February 22, 2010/Mid-Century Modern /by Mid-Century Mike

Post Magazine Highlights Mid-Century Modernism in D.C.

Still getting over some jet lag from my trip overseas, but the Post magazine’s extensive cover story this past weekend has helped perk me up. The effort to highlight mid-century modernism here in Washington got a nice boost with Annie Groer‘s piece about the updating of the home of the late modern architect David Condon. Condon, who worked for Charles Goodman and was part of the firm of Keyes, Lethbridge and Condon that designed Carderock Springs among other modern communities, designed the article’s featured home in Chevy Chase for his family in 1965. Groer’s sidebar, “The Mod Squad: Local Resources for MCM fans,” notes my real estate efforts and work on this site and showcases a number of MCM furniture dealers, including three Modern Capital sponsors, Home Anthology and Millennium Decorative Arts and Modernicus.

February 19, 2010/Mid-Century Modern /by Jill Kurtz

Modern Capital Part of DC’s “Mod Squad”

Washington Post Magazine
Modern Capital is highlighted as part of D.C.’s “Mod Squad” of local resources for MCM fans.

February 19, 2010/Mid-Century Modern /by Mid-Century Mike

Modern Capital’s New Home

Welcome to Modern Capital’s new home, moderncapitaldc.com. The goal of the redesign is to allow for an easier-to- navigate site and thus a richer experience for you, the site’s readers. I want to first thank my brother, Daniel Shapiro, an artist in Pittsburgh, for his original Modern Capital logo design, which juxtaposed a modern Charles Goodman home with the Washington Monument, an obelisk, which is a design first used in ancient Egypt.

The new logo, by graphic designer Nicole Parente-Lopez (former marketing creative director at Dwell), plays off that contradiction and the notion held by many that D.C. is a very traditional town with very few mid-century modern homes. The “Modern” in the logo is a Neutra typeface. The “Capital” is in a more traditional font that you might recognize from the pages of the Washington Post. While it is true that the D.C. area does not have the same amount of mid-century modern homes as LA or cities across the country, if you scratch below the surface, which I try to do here every day, there is a rich variety of mid-century modern real estate to be found.

The new site was designed by Nicole’s husband, Paulo Lopez, an award-winning interactive art director who used to work at Apple and is now at NPR. With Paulo’s expert help, I hope to continue to add more features to the site in the coming weeks and months.

I want to thank Daniel, Nicole and Paulo for all of their help. I could not have done this without them.

I hope you enjoy.

–Michael

February 15, 2010/Mid-Century Modern /by Mid-Century Mike

Modern in the Middle East

The Bank of Israel

It’s midnight here in Jerusalem and I need to go to sleep, but wanted to urge you to check out my twitter feed for some more images of some of the mid-century modern architecture here in Israel. The above shot is of the Bank of Israel building, designed in 1969 by Arieh and Eldar Sharon. Arieh Sharon studied at the Bauhaus and was a leading force in bringing the international style to Israel in the 1930s. See more on twitter. I’ll be touring the Bauhaus in Tel Aviv on Friday.

February 10, 2010/Mid-Century Modern /by Mid-Century Mike

Modern Capital’s Den Makeover

Being in the house since Friday except for a brief escape on Tuesday, my wife and I have been spending a lot of time in our den catching up on episodes of “Mad Men.” After several years, the space is finally at a point that I can show here as I have promised in the past. We still need to paint or change out the the brass-colored fireplace screen and want to add some greenery to the mix. From the “before” picture below taken soon after we moved in, you can see the wonderful ceiling fan/light, the berber carpet and our our mid-’90s Storehouse furniture (Umm, what were we thinking?)

Now for some plugs: Vintage Saarinen chairs are from Moderniucs, new Saarinen table is from DWR, Gus Modern Jane sofa is from RCKNDY, Knoll side-table is from Galaxie Modern and the Nelson lamp is from Modernica. I picked up the mid-century skyline print at an estate sale for $20. While we are working to rid ourselves of our Ikea furniture now that we are getting old, I have to admit that the TV stand, pillows and rug are from the College Park location.

