
Charles M. Goodman: Shaping Modernist Architecture in Washington
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by Michael Shapiro
When we think of the pioneers who shaped American architecture in the mid-20th century, names like Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe, and Le Corbusier often come to mind. However, one name that deserves…

Eero Saarinen’s Mid-Century Modern Womb Chair Celebrates 75 Years
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by Michael Shapiro
In his book "No Place Like Utopia," the the architect and writer Peter Blake said Eero Saarinen's iconic Womb Chair was named when Blake's wife was sitting in the chair while pregnant. A great story true…

The Hallmarks of Mid-Century Modern Architecture
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by Michael Shapiro
Mid-century modern architecture is a style that emerged in the middle of the 20th century and was prevalent from the 1940s to the 1960s. It is characterized by clean, simple lines, use of new materials,…

4 Tips for Buying & Selling a Home at the Same Time
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by Michael Shapiro
Buying & selling a home at the same time? Unless you are a first-time home buyer, chances are you will be selling your current home while simultaneously looking for a new one. Just thinking about all…

Preparing to Sell Your Home — The Dos and Don’ts
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by Michael Shapiro
When selling a home, it’s important to establish a balance between doing the things essential to ensuring a successful sale and not going overboard. If you do too little, you are unlikely to get top…

Gordon Sugar-Developed Mid-Century Modern in Stevenson
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by Michael Shapiro
Just north of the Baltimore Beltway sits a major cluster of mid-century modern homes developed by Gordan Sugar from the 1940s to the 1960s. Stevenson is like a Baltimore version of Robert Davenport's Charles…

Lazor Modernist Flatpak Pre-fab Listed for $1.2 Million
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by Michael Shapiro
Just 68 miles from Washington sits a custom modernist pre-fab by one of the pioneers of the discipline Charlie Lazor, of Lazor/Office and the Blu Dot furniture company. Sited on 32 acres in Rixeyville,…

Bethesda Mid-Century Modern Homes Buying Guide
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by Michael Shapiro
The market for Bethesda mid-century modern homes is hot right now, and many buyers are thinking about trying their luck on the market. If you’re planning to start shopping for homes in Bethesda in the…

Docomono Tour Day: Modern on the National Mall
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by Michael Shapiro
As part of Docomomo National Tour Day 2022, Docomomo DC is hosting "Modern on the National Mall." The Oct. 29th tour will explore the challenges of caring for Modern Museums on the National Mall.
The…

PRIVATE EXCLUSIVE: Takoma Avenue Goodman Sold
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by Michael Shapiro
I just listed and sold one of the rare Takoma Avenue Charles Goodman-designed mid-century modern homes in an off-market, Compass Private Exclusive sale. The 3 bedroom/1.5 bathroom home closed at $800,000.
The…

Bethesda Magazine 2022 Top Producer Recognition
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by Michael Shapiro
I am honored to be recognized as a 2022 Top Producer in the March/April issue of Bethesda Magazine. Thank you to all my clients and all the mid-century modern fans here in the Washington, D.C. area for…

Potomac Overlook Seeks Historic Designation
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by Michael Shapiro
Potomac Overlook, the mid-century modern community in Bethesda overlooking the Potomac River, is seeking to become Montgomery County’s first modernist subdivision designated as a historic district…

Modern Capital’s Coolfont Cabin
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by Michael Shapiro
In the late 1960s, Sam Ashelman, a Washington businessman, and his wife Martha developed the Coolfont resort and private mid-century modern cabins in the woods just outside the town of Berkeley Springs,…

Smith-Designed Mid-Century Modern in St. Michael’s
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by Michael Shapiro
Talk about a perfect spot for the summer. Take a peek at this custom mid-century modern home designed by Chloethial Woodard Smith. Set on 8.85 acres on Broad Creek in Saint Michael's, the 1959 sprawling…

America’s Best Real Estate Professionals Listed
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by Michael Shapiro
Very thankful to all my clients who put their trust in me. I have been included in this year's WSJ Real Trends America's Best Real Estate Professionals list for 2021. Top 100 in the state for individual…

