Willowisp

Off topic but...

You may already have donated them or you may have thrown them away, but if your father was an architect of any kind of importance and you don't want all his archives, then please have his archives donated to a library or University or something like that as opposed to just throwing them away if possible. You never know when someone might take an interest in his work!

Jason

POINT conceded. You and whoever it was that posted about mods really made me think more about it. You really explained it so precisely. My dad loved mods alot,but paitences was not his best suit.He was always so busy,and his time was always so limited[ENFORCED BY HIM] total workalcholic his idea of relaxing was reading ARCITHECTURAL Digest. I SWEAR,I like to joke around but on this I'M not.MY house from the street has curb appeal but not any architetural details that you would write home about. Somebody mentioned facades where you are surprised after entering a home. I totally have redone the inside of house,and have 2 outside patio areas that are so cool. Totally native plants and trees,my back yard looks like a park.I need to focus more on commonalities rather than differences in architecture. I already paid this house house in JAN.I'm in the process right now to buy another one,I JUST haven't found it yet. I'm focusing now on exterior details,I WILL have no problem changing the interior. DANG,I love it. IT'S kinda stressful sometimes because I want everything to be a certain way.I don't do it for a living,although I HAVE redone several peoples homes here in McALLEN. I don't really get into the furnishings or anything. THATis a very personal thing,and my tastes are so ecletic.I love picking out tiles and paint.

Totally joking!

We left after the 5th inning it was so hot and the game was already 2+ hours old already and we wanted to get to the museum that day as well.

NYC was amazing!

Jason

I'll definitely try, but probably not as much as we would if you were not part of the "evil empire".

I went to my first Yankee game on our NYC vacation and I really wanted to root for them, but couldn't bring myself to do it. At least I got to see Alex Rodriguez's 500th HR.

Jason

We specifically looked for a house like that. We eventually found one. We love it. It's as plain in front as there probably is. It's nothing more than a brick wall (flat roof) with a single break in it - a gated entrance into an atrium. I have a thread about it in another section, but no photo yet. As soon as I get one, maybe you guys will be able to tell me something about it.

For me, I kid you not, two and a half years ago, I just wanted a house in Houston (not the burbs) with a lot of glass and I knew about what I wanted to pay for it. It was that desire that led me into the whole world of modern and Houston's moderns specifically. I didn't know any architects names, but liked the idea of owning a house with a well known architect behind it. After that, I discovered several very innovative Houston based architects from about 50 years ago, as well as architects around the US from that era that really fascinated me. One of them happened to be the architect of my favorite building when I was a kid, Pennzoil Place. Then I found out that some of the Houston architects knew and learned from Philip Johnson and it really became fascinating for me. I realized that they don't make 'em like this any more. A lot of the houses I am most interested were custom houses, but I also like the ones like in Memorial Bend that were often "on spec" ranch houses with a lot of modern flair to them, or modern for the masses like you find in California's Eichler. Houses of this era used space efficicently. Today's homes don't do it as well, or they are ugly and all the same in my opinion.

There's a bit of nostalgia and sense of history to it, and there's also a desire to get back to a craftsmanship that you don't see in houses these days. I know my house is well built. Friends of mine live in new houses. They are not all that bad, but not great either. I like to visit them, and they are new and lower maintenance than my house. But with my house there's really a feeling of accomplishment. You would get that feeling from restoring a craftsman too, but the craftsman wouldn't have the glass walls and links to Mies van der Rohe, Philip Johnson, Howard Barnstone, Hugo Neuhaus, Harwood Taylor, and Anderson Todd that my house has and that the Memorial Bend houses have too. Now if you can go to the Farnsworth House, the Glass House, the de Menil House, the Gordon House, the Frame House, the Owsley House, and even the Caudill House in Memorial Bend and they don't move you, then I guess we just don't have the same sense of style and we can agree to disagree.

The houses Michael is documenting are important, especially because there are so many moderns or at least modern influenced ranches in a small area, and they are extremely threatened as far as I'm concerned. Maybe a lot of people won't ever "get it" and it will get worse for the neighborhood and then the houses will be gone. Of course this is also his neighborhood and all the more reason to take pride in the homes.

I lived in an 1870 house for several years with my parents. I actually think my mom would have disliked my house, but she'd love that I'm happy in it and that I have a sense of pride in my home and its decor. My dad would love that the architect got his masters at A&M and he'd enjoy sitting on my strange and less than comfortable (to him) sofa to watch the bamboo grow from inside.

