3 MOD Open Houses June 12, 2-4PM

[SpaceAge]

Mod of the Month

Sunday, June 12th, 2011, 2:00 - 4:00 PM

Houston Mod invites you to join us this Sunday for Mod of the Month. Three exceptional houses designed by two of Houston's most admired mid-century-modern architects, Burdette Keeland and Lars Bang, both 1950 University of Houston graduates, will be open for touring. The houses are presently available for purchase. They are located near the Galleria in west Houston.

This is a free event.

5919 Bayou Glen Road, Houston, Texas 77057

Tanglewood

This handsome and sophisticated mid-century modern house was designed by Burdette Keeland, one of Houston's most noted modern architects. Keeland was also an architecture professor at the University of Houston for over 40 years and a friend of architect Philip Johnson. This house is still owned by the H. R. Houck family who in 1959 commissioned Keeland's design. A brick screen wall creates a large private patio at the front of the house opening to the living and dining rooms. The expansive den views the rear yard and screened swimming pool. There are four bedrooms and five bathrooms including one bathroom with a dressing area for the pool. The house is located on a quiet street in the highly regarded Tanglewood neighborhood.

HAR link

Keeland also designed this acclaimed 1955 Parade of Homes house in Meyerland, a favorite of many Houstonians.

5211 Willers Way, Houston, Texas 77056

Del Monte

Architect Lars Bang designed this deluxe house in 1956 for L. M. Holland and family who still own the house. Holland was proprietor of a large glass company and asked Bang to incorporate several unique displays of glass into the house such as the prominent butted-glass front bay window and the white glass divider in the bathroom. The swank double-door entrance opens to a walnut paneled foyer complete with layered brick planter boxes and leads directly into the heart of the house, the expansive family room. Overlooking the swimming pool, the family room is dynamically conceived featuring a Lars Bang signature brick and stone fireplace wall which incorporates shelves and hearth, creating a memorable focal point. The room is further enhanced with an elevated sloped wood beamed ceiling, original indirect lighting, parquet floor and additional built-in cabinetry. There are four bedrooms and three full bath rooms plus a half bath room. The house was built by the respected C. C. Rouse and Tynes Sparks company and is situated in the sought after Del Monte subdivision among several additional contemporary houses including others by Bang and his fellow UH classmates.

HAR link

1107 Briarmead Drive, Houston, Texas 77057

Briargrove

Lars Bang also designed this house in 1957, well located in the Briargrove neighborhood, adjacent to Tanglewood. Walls of glass and a masterfully conceived free-flowing plan continue to make this house ideal for today's life-style. Note this house incorporates a prominent front bay window in the living room, similar to the one in the Holland house described above. The house has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, utility room, two car garage, plus a convenient integrated carport near the entrance.

HAR link

Lars Bang received international acclaim for his Bendit House of 1953 featured in Good Housekeeping magazine as one of the best houses in the United States.

------------------

Please remember to vote for the Astrodome in the THIS PLACE MATTERS campaign organized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Support future Mod events by becoming a member of Houston Mod. Check your membership status with any Houston Mod representative.

Houston Mod board members will be available to discuss how Houston Mod is advocating for the recent past on the local, state and national level, and discuss partnering with groups like Preservation Texas and DoCoMoMo US.

Houston Mod recently became the first friend organization of DoCoMoMo US, and participated with their DoCoMoMo US National Tour Day which drew over 250 visitors to Houston's Glenbrook Valley. Houston Mod's tour had the largest attendance in the nation.

Houston Mod Members are invited to join DoCoMoMo at 1/2 the regular listed membership rates.

Houston Mod publications will be available during the open house including:

High Style in the Suburbs, The Early Modern Houses of Architect William Jenkins, 1951-1958.

Houston Mod is planning several members-only events. If you need to check your membership status, please e-mail info@houstonmod.org

See you there,

Houston Mod

Houston Mod was recently recognized with a third "Good Brick Award" from the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance for the Mod of the Month open house program.