Drone Tour of Charles Goodman’s Highland Hills
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by Michael Shapiro
With so many of this year's typical home tour events cancelled, Modern Richmond put together a brief, socially-distanced drone tour of the Charles Goodman's Highland Hills. This mid-century modern neighborhood…

Demand for Mid-Century Modern Homes Strong
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by Michael Shapiro
UrbanTurf writes about the continuing demand for mid-century modern homes in the Washington area despite Mad Men being off the air for the past five years.
"Mad Men concluded its television run in 2015…

Under Contract: Custom Chloethiel Woodard Smith in Somerset
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by Michael Shapiro
My listing for this custom mid-century modern in Somerset in Chevy Chase by renowned female modernist architect Chloethiel Woodard Smith went under contract in a week with multiple offers. It was listed…

Modern Luxury DC Top Agent Recognition
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by Michael Shapiro
I am honored to be named a Top Agent in the inaugural Modern Luxury DC Real Estate Awards. Thank you to all of my clients, DC magazine and the team at Compass DMV.
I bring a personal passion for mid-century…

Washingtonian Magazine Top Agent Recognition
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by Michael Shapiro
I am honored to be recognized once again as a Washingtonian Magazine Top Agent. Thank you to all of my clients, family and friends who have supported Modern Capital for the past 14 years. Please reach…

Furnishing a Mid-Century Modern Home: Inspiration & Sourcing
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by Michael Shapiro
A guest post on sourcing mid-century modern furniture from our partner, ATTIC.
Nothing completes a beautiful mid-century home like furniture and decor drawn from the same aesthetic. The simple, sleek…

Market Reflections Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic
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by Michael Shapiro
I hope everyone and their families are healthy and safe during this very frightening and difficult time as we all navigate this global coronavirus health crisis together. As valued clients and subscribers,…

Bethesda Magazine: Top Producer Recognition 2020
I am honored to be recognized as a Top Producer by Bethesda Magazine.
"Residential real estate is big business in Montgomery County and Upper Northwest D.C. (ZIP codes 20015 and 20016)," says the magazine…

Tickets on Sale: Hollin Hills Tour 2020
The 2020 Hollin Hills House + Garden Tour has been postponed. In light of the recent developments surrounding the coronavirus pandemic we have made the determination to postpone the 2020 Hollin Hills House…

Modern Snapshot: Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House
Radiant floor heat never felt so good. I had finally made the pilgrimage to Mies van der Rohe's Farnsworth House on the Fox River in Plano, Illinois, 47 miles west of Chicago. It was only November but…

Bethesda Modern: Spring Lake Condos
From the low-slung pool house to the decorative breeze block, the Spring Lake condominium community in Bethesda would look right at home in South Florida or Palm Springs.
The community was designed by…

Endangered: Concrete Association Building in Silver Spring
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by Michael Shapiro
A brutalist building made of concrete designed to promote the use of concrete is facing the wrecking ball. The Silver Spring headquarters of the National Sand & Gravel Association (NSGA) and National…

Modernist Pre-Fab in Foxhall – $1.775 Million
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by Michael Shapiro
If you are looking for a new, modernist home in the city, take a look at this one listed by my Compass colleagues The P&rtners. Built using sophisticated aerospace robotics, this innovative pre-fab…

Explore the Modernist Designs of Roberto Burle Marx in NYC
The two-dimensional modernist designs by Roberto Burle Marx are stunning pieces of art in and of themselves let alone the how the landscape designs come to fruition in the physical world. Three years ago,…

Fallswood: Funky Contemporary Enclave in Falls Church
Fallswood in Falls Church is a small enclave of funky early 1970s contemporaries with Swiss/ski chalet lines. The neighborhood of roughly four dozen homes right between the Beltway and I-66 was designed…

Flat-Roof Mid-Century Modern in Darnestown – $665K
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by Michael Shapiro
I'll call this one Darnestown Modern. Take a look at this 1960 flat-roof mid-century modern with clerestory windows and wood-beamed ceilings on more than two acres in Darnestown, Maryland. It is listed…