One more thing, a lot of modern houses like are intentionally deceptive from the facade. They are private from the front and their flash is often on the back of the house. I have a great sense of anticipation when going into a mod for the first time, just wondering what is going to present itself.

Jason

Everyone has different preferences. I"m not sure there is a new fascination but rather it is new to you and it just isn't your style. I can tell you that i still have people ask about why i bought an old house vs a new one. I personally think many of the newer homes are boring.

Michael and sevfiv, you have inspired me. I have a lot of photos that don't make it to houstonmod.org so I'll start blogging and putting them up here:

http://modernhouston.blogspot.com/

Jason

Thought I'd revisit this topic one more time.

672 Flintdale- Hoff House - Bill Hoff of Jenkins, Hoff, Oberg & Saxe, Architect 1965.

is one of my "new" favorite houses.

I wrote up a lot of houses on houstonmod.org over the summer, but still have many more to go, especially the "mods no more" which are particularly depressing to do, but they have to get done.

You should see several more up over the next couple of weeks.

Jason

Thanks for clearing that up. We went to an open house and it was fantastic and actually in pretty good shape, definitely worth keeping a year and a half ago. I guess there just aren't enough multi-millionaires with good taste out there to save houses like this.

I was thinking about 705 Kuhlman today, and looked to see if it were still for rent on HAR. Turns out it has sold.

http://www.har.com/HomeValue/dispSoldDetai...p;MLNUM=8443340

I don't know if that means the end for this house, but could be.

Jason

Thanks for ruining my day.

This was the mod of the month at one time, right? It was open one day after work but it rained and I didn't go.

Man, what is going on!? They either get torn down or jacked up beyond recognition! Don't people understand how HOT these houses are in California? Well, I'm sure they are tearing a lot of them down there too...

Jason

I talked to someone in his office and left my number with them. We'll see what comes of it.

I'm calling his office today. An friend of mine knows him and I may be able to make inroads, but it's a longshot.

Mission Burritos - It's hard to get any better than that, especially for vegetarians in Houston.

As for atmosphere - I love the happy hour at Poblano's on S. Post Oak on Fridays. They have a very entertaining singing duo there. The owner makes the rounds and really makes everyone feel welcome and happy. We love to have a couple of margaritas and some guacamole before heading home (just a mile away) and cooking soy-chicken fajitas.

By the way, they do have a portabello mushroom dish that should satisfy most vegetarians...

Jason

The August Mod of the Month is a sprawling ranch by noted Architect Willian F. Wortham Jr.

4987 Dumfries is designed for entertaining with an open concept den & gameroom area with floor to ceiling glass that overlooks a sparkling pool. Great mid-century architectural features such as a swanky metal-box fireplace and intact retro kitchen with suspended cabinets.

In addition to this fine modernist home, there will be two additional modern homes also open for viewing at the same time. 5702 Warm Springs, a 1959 Parade of Homes model that was the give-away prize home for the Parade program. A 3 bedroom, 2 bath with an open floor plan and unique original mosaic tile wall. Also open will be 5718 Warm Springs just a couple of doors down. Designed by Claude Hooten, this unique mid-century modern is centered around an indoor pool. The home appeared in "House & Home" magazine and was a model for the 1959 Parade of Homes show as well.

All of these homes will be open for viewing on Sunday August 19th from 2 to 4.

http://search.har.com/engine/dispSearch.cf...mp;backButton=Y

www.houstonmod.org

Terrible news. I've had an ominous feeling about this house for 2 years now.

I have the feeling Meyerland is about to get mowed down and it seems like there's not that much anyone can do to stop it.

thanks - that's the one at the corner of braesheather

i'll add it to the front of the (long) photo queue

neat boomerang-esque pool, too

That's not the house in Meyerland by Cohen is it?

If you want to systematically make copies of the modern house plans with the $100 deposit system, then that would be a great idea. The place Houston Mod uses for printing may offer a discount, though I know because I don't deal with that directly.

How many moderns do you think we're talking about? PM me if you want to make a project borrowing the plans.

JasonThis HOA actually lets you check them out with a $100 deposit. If you don't bring them back they cash your check. If you bring them back they give your check back to you. I still have the plans for the house we were trying to buy. I torture myself with them regularly. If the house is being bought by someone wanting to tear it down then I will ask the HOA to keep the plans. Who knows maybe someday we will build a new house on the old plans. It was designed by Charles Sawyer. I believe before he became an architect.

