Tour MCM Houses by Gerald Hines & George Mitchell 8-13-2023

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August Mod of the Month Houston Mod invites you to join us Sunday, August 13, 2023 for a Mod of the Month open house event from 1 - 4 PM. Please help us find new preservation-minded owners for these vintage modern dwellings by two of Houston's most prominent builder/developers. They are located in west and southwest Houston. Please note the staggered opening schedule. Thanks to Houston MODern Market for sponsoring this FREE event.   5507 Braesvalley Dr Houston, TX 77096 HAR Link  |  Google Map Open 1 to 3pm on Sunday Near Meyerland and never flooded is this nifty flat-roofed mod priced very affordably. The 1963 design incorporates the popular barrel vault theme over the entrance, double front doors, terrazzo floored living areas, built in shelving and planter box and many vintage fixtures, all in good condition.    Pace Setter Homes developed the neighborhood about 1961 and built the house in 1963.  Mitchell-Dobbins Land Development Corporation, consisting of George Mitchell and Norman Dobbins, lead the firm. Norman Dobbins was an experienced homebuilder and Mitchell was mainly in the oil industry until this time. Mitchell-Dobbins went on the develop Pirates Beach and Pirates Cove in Galveston. George Mitchell later developed the Woodlands, an award-winning new town development, population 115,000 today and restored much of Galveston's downtown.

1330 Chardonay Drive #2, Epernay Phase 1, Houston, TX 77077 HAR Link  |  Google Map Open 2 to 4pm on Sunday   Gerald Hines explored residential development in the 1970s in Houston first with Ethan's Glen then Epernay.  Both were multi-family communities designed by the award-winning San Francisco Bay-area firm of Fisher-Friedman Associates. In the 1970s, the firm became nationally famous for their multi-family projects, mostly in California, which combined modern architecture with elaborate site plans and resident amenities. For Epernay, which had an intended audience of up-market empty-nesters, they created sophisticated modernistic slant-roofed "almost-detached townhouses" in 6 different plans arranged in staggered groups for privacy. They featured mostly brick exteriors, carefully placed windows and incorporated outdoor spaces on both levels. The featured townhouse faces a motor court with fountain, part of the architect's concept of "mini-neighborhoods". In a few places in the complex, the original custom cedar garage doors and supergraphic house numbers are still visible. Don't miss touring the grounds at Epernay to see the resort-quality modernist clubhouse and numerous cleverly-arranged site amenities designed by Sasaki-Walker landscape architects (the pool is raised and the tennis courts partially sunken to protect privacy and reduce noise).             Although it won a national housing award in 1975, the overall project met strong headwinds from the late 1970s housing slump and unit price-points that were too high versus traditional builder single-family homes.  Only a portion of the master plan was built. Another developer completed the project with smaller modernist units with wood siding by another architect.  Gerald D. Hines (1925-2020) was one of the world's most prominent real estate developers.  He employed top architects like Philip Johnson and I M Pei while creating landmark structures like Pennzoil Place, Transco-Williams Tower and the Galleria in Houston and Dallas. His developments are prestigious and high quality.

News & Upcoming Events David Adickes Museum and show is coming to Reeves Art and Design. The show opens August 11, 2023 and is on display through August 26. Adickes is one of Houston's most noted and beloved mid-century artists.  His museum is being installed in the second floor gallery at Reeves. Click link reevesartgalleryhouston.com Thanks to everyone who attended and supported the William F. Cody Lecture. A recording of the event has been edited and is now available on the Houston Mod YouTube Channel.  Click HERE.    Houston Mod has reactivated and now hosts the valuable Memorial Bend Architecture website on our website. Visit to learn more about Houston's most mod neighborhood. What's next for Astrodome? Please visit our friends at the Astrodome Conservancy to learn more about preserving and redeveloping the eighth wonder of the world. Their shop has many fun new items to support the cause. Mission, Membership and Publications. 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.  Houston Mod celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2023. Houston Mod is a friend organization of Docomomo US, a national non-profit organization dedicated to the Documentation and Conservation of the Modern Movement. Docomomo US has been dedicated to this mission for nearly 25 years as a chapter of Docomomo International. A single US domestic membership may be added to any Houston Mod membership for the 50% discounted Friend Organization rate of $50.00.  Houston Mod memberships and publications are available at most events.