Custom Mid-Century Modern in Quaint Acres – $675K
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by Michael Shapiro
This custom mid-century modern in Quaint Acres in Silver Spring backs up to the Northwest Branch and Rachel Carson Greenway trails. Carson, who lived in the neighborhood, wrote "Silent Spring," the book…

Open House & Video Tour: Scandinavian Modern by Tom Shiner, FAIA
If you missed my first Open House at my listing at 4789 Western Ave. in Bethesda, you can come see it this Saturday, March 23. I will be holding an Open House from 1 to 4 pm. You can also virtually tour…

Green, Modernist Home by Tom Shiner, FAIA – $1.5 Million
Completed in 2010, the green, modernist house and studio at 4798 Western Ave. in Bethesda were designed and built by award-winning architect Tom Shiner, FAIA. The design was inspired by Scandinavian masters…

Under Contract: Renovated Berla & Abel “Tiffey Townhouse” – $799K
I just relisted this early 1940s modernist Tiffey Townhomes along Arkansas Avenue designed by well-known Washington architects Julian Berla and Joseph Abel for $799,000. I will be holding an Open House…

Free Docomomo DC Happy Hour, Victor Lundy Exhibit – Feb. 21
Join Docomomo DC and the AIA’s Architects Foundation at the Octagon Museum for a free happy hour and chance to experience an exhibit featuring the work of architect and artist Victor Lundy, FAIA. The…

Architecture and Design Film Festival Returns to DC
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by Michael Shapiro
The Architecture & Design Film Festival (ADFF), which made its debut in Washington last year at the National Building Museum (NBM), is returning to to Washington Feb. 21-24. The ADFF is the nation’s…

Private Exclusive: Scandinavian Modern Home by Thomas Shiner, FAIA
During the snow yesterday, all I thought about was this fireplace in my new, private exclusive listing in Bethesda. The green, modernist house and studio were designed and built by award-winning architect…

Oregonian Cites Modern Capital as a Resource for Mid-Century Modern Real Estate
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by Michael Shapiro
OregonLive.com
The Oregonian’s Bridget Otto highlights Modern Capital as a resource for mid-century modern real estate. Modern Capital is a resource not only for those in D.C. but others around the…

Thank You from Modern Capital on Thanksgiving
I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. As you prepare to sit down for the holiday with you family and friends, I am thankful for all of my wonderful clients and all of Modern Capital's loyal readers…

Washingtonian Top Agent Recognition
To all my clients and readers: I wanted to say thank you for your enduring support during the past year. I have been honored with Washingtonian’s Top Agent distinction. I am so grateful for the trust…

My Upcoming Listings, Tiffey Townhome Private Exclusive
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by Michael Shapiro
Hope everyone had a good Memorial Day weekend. We are still seeing low inventory and bidding wars on the best properties. In the next few weeks, I will be listing four houses and wanted to give Modern…

Modern Capital on Full Service Radio
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by Michael Shapiro
The Line Hotel in Adams Morgan is housed in the 110-year old former First Church of Christ Scientist building. Right in the lobby, is Full Service Radio studio run by founder Jack Inslee. Jack recently…

Modern Snapshot: Breuer’s IBM Building in Boca
With it snowing here in DC today, I thought a little Breuer in Boca would be nice to look at as we yearn for spring to actually start. Marcel Breuer and Robert Gatje designed IBM's North American Research…

Save the Date: 2018 Hollin Hills House + Garden Tour
The 2018 edition of the Hollin Hills House and Garden Tour will be held April 28. The self-guided walking tour will showcase stunning examples of mid-century modern architecture.
The Hollin…

Architecture & Design Film Festival Coming to DC in 2018
I hope everyone had a good Christmas and is having a wonderful holiday season. I am happy to write about this gift coming next year from the National Building Museum. The museum, with the Revada Foundation, is…