As for the other house I will check to see if the plans are available and who the architect was. It's sad to see it torn down as it's such a unique home. The living room was round and the builder told me the oven opens in a gull wing fashion. Here is a pic from a couple of years ago before the mold took over.

I'm usually poor at posting pics so forgive me if it doesn't show up.

I talked to a long time Houston Mod Board member last night who said the more organized HOAs are a "brick wall" when it comes to getting blueprints or house plans from them, and that in particular ROPO (River Oaks Property Owners) Association is a no go. He has tried to get plans for different research projects and never had any compiance. I guess they just ignore you if you call and leave a message. Still, I doubt that they would throw away blueprints by well known Houston architects, but I could be wrong.

I know that Houston Mod would be honored to house historical blueprints if they were offered, or to facilitate donations of archives to University libraries, and we are always trying to make our name known as the organization to go to for modern preservation efforts in Houston. Though only 5 years old, Houston Mod has been able to accomplish a lot for a dedicated but small group of people who all have jobs and lives separate from "saving Houston from eating itself". I think the main way we could/should go about getting blueprints and plans is through the owners themselves if we can. That takes a major effort because at this point, most people aren't coming to us, we're going to them.

Future events/plans/exhibits/books will be discussed at our next meeting and I will bring the "Modern Houston Lost" idea to light as well as some other ideas that have been discussed on HAIF. There are lots of amazing houses that have been torn down (tragically).

By the way, I did see a Cite Magazine article on "Lost Houston" this summer. I don't remember the issue, and the newest building included was a Miesian bank from about 1961 I think (possibly Harwood Taylor?) Also, the Barthelme book includes buildings that have all been lost now, and the Harwood Taylor and Neuhaus books include several lost houses. Certainly all of these houses deserve to be documented whether in book form or on the Houston Mod website.

Jason

What missjanel said was, "What I learned from the process though was that the homeowners association still had the original blueprints on file ... So I began to wonder what happens to the blueprints when a home gets torn down -- I'm pretty sure the HOA just throws them away."

I am not a member of Houston Mod so I am not sure what the organization does to preserve the record of homes that will demolished. But these home are going to be torn down whether we like it or not. Is Houston Mod capable of taking ownership of the blueprints and documenting the home before it's demise? I realize that storing blueprints takes up space and none may be available but what about having them scanned and stored digitally? As I mentioned I am not a member so this may be something that the organization is already doing?

Some of the homes in question are well known and have been published and some are not that well known. Another issue is that Houston is so big that it's hard to keep up with it all. We have realtor friends and other architecture lovers that keep their finger on the real estate pulse, and that helps a lot, but it won't keep the buildings alive. More often than not, the homes are gone before we know it. I think developers drive the neighborhoods looking for houses and make offers to owners. It wouldn't surprise me if they search HCAD looking for people who have owned the houses for a long time, figure the people are older and knock on the doors.

Like you said about one house, sometimes a house is in really bad shape and not financially feasable to save. Other times, the land is so valuable that it is difficult to find someone willing to pay for the land and then pay for the restoration of a house just for the love of it. And it's not like the original owners are "looking" for someone to save their house most of the time. In fact, owners may be resigned to the fact that it will get torn down.

There are exceptions to this, and there is hope out there. The Stude House by Hugo Neuhaus on Tiel Way for example is a small house on a very expensive lot, and the owner is keeping it. The Frame House, Carter House, and the Neuhaus House are other examples, and I was surprised when I heard it, but even the Menil House was in danger of being torn down shortly after Dominique de Menil's death.

This year, 2 Board members at Houston Mod helped facilitate the archives of the architect and brilliant draftsman, Lucian Hood, to be donated to UH. We would love to continue this kind of work. As for blueprints, I'm still new to all this, but I don't know how often mid-century houses still have the blueprints or when anyone knows where they are 50+ years later. We have 2 full copies of my house and half of a 3rd and consider ourselves very fortunate to have them. Actually, having the plans makes me feel a little closer to our architect somehow.

We are always taking new memberships, and will also be looking for some new Board members soon, so PM me if you are interested in getting more involved. I think a lot of the people who join in discussions here would make for involved Board members.

