walk in laundry room. Fresh paint throughout with custom colors. Also offers another bath opportunity in one of the extra closets. Approximately 2600 sqft total per seller. A 1948 modern house that is of unusual design for Houston. This house was a neighbor of the recently demolished modern landmark Houck House of 1947. 3. 4007 Mischire- Woodshire HAR Link Large 4 bedroom 2.5 bathroom home in the close-in Woodshire subdivision. This home is minutes from the Medical Center and has a great floor plan. This clean, well-maintained home also has many amenities including formal living and dining areas, in-house utility room, built-in bookcases, extra closet space, and beautiful hardwood floors. This home is move-in ready! Zoned to Bellaire High. This is an intact MCM house that has not suffered inappropriate updates.

Wow! All three of the houses featured on the June 22nd Mod of the Month tour have Option Pending status. These are three wonderful houses. It seems like mod flips are successful in Houston, even in the slower economy.

It sounds like there will be a lot to see at this event. I understand some vintage cars owned by neighbors will be displayed at some of the houses. It is nice to see these events are encouraging neighborhoods to become more involved in showing their communities in a favorable way. At the last Mod of the Month in Sharpstown, neighbors were concerned that some people had already placed their heavy trash at the curb for pickup the next day. Neighbors got together and moved all the items so the street would look its best for the visitors.

The project number on the floor plans for 3506 Glen Arbor was 54-15. That probably means this was the 15th project Joseph Krakower had in 1954. The AIA guide says Herb Greene was Krakower's designer between 1954 and 1957. Herb Greene was a student of Bruce Goff and evidently was employed by Krakower again in 1960 when he supervised the construction of the Goff designed house at 323 Tynebrook Lane.

616 Hedwig, the address of the Sheer house from the 1964 tour, has completely disappeared from HCAD records. The 1966 Cole's directory shows Dr. Daniel E. Sheer and Diana J. Sheer living there and having their telephone first connected in 1962. By 1969, only Diana is listed at the address. (Daniel moved to 46 E. Stillforest in 1969.) The 1992 directory shows the address to exist but the information is not listed. Another mystery to solve... Daniel E. Sheer received the B.S. degree from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, in. 1943, and the Ph.D. degree from University of Michigan. Daniel E. Sheer, neuropsychologist, Professor of psychology and Director of the psychology laboratory at the University of Houston, took his undergraduate training at Johns Hopkins University and his graduate training at the University of Michigan, where he also worked in the Laboratory of comparative neurology.

This house was obviously very important to the Barvin's. Not many people mention their house in their death notice. Marcia Barvin, founder of the realty firm, Marcia Barvin and Associates, died on Thursday, April 17th, 2008. A native of Dallas, Marcia moved to Houston with her husband and budding family in 1950. Influenced by contemporary architecture, Marcia worked with an architect to design a house based on Frank Lloyd Wright

Alex Deuster address is 3518 Glen Arbor off the 3500 block of North Braeswood J. A. Newsome, Jr. address is 16 Lacewood Lane off the 11100 block of Memorial Drive

Houston Mod is pleased to announce three nifty Mid-Century Modern houses looking for new owners will be available to tour this Sunday. These are all located in the 77074 zip code area of southwest Houston. Date: Sunday, June 22, 2008 Time: 2:00 - 4:00 PM 1. 7139 Sharpcrest- Sharpstown, Section 2 HAR Link Welcome Home! Just what you have been waiting for... an affordable Mid Century Mod. This home has been completely redone. ALL NEW KITCHEN APPLIANCES, NEW A/C, HEATER, WATER HEATER, & ROOF! This mod house has been renovated to highlight its original beauty. It has been featured on architectural websites, and will not last long. This is a small but very well proportioned, carefully detailed, move in ready MCM house. Research is still underway and yeilding this house has an important design background. 2. 9006 Dunlap- Robindell, Section 5 HAR Link Stunning 3-2 professional renovation on great street in Robindell. New electric, plumbing, paint. Modern flair with open floorplan. Bamboo floors. Marble counters in kitchen and baths. Island cooktop. Custom cabinets. Wine chiller. Stainless oven, microwave, dishwasher. Italian floor tile in baths. Landscaping with Zen garden. Huge 2 car garage. Zoned to sought after Herod Elementary. This is a vintage contemporary style house with features and finishes of today. 3. 7826 Braeburn Valley Drive- Braeburn Valley, Section 1 HAR Link One of a kind beautiful mid century modern home. So many updates- complete new kitchen including convection oven, all new bathrooms (4), new hardwood flooring, surround sound, new roof in 2003, 4 new sets of French triple mahogany doors surrounding the pool, slate around the pool, one new a/c unit, one new water heater, electrical box and amperage increased. This is a great neighborhood and this house faces the Braeburn Valley Golf course. Check this out - it won't last long! Architect W. W. Crochet designed this house for his family. He will be at the house this Sunday to tell us about it and discuss Houston's architectural heritage. This will be a valuable opportunity to tap the knowledge of someone that influenced Houston's modern movement.

This house has been demolished.

From the Memorial Bend website: James H. Stuckey, 87, Founder of The Stuckey Co.-- JCK-Jewelers Circular Keystone, 2/23/2007 11:23:00 AM James H. ("Jim") Stuckey, founder of The Stuckey Company in Houston, Texas, and a leading figure in the jewelry industry, passed away on Feb. 12 after a long illness. He was 87. Stuckey was born in North Louisiana. After graduating High School at 15, he attended Port Arthur College. At the age of 16, he joined the Merchant Marines as a radio operator. After four years, He accepted the job of navigator/radio operator for Pan Am World Airways. It was at the age of 27, he transferred to Johannesburg, South Africa, and was working as a part time bookkeeper when his eye and his imagination were caught by the brilliance of diamonds. Something clicked for Stuckey and it was the beginning of a lifelong love affair with diamonds. He decided to go into the jewelry business and, with a partner, he founded The Stuckey and Speer Co. in 1951, and, later, The Gold Lance Class Ring Co. In 1971, the conglomerate, Beatrice Foods, bought the company and in 1981 Jim Stuckey started the company that bears his name. Under his guidance and leadership the company grew and became a leading supplier of diamond jewelry to independent retailers. Over the years, The Stuckey Company with Jim

These are two different buildings. The one with the green tile that was recently demolished was the Texas Gas Building 2472 Bolsover Road Houston, Texas If I remember correctly, Lars Bang said the architect was Alfred C. Finn. This building was very conventional in design and structure yet attractive, well constructed and had some good features like the mixture of retail, restaurants and offices. The drive through opening was also unusual. The other building you show a rendering of is the Times Center Building 2444 Times Boulevard Houston, Texas Architects were Lucian Hood and Lars Bang. Lars Bang was the builder. Kenneth Schnitzer was the owner/developer. This building was on the cutting edge locally for its time due to the design, structural framework, and method of construction. There was an article written about it in the Examiner last December. The Examiner offices are presently located in the building. Lars Bang also officed in the building. Houston Mod displayed the original framed water color rendering, loaned courtesy of William Carl, at an exhibit in 2007. The blue Cadillac shown in the drawing was Lucian Hood's own car at the time. Lucian Hood was a masterful architectural graphic artist. The Times building has unfortunately been drastically altered in appearance with the addition of new glazing. Some of the original interior details remain. It seems it would have been a great setting for an early 007 movie.