December 30, 2007/Frank Lloyd Wright, Usonian /by Mid-Century Mike

Encounter Row in Columbia

Yesterday’s Post real estate section highlighted Encounter Row, an enclave of contemporary homes from the early 1970s in Columbia, Md.

“Today, the single-level, 850- and 1,220-square-foot Pacesetter houses that line Encounter Row and the four courts that extend from it define the enclave and remain a distinctive alternative to the large Colonial-style houses more common in the region. ‘For very little money, we had an architect-designed house,’ said Phil Engelke, an original Pacesetter owner.
Architect Barry Berkus, president of Berkus Design Studios in Santa Barbara, Calif., planned the homes as prototypes for modular construction. Berkus, who lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., said in a recent interview that he designed the houses to accommodate a growing population and shrinking lot sizes. … Berkus said he was influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian homes, which were meant to be affordable and mass-produced.”>

Here is a listing for one of the homes located on Encounter Row.

December 24, 2007/Mid-Century Modern /by Mid-Century Mike

Modern Capital’s House

From our house to yours: Happy Holidays.

With few new homes coming on the market this time of year, I thought I would take this opportunity to give you a peak into my house, as a number of readers have asked. We live in a 1956 split-level (with four levels) in Bethesda. The interior pictures highlight the main level of the house: the living room with cathedral ceiling and dining room. (The kitchen is not pictured because it needs major work; it was redone in the ’80s.) The three large pieces of art are by Campbell Laird; the block squares were done by my brother Daniel, an artist in Pittsburgh. More pictures to follow as we continue to do work on the house.

December 23, 2007/Moyaone Reserve Accokeek MD /by Mid-Century Mike

Build Your Own Modern Home in Moyaone Reserve

Build you own MCM-style home on 6.25 acres for sale in the mid-century modern community of Moyaone Reserve in Accokeek, Md.

December 21, 2007/Bethesda Maryland, Drumaldry /by Mid-Century Mike

Drumaldry in Bethesda

Built by developers Miller and Smith in the early 1970s, the homes in Drumaldry are contemporary homes with plenty of glass, open spaces and redwood cathedral ceilings, yet private because of the 6-foot brick walls built around the properties. When I first saw the homes from outside, I did not get a very modern or contemporary feel (I actually first thought of Sherwood Forest). That definitely changes once you walk inside. Here are two homes in the neighborhood currently for sale:

1972 4/2.5 – $730K – This listing has good images.

1973 – 4/3 – $790K – This one only has one exterior image.

December 18, 2007/Bethesda Maryland /by Mid-Century Mike

High Point in Bethesda

High Point is a mid-century neighborhood located along Massachusetts Avenue in Bethesda. You can find a number of cool ramblers and California contemporaries on Massachusetts, Osceola Road and Onondaga Road. While most of the mid-century homes remain, there are signs of unfortunate change. Along Onondaga Road, I saw a barren lot, one completed McMansion and one in progress across the street.

December 16, 2007/Rock Creek Palisades Silver Spring MD /by Mid-Century Mike

Mid-Century Contemporaries in Rock Creek Palisades; Open House Today

Here are listings for two mid-century contemporaries in Rock Creek Palisades in Kennsington, Md. The neighborhood is located between Connecticut Avenue and Beach Drive/Rock Creek Park north of Knowles Avenue. The neighborhood has many small two-level contemporary-style homes from the mid-1950s that feature a lot of windows and cathedral ceilings.

1953 3/2 – 539K – This house looks like it has been well maintained. It has a great landscaped yard with pond, waterfall and patio for a mid-century modern California-like outside living feeling. The arched hallway does not fit with the original design. The house is open today from 1-4 p.m. Here’s the location.

1955 3/2 – 479K – This house also has a backyard with a California feel: deck with hot tub surrounded by bamboo. It’s located here.

December 7, 2007/Brutalist, I.M. Pei /by Mid-Century Mike

D.C.’s Third Church of Christ Protected As Landmark

The D.C. Historic Preservation Review Board voted unanimously to award landmark status to the Third Church of Christ, Scientist and barred congregants from redeveloping the 1971 building by Araldo Cossutta of I.M. Pei‘s architectural firm. Members of the church are not happy with the decision to protect the example of Brutalist architecture.

December 2, 2007/Mid-Century Modern /by Mid-Century Mike

Modern Capital Spawns New Blog – Modern Snob

I wanted to let everyone know that I launched a new blog called Modern Snob. (I am writing this with my head cocked back and my nose high up in the air as all good snobs do.) In putting together Modern Capital, I come across many cool items that do not necessarily fit in with the blog’s focus on mid-century modern and modern real estate, design and events in the Washington, D.C. area. Modern Snob will allow me to highlight modern things and news well beyond the confines of the Beltway. Hope you enjoy.

December 2, 2007/Preservation /by Mid-Century Mike

National Trust Book on Preserving Modern Buildings

For those interested in issues concerning the preservation of modern buildings and communities, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has published Preserving Resources from the Recent Past by Jeanne Lambin. The book “looks at the historic context of the postwar building boom, the special challenges of preserving this legacy, and some case studies of community successes.” You can pick up a copy here.

Month: December 2007