Jason

I came up with quite a bit of Bolton in my studies of vintage magazines this summer. I'll have to double check and look for the name, Thrash, and see if I can find any vintage photos. I loaned out the copies I made and will get them back next week... Someone (myself included) should interview Preston Bolton soon for our newsletter. That would be great.

Jason

You are right, it was designed by Bolton, in 1965. I was just wondering if it did in fact sale...I guess it did?

We're in a race against time to educate people and help them learn to appreciate these houses and realize they ARE idiots if they tear them down, but most people, especially the ones with the money and power to do something, don't seem to see it that way. If there is $$$ to be made then history be damned.

I just got back from my New York and New Canaan, CT trip and this is the news I come back to?

PM me if you are interested in seeing the photo highlights from my trip. We met some wonderful people and saw some beautiful houses in New Canaan. They are having the same teardown problems we are. They also have respect for Houston and our moderns and smiled and nodded when I mentioned The Menil House etc.

I truly believe that along with Los Angeles, Chicago, and New Canaan, Houston is among the top "50's modern" cities in the US. It will be a shame when that's no longer true.

Jason

Thank you to Ben Koush for compiling this list!

C. CAA/CAM Modern House Tour Listings

Tour I, 27 April 1952

Hamilton Brown, Hunt House, 526 West Friar Tuck Lane

Hamilton Brown, Selig House, 3715 Inverness

Cowell & Neuhaus, Baker House, 3665 Willowick Road

Cowell & Neuhaus, Stude (Stevenson) House, 56 Tiel Way

Philip Johnson, Menil House, 3363 San Felipe Road

MacKie & Kamrath, Adler House, 24 Tiel Way

Thompson McCleary, McCleary House, 6034 Memorial Drive

Edward Stone, Kempner House, 3688 Willowick Road

Wilson, Morris & Crain, Morris House, 2 Waverly Court

Tour II, 18-19 April 1953

Hamilton Brown, Hudgins House, 501 West Friar Tuck Lane

Hamilton Brown, Hohlt House, 223 Pine Shadows Drive

A. A. Liefeste, Jr., Lefieste House, 403 Blalock Road

Smart & Whitehead, Smart House, 318 Pine Shadows Drive

Wilson, Morris & Crain, Buie House, 310 Saddlewood Lane

Tour III, 10-11 April 1954

Joseph Krakower, Davidson House, 2418 Maroneal Boulevard

Paul Laszlo, Herzog House, 2523 Maroneal Boulevard

Lloyd & Morgan, Liese House, 328 Buckingham Drive

Wilson, Morris & Crain, Cramerus House, 250 Pine Hollow Lane

Wilson, Morris & Crain, Lazarus House, 57 Briar Hollow Lane

Tour IV, 2-3 April 1955

Bolton & Barnstone, Hardison House, 233 Merrie Way

Paul Elliott, Crow House, 325 West Friar Tuck Lane

William N. Floyd, Floyd House, 226 Pine Hollow Lane

Lloyd & Morgan, Shimek House, 3760 Willowick Road

George Pierce - Abel B. Pierce, Pierce House, 5211 Greentree Road

Tour V, 14-15 April 1956

Bolton & Barnstone, Gordon House, 2307 Bluebonnet Boulevard

Hamilton Brown, Selig House, 3715 Inverness Drive

Burdette Keeland, Pryor Apartment, Kipling Apartments II, 2719 Kipling Street

Robert Wilson, Wilson Apartment, Bettis Apartments, 4311 Bettis Drive

Tour VI, 13-14 April 1957

Lars Bang, Bendit (Kamin) House, 4111 Drummond Street

Bolton & Barnstone, Demoustier House, 608 Little John Lane

David Brooks & Edward Brooks, Solomon House, 3615 South Braeswood Boulevard

William R. Jenkins, second Jenkins House, 10911 Willowisp Drive

Lloyd & Morgan, Straus House, 53 Briar Hollow Lane

Tour VII, 12-13 April 1958

Edward Goodwin, Jr., Goodwin House, 3 Leisure Lane

George Pierce - Abel B. Pierce, Carroll House, 2014 Persa Street

Swenson & Linnstaedter, Swenson House, 3106 Brazos Street

Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson, Kelsey House, 2 Long Bow Lane

Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson, Marshall House, 3700 Willowick Road

Tour VIII, 11-12 April 1959

Engberg & White, Engberg House, 24 Still Forest Road

Robert Maurice, Maurice House & Office, 3222 Mercer Street

Neuhaus & Taylor, Erath House, 11206 Tynewood Lane

Neuhaus & Taylor, Genitempo House, 310 Carnarvon Drive

Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson, Thompson House, 4911 Tilbury Drive

Tour IX, 21-22 May 1960

Koetter & Tharp, Tharp House, 8218 Mallie Court

Lloyd & Morgan, Class House, Rice University

Lloyd & Morgan, Cooper House, 201 Kincaid Drive

Neuhaus & Taylor, Frame House, 403 Westminster Drive

Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson, Fulton House, Rice University

Tour X, 6-7 May 1961

Bolton & Barnstone, Lindsay House, 7623 River Point Drive

Travis Broesche, Walser House, 411 Fall River Road

Hamilton Brown, McClelland House, 11207 Tyne Court

William Hoff, Huvard House, 12526 Old Oaks Drive

George Pierce - Abel B. Pierce, Zwerneman (Lundgren) House, 16 Crestwood Drive

Tour XI, 28-29 April 1962

Bolton & Barnstone, Owsley House, 65 Briar Hollow Drive

MacKie & Kamrath, Ballantyne House, 2 Tiel Way

Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson, Carter House, 62 Briar Hollow Lane

Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson, Hines House, 146 Radney Street

Tour XII, 1963

no information

Tour XIII, 5-6 December 1964

Howard Barnstone & Partners, Melcher House, 13 Tiel Way

H. F. P. Goeters & Associates, Salmon House, 506 Fall River Road

Jenkins & Hoff, Sheer House, 616 Hedwig Lane

Larson & Wingfield, Williams House, 31 Briar Hollow Lane

F. Carrington Weems, Weems House, 919 Kirby Drive

Tour XIV, 30-31 October 1965

Kenneth Bentsen, Bentsen House, 2933 Del Monte Drive

P. M. Bolton Associates, Bolton House, 5000 Longmont Drive

J. W. Evans, Evans House, 3118 Georgetown Street

Jenkins & Hoff, Hoff House, 772 Flintdale Road

Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson, Anderson House, 1638 Banks Street

I don't want to get into details, but I have once called an owner asking if they were trying to find someone who wouldn't tear the house down, and this was a house that they really wanted to see stand; they said they were really hoping it wouldn't be torn down and I had talked to them before about how much they loved the house and how they had hopped on it when it went up for sale before. It was still sold to someone who is tearing it down. I think most times the owners don't think that someone would be interested in saving it and are not willing to wait long enough to find that special person. As gorgeous as The Gordon House, The Frame House, and The Neuhaus House are, there aren't that many Dana Harpers and Mica Mosbachers out there with the money, vision, and patience to see a project through.

These demolitions are heartbreaking for people like us. Ben Koush recently sent me a list of Contemporary Arts Association Modern Home Tours of the 50's and 60's (I'll put them in a new thread). I'm not sure, but I think maybe half of those houses are gone already...

As for a farewell party, that sounds pretty unlikely considering it's private property and the sellers are trying to get rid of the property and the new owners are trying to get rid of the house on the property... It all happens so fast, even when the realtors "on the good guys side" are watching out for the houses to go on the market. The most we can really do is continue to try to get these types of houses in the press and educate the "average joe" (and I was an average joe when it comes to modernism less than 3 years ago, by the way) and show people how amazing the houses are to live in.

By the way, I have found that even in New Caanan, CT, the "mod mecca", they have had major problems with McMansions. It's not only Houston. We are actually pretty fortunate to have had so many modern architectural wonders built here.

Jason

Joseph Mashburn replied to me:

The 5139 Darnell house was designed by Harwood Taylor. Charles Tapley did a later, unexecuted remodeling scheme for the house. We believe that the front gate was by Gertrude Barnstone. Although the house had suffered some remodeling (mostly superficial and contained to the site and garage), the main house was pretty much intact in 1998 when we bought it. Julia and I restored some of the previous damage and generally brought the main house back to its original form and intent. Although the slab was cracked, the house was in generally sound condition when we sold it. I am saddened by the news that it is to be demolished.

So there you have it. A Taylor bites the dust. I'll drive by and take a picture just in case it's still there.

Jason

I just emailed Dr. Mashburn so we'll see if he replies and if he knows. That's a nice coincidence.

That tile is a little like ours but it looks smaller. I wonder if it could be Floyd or Jenkins. I doubt it's Jenkins, but he did have a house on the Jackwood parade.