If any Modern Capital readers have makeover’s they would like to share, e-mail me at moderncapital@gmail.com.

February 9, 2010/Alexandria Virginia, Virginia /by Mid-Century Mike

Modern Snapshot: St. John’s Lutheran Church in Alexandria

When my family and I were driving down to Florida in December, a closure of the ramp to 95 South off the Beltway took us on a little detour along Franconia Road where I quickly pulled over to take some shots of St. John’s Lutheran Church, which is located here. The church displays an interesting contrast between 1950s and late 1960s architecture. The original sanctuary to the right was built in 1959. The new sanctuary to the left was built in 1966 and has a more Brutalist feel when compared to the original’s more prominent use of stained glass and wood. Members of the church told me the soaring roof lines were designed to reflect the shape of Noah’s ark.

February 8, 2010/Mid-Century Modern /by Mid-Century Mike

Modern Snapshot: Custom Crafters Sign in Kensington

Love the vintage sign at Custom Crafters in Kensington. The shop opened in 1956.

February 6, 2010/Mid-Century Modern /by Mid-Century Mike

More Morris in Miami

If you have read this blog for some time, you know I am no fan of the snow and cold. So here are a few more shots from Lincoln Road, the mid-century open-air pedestrian mall by MiMo master Morris Lapidus. Lincoln Road is celebrating its 50 anniversary this year and is being considered for the National Register of Historic Places. I love the various white concrete sun shelters that dot the eight blocks. Wish I was there right now. Stay warm.

February 4, 2010/Cook Architecture /by Mid-Century Mike

Cook Architecture’s Split Level Resolve House I

The “before” picture.

In introducing Modern Capital sponsor Cook Architecture back in October, I mentioned one of the firm’s current projects: turning a standard mid-century split-level colonial that sits on a Virginia golf course (see above) into a dramatic, modern space. With work well underway at the home of Tom Arehart and Tricia Berman, take a look below at the transformation. To read more about, this project, click here and then click on (SLR 1) Split Level Resolve I.

New soaring roof line (above and below).

An office building curtain wall of glass is used on the back of the house.

Michael Cook, the architect, surveying the project.

February 4, 2010/Preservation /by Mid-Century Mike

Last Chance to Submit for DCPL’s 2010 Most Endangered Places List

Tomorrow is the last day to get in your nominations for the D.C. Preservation League’s 2010 list of Most Endangered Places. Any MCM buildings you think should be nominated? Selections will be announced in May. Click here for more info.

February 2, 2010/Hollin Hills House and Garden Tour, Hollin Hills Virginia /by Mid-Century Mike

2010 Hollin Hills House and Garden Tour – May 1

One of the homes featured on this year’s tour.
(Photo by Chris McNamara, cmc-photo.net)

Mark your calendars and get your tickets for the 2010 Hollin Hills House and Garden Tour, the biennial opportunity to see the designs of modernist architect Charles Goodman up close and personal. (Here’s my post from the 2008 tour.) Selected homes and gardens will be open for a self-guided tour from noon to 6 p.m. on May 1, rain or shine. Informational lectures on the architecture, landscape and design of the groundbreaking mid-century modern community will be held at 11 a.m. prior to the tour at Hollin Meadows Elementary School at 2310 Nordok Place.

Just a few days before the tour on April 28, the National Building Museum (NBM) will host a program at 6:30 p.m. entitled “Modernist Suburbia” featuring residents John Burns, FAIA, and landscape architect Dennis Carmichael, FASLA, who will discuss Hollin Hills’ history, growth and influence. NBM curator Chrysanthe Broikos will moderate the program. Ticket information will be available at the museum’s web site beginning in March.

Month: February 2010