Michael Shapiro Shares Expertise on Mid-Century Modern Architecture
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by Michael Shapiro
Washingtonian: If You Love Midcentury Modern Architecture, You Have to Check Out Reston
Michael Shapiro is quoted in an article on the mid-century modern residential architecture in Reston, Virginia…

MoCo Modern Tour: The Work of Cohen & Haft
This year’s Montgomery Modern tour on Sunday, Oct. 8 will explore the Montgomery County work of Cohen, Haft & Associates, a leading modernist architecture firm distinguished for contemporary designs…

Neutra’s Windshield House
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by Michael Shapiro
Go see the fascinating--and tragic--story of Richard Neutra’s first East Coast commission, the 1938 Windshield house. The house was designed for the real-estate scion and art collector John Nicholas…

DCPL’s Mid-Century Modern Instameet – July 16
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by Michael Shapiro
The DC Preservation League is holding its first Instameet on Sunday, July 16, to explore the mid-century modern paradise of Southwest DC. Beginning at Arena Stage, the group will tour part of the neighborhood…

The Beauty of Brutalism
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by Michael Shapiro
Do you love Brutalism or hate it? Local journalist Amanda Kolson Hurley makes the case for preserving Washington's bevy of Brutalist beauties. "It could certainly be that on this side of the Atlantic,…

Mid-Century Moderns Moving Fast
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by Michael Shapiro
Mid-century modern homes in the DC area are flying off the market. My two new listings went under contract in a matter of days, not lasting for the planned open houses this weekend. Properties are intense…

National Gallery Celebrates I.M. Pei Turning 100
To celebrate I.M Pei, FAIA, turning 100 on Wednesday, the National Gallery of Art will host a discussion at the Gallery's Pei-designed East Building, which opened in 1978. "Designed at a crucial point…

Event: Considering Modernist Landscapes – May 15
Springtime has finally hit DC. The cherry blossoms have come and gone and now the azaleas are in full swing. It is a good time of year to think about the natural environment and landscaping. The National…

Sold: Custom MCM in Owings Mills; New Listings
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by Michael Shapiro
The custom mid-century modern in Owings Mills I listed closed this week.
It was originally designed and built in 1960 by noted architect James Grieves, FAIA, as his own home. It was later (1980s) seamlessly…

Endangered: Silver Spring Library by Rhees Burket
The mid-century modern Silver Spring Library by noted local architect Rhees Evans Burket, AIA, is facing an uncertain future. The county has put out a request for proposals from developers to turn the…

Neutra’s VDL House Named National Landmark
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by Michael Shapiro
Good news for all of you Richard Neutra nuts. The modern master's studio and residence in Silver Lake in Los Angeles was just named a National Historic Landmark. “The Neutra Studio and Residences…

Herman Miller Mecca in NYC
Since the shopping season is now upon us, Eames, Nelson and Noguchi fans should plan a pilgrimage to New York to pay homage in the recently opened Herman Miller flagship store on Park Avenue. It is…

Modern Exhibits for the Holiday Weekend
If you have modernist family and friends coming into town for the holiday weekend, there are number of new modern exhibits to explore, including at the recently reopened I.M. Pei-designed East Building…

Mad About Midcentury Modern
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by Michael Shapiro
Bethesda Magazine: Mad About Midcentury Modern
Bethesda magazine interviews Michael Shapiro about mid-century modern homes in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Modern Snapshot: The Four Seasons
It is only fitting that one of the most iconic modernist buildings in the world was home to one of the word's most iconic restaurant spaces as well. Mies van der Rohe's Seagram Building housed The…

Sneak Peek: Old Town Modern by Cook Architecture
I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday weekend. As we celebrate Independence Day, take a sneak peek into this 1870 rowhouse in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, the stomping grounds of our founding fathers.
The…

Modern Snapshot: Hollin Hills
Another excellent Hollin Hills House and Garden Tour is in the books. While overcast on Saturday, the weather held out so all the visitors would not track water and mud through the meticulous mid-century…

Eason Cross, FAIA, Dies at 90
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by Michael Shapiro
Leading local modernist Eason Cross, FAIA, who studied at Harvard with Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer, passed away in late January at the age of 90. Cross worked for Charles Goodman early in his…

Montgomery Modern Book on Kindle, at St. Paul’s
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by Michael Shapiro
Senior county architectural historian Clare Lise Kelly's book, Montgomery Modern: Modern Architecture in Montgomery County, Maryland, 1930-1979, is now available in Kindle e-book from Amazon. The book,…

Palm Trees, No Snow: LA’s Modernist Housing
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by Michael Shapiro
With the blizzard now passed and the big dig to begin, I thought everyone could use some pictures from the land of palm trees and no snow: Los Angeles. During the holidays, I went to LA and explored…

Happy Holidays 2015 from Modern Capital
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by Michael Shapiro
I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year. I also wanted to thank everyone for reading the site during the past eight years. I'm in Los Angeles this week so I thought…

Before and After of a Mid-Century Modern Charles Goodman Renovation
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by Michael Shapiro
Washingtonian: Before and After: This Midcentury Modern Masterpiece Underwent a Shocking Transformation
Washingtonian looks at the before and after of a mid-century modern Charles Goodman renovation…

Prince George’s Modern
As part of growing local efforts to document and preserve local mid-century modern architecture, the Prince George's County Planning Department has launched its Prince George's Modern project to help…

MoCo’s Vintage Mid-Century Road Signs
During the post World War II boom, Montgomery County grew by leaps and bounds. The new, post war exuberance was reflected in not only the modern architecture sprouting up but by the cool roadside signs…

The Architect of Palm Springs: Donald Wexler, 1926-2015
So sad to hear of the passing of Donald Wexler, who put his stunning architectural imprint all over Palm Springs. He was a classy and modest gentleman who created enduring architecture. It was so cool…

Documenting the MCM Architecture of Wildwood, N.J.
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by Michael Shapiro
If you don't follow architectural photographer Darren Bradley, you should. His photos of mid-century modern and modern architecture are just stunning. As someone who grew up in New Jersey and still…

Event: Modernizing Mies’ MLK Library
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by Michael Shapiro
If you want to see what initial plans look like for possible changes to Mies van der Rohe's Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, the National Building Museum is hosting an event with the architects…

A Cool Virtual Tour of the Eames House
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by Michael Shapiro
You have seen images of the Eames House online or may have even vistied the site and peeked your head into the famous modernist space. Now, Archilogic, a real estate marketing company, has created…

The ‘Mad Men’ Legacy: Look to the Furniture
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by Michael Shapiro
With the second of the last seven "Mad Men" episodes airing now, I wanted to make sure everyone saw this interesting piece by Andrew Romano, the West Coast Correspondent for Yahoo News who lives…

Modern Snapshot: The National Presbyterian Church
The prominent campus of the National Presbyterian Church on Nebraska Avenue was designed by ecclesiastical architect Harold E. Wagoner, who once said: “The great thing about being an architect is…

Book Tells Story of Wright’s Pope-Leighy House
To mark the 75th anniversary of Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House, architect Steven M. Reiss has published the book Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House, which tells the fascinating story…

Modern Snapshot: Noguchi’s ‘California Scenario’
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by Michael Shapiro
With the thermometer on 10 degrees right now, I thought these pictures would be appropriate. Heading south from LA and just off the 405, you can find a small oasis amid the office buildings of Costa…

Happy New Year from Modern Capital
I wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year. Thanks for reading and supporting the site during the past eight years. I hope 2015 will be filled with health, happiness and lots of mid-century modern…

Finnish Embassy Turns 20
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by Michael Shapiro
Happy birthday to the the Finnish Embassy, which turned 20 this month. Located on Massachusetts Avenue across from the Naval Observatory, it is the first LEED-certified embassy in Washington. The embassy…

Mies’ Highfield House in Baltimore Marks 50 Years
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by Michael Shapiro
Mies van der Rohe's Highfield House in Baltimore this weekend marked 50 years since it opened its doors to residents. Seems like the more traditional-minded neighbors did not approve when it was originally…

Modern Snapshot: Caribbean Motel in Wildwood, N.J.
Summer is over but the Washington Post Travel section is hanging on with its review yesterday of the "Doo Wop" style Caribbean Motel in Wildwood, N.J. The mid-century modern motel was purchased in…

Modern Snapshot: The Primary Day School in Bethesda
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by Michael Shapiro
Featured in Progressive Architecture in 1958, the Deigert & Yerkes designed Primary Day School in Bethesda opened in 1955. The stark white, sprawling hexagonal design with touches of--how appropriate--primary…

Midwest Modern Road Trip
It's summer, so time for a good old road trip. The Wall Street Journal has a short piece highlighting the plethora of mid-century modern and modern architecture between Cleveland and Chicago. "Thanks…

Ken Freeman Designs in Bethesda, Rockville
Ken Freeman was a New York clothing designer who moved his family to Maryland in the 1960s to become a real estate developer. He briefly worked with his brother Carl M. Freeman, who introduced the "California…

Exploring the Pre-Fab Designs of Blu Homes
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by Michael Shapiro
If you are thinking about a pre-fab modern home, Modern Capital sponsor Blu Homes has a couple local opportunities to explore the firm's designs. The company, based in Vallejo, CA, focuses on green…

From the Archive: The Gropius House
To mark Walter Gropius' birthday (May 18, 1883) I thought I would pull this post out from the archive. When Gropius first came to the United States in 1937 to teach at Harvard, he and his wife rented…

Appreciation: Harold L. Esten, FAIA
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by Michael Shapiro
Sad news to report. Harold Esten, FAIA, one of Washington's leading modernist architects, passed away in February at the age of 94. I was lucky to meet with Hal and his wife Alice before they moved to…

A ‘Mad Men’ Peek into the Time & Life Building
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by Michael Shapiro
While the promos and articles about the new season of Mad Men focus more on the action in Los Angeles, I thought this Time magazine peek into the Time & Life Building in good old New York was a nice…

Design Destination: Tour the Danish Embassy
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by Michael Shapiro
Danish mid-century design is hot. You can get a taste of it right here in Washington by touring the Danish Embassy on May 10 as part of the EU's open house day.
The 1960 Danish Embassy is the first…

Redevelopment Ready to Hit Southwest Waterfront
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by Michael Shapiro
The major redevelopmet of Southwest DC's waterfront is slated to kick off later this month. (See the recent Washington Post piece here.) More than 50 years ago, Southwest underwent a massive transformation,…

Take Action: Help Save the Wheaton Youth Center
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by Michael Shapiro
A Feb. 25 Montgomery County Council public hearing on the early 1960s Wheaton Youth Center may be the last time for supporters to make a pitch to save the building from demolition. Montgomery…

Exhibit: The Landscape Legacy of Dan Kiley
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by Michael Shapiro
Dan Kiley, one of the most influential modernist American landscape architects, worked with the giants of modernist architecture: Eero Saarinen, I.M. Pei, Louis Kahn and Gordon Bunshaft. Locally,…

Examining the Eames @ the National Building Museum
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by Michael Shapiro
Want to learn more about how and why Charles and Ray Eames had such an important impact on modern design? The design duo will be highlighted as part of the museum's upcoming Portraits in Design lecture…

Finalists to Present MLK Library Ideas
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by Michael Shapiro
Happy Martin Luther King Day. I thought it was appropriate to give an update on the expected renovation and modernization of Mies van der Rohe's Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in DC. In late…

Metro Wins 2014 AIA 25-Year Award
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by Michael Shapiro
While Washington's Metro has its share of problems as anyone who has ridden it knows, its stunning yet simple brutalist design by Harry Weese still stands the test of time and is a true architectural…

Lost: Rockville’s ‘Pink Bank’ Building
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by Michael Shapiro
The "Pink Bank" in Rockville at 255 N. Washington St. will be no more. Work has started to take down the 1964 former Suburban Trust Bank building. Despite the city’s Historic District Commission's…

Happy New Year; Mid-Century Modern Churches
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by Michael Shapiro
I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. I wanted to take this opportunity to wish everyone a healthy and happy 2014. I also wanted to thank everyone for reading the site during the past seven years…

Victor Lundy Film, Tax Court Tour Jan. 25
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by Michael Shapiro
The life and work of Victor Lundy, FAIA, who studied with Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer at Harvard and became a leading member of Paul Rudolph’s Sarasota School, is being celebrated in a film…

Modern Snapshot: Honolulu’s Tropical Modernism
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by Michael Shapiro
With the snow and ice that we had here the past couple of days, I thought some images from Honolulu would help take your mind off the dreary weather. Honolulu is one of the best cities in the United…

Johnie’s Coffee Shop in LA Landmarked
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by Michael Shapiro
Some good preservation news from Los Angeles. Johnie's Coffee Shop, designed in 1955 by Armet and Davis, was landmarked by the LA City Council last week. The original drawing for the Googie coffee shop…

Modern Mobler Opens New Shop in Kensington
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by Michael Shapiro
Finally. A taste of mid-century modern on Kensington's Antique Row. I am excited to report that Doug Meyers of Modern Mobler (a Modern Capital sponsor) has opened up a second location at 3730…

Modern Snapshot: Vintage Photos of Rock Creek Woods
Today, Rock Creek Woods is known for its park-like setting and explosion of cherry blossoms in the spring. While architect Charles Goodman and the builders sought to keep the topography and trees when…

Breuer-Designed House Highlight of MoCo Modern Tour
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by Michael Shapiro
I am posting a few photos for those of you who missed the Montgomery Modern Bus Tour this past Saturday. The tour was organized by the Montgomery County Planning Department’s Historic Preservation…

Film Exploring Zeppelin, Wheaton Rec Center at AFI Aug. 30
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by Michael Shapiro
The film Led Zeppelin Played Here, which explores the debate about if the legendary band played a show in 1969 at the endangered Wheaton Community Recreation Center, will have a one-time showing at…

Modern Snapshot: Breuer’s Vacant American Press Institute
In early 2012, the 66 year-old American Press Institute in Reston closed up shop and joined with the Newspaper Association of America, which is based in Arlington. The move left API's 1972-1978 brutalist…

Modern Snapshot: Hal Esten’s Halex House
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by Michael Shapiro
The Hal Esten-designed Halex House at 814 Thayer Ave. in Silver Spring, which served as the headquarters of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) for 35 years, is slated to become a four-story…

Endangered: Wheaton Rec Center
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by Michael Shapiro
Looks like Montgomery County is moving ahead with plans to demolish the award-winning 1964 Wheaton Community Recreation Center designed by Keyes, Lethbridge and Condon. The county is looking to combine…

Docomomo Highlights Modernism of Southwest D.C.
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by Michael Shapiro
Docomomo US, the American chapter of Docomomo International, a non-profit organization dedicated to the documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighborhoods of the modern movement,…

Mid-Century Modern in McLean
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by Michael Shapiro
I spent some time this week exploring neighborhoods in McLean. Most people associate McLean with mega McMansions. While that is by and large the case, there are many mid-century modern and contemporary…

Modern Snapshot: Three Eichlers in New York
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by Michael Shapiro
I just watched the excellent documentary on Joseph Eichler, who developed more mid-century modern tract houses than any other builder in the country. During his career, he built more than 11,000 modernist…

Modern Snapshot: The Washington Post Buildings
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by Michael Shapiro
While recent stories about how the Washington Post is looking to sell its current home discussed the mid-century modern nature of the architecture, they did not discuss who designed the buildings or…

Harbour Square Deemed Historic
The Historic Preservation Review Board voted Feb. 28 to list Chloethial Woodard Smith's Harbour Square in Southwest in the DC Inventory of Historic Sites. The designation recognizes Harbour Square…

Post Highlights MoCo Modern Preservation Effort
The Washington Post is out with a story today on the efforts of Montgomery County historic preservation planners Montgomery Modern effort to catalog and preserve mid-century modern buildings (such…

Finding a Good Real Estate Agent
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by Michael Shapiro
Washington Post: Research, references are keys to finding a good real estate agent
Michael Shapiro is highlighted for his specialization in mid-century modern real estate.

Help Preserve Mid-Century Glenmont
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by Michael Shapiro
Planners are working on a new sector plan for Glenmont that looks at past recommendations and reflects the community's vision for a transit-oriented, revitalized community. The Planning Board will…

Formica Celebrating 100 Years of Cool
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by Michael Shapiro
Formica, the staple of mid-century modern kitchens and bathroom counterops is turning 100 and getting some notice. To celebrate its 100 anniversary, Formica has launched a new retro-inspired line.…

Dan Kiley: Hollin Hills, the Miller House and More
If you are interested in learning about the early landscape designs of Hollin Hills and want to learn more about landscape architect Dan Kiley, I recommend picking up a copy of Daniel Urban Kiley: The…

Post Highlights “1950s Vibe” of Raymondale
The Washington Post's regular "Where We Live" column featured the "1950s vibe" of Raymondale, a mid-century modern community in Falls Church. The 142-homes neighborhood was first developed in…

Modern Snapshot: The Schindler House at Night
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by Michael Shapiro
In Washington, tourists often take tours dubbed something along the lines of "Monuments by Night." When I was in LA, I did the Schindler House by night. After a packed day, I finally made it to the…

Modern Snapshot: Beverly Hills
Hope everyone is having a happy holiday season. With the weather dreadful today here in Washington and the local market quiet, I was looking through recent pictures from LA. Here are a few shots of…

Modern Snapshot: The Eames House
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by Michael Shapiro
Ray and Charles Eames' "stuff" is almost all back in their house. The contents of the living room were famously removed last spring and displayed as part of LACMA's exhibit "California Design, 1930–1965:…

Event: Daniel Donnelly to Launch Ceramic Lighting Line
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by Michael Shapiro
Daniel Donnelly loves clay. After shaping it as a kid and majoring in the medium in college, he is now launching a new line of Decorative Ceramic Lighting. The shapes of the lamps are inspired by mid-century…

Thank You on Thanksgiving
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by Michael Shapiro
I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. As you prepare to sit down for the holiday with you family and friends (wouldn't it be nice to sit around this table in this house?), I am thankful…

Modern Snapshot: Two MCM Churches
There are so many mid-century modern churches, synagogues and others houses of worship that dot the Washington area, that I have been trying to force myself to take time to stop and take some pictures…

Modern Snapshot: Vintage Touches Galore
While many mid-century homes in the area have been updated for the better--or in many other cases for the worse, so many homes that I see still have interesting vintage touches from lighting to kitchens…

Monday Night Event: Southwest DC: Then and Now
If you want to squeeze in some DC architecture before the final presidential debate, the Southwest Heritage Project will be holding a program on Southwest DC's history, architecture and public parks…

Help Save D.C.’s Wire Office Building
The 1949-50 Wire Building or Wire Office Building at the corner of Vermont Avenue and K Street, NW, is in danger of being torn down. The building was designed and constructed by Alvin L. Aubinoe and…

Archer Launches The Jacobsen Collection
Good architecture needs good furniture. Award-winning architects Hugh Newell Jacobsen and Simon Jacobsen have understood this throughout their careers, designing furniture for private clients…

Endangered: Harry N. Hirshberg Jr. House in Bethesda
When I saw this vacant mid-century modern house in Bethesda come on the market earlier this year, I knew it was likely not going to survive. Surrounded by $1 million+ McMansions, this 1948 one-level,…

Modern Snapshot: The Gropius House
When Walter Gropius first came to the United States in 1937 to teach at Harvard, he and his wife rented a Colonial in Lincoln, Mass. Thankfully, philanthropist Helen Storrow provided Gropius with four…

Modern Snapshot: Manufacturers Trust Building
The space may now house a Joe Fresh, but it will always be the Manufacturers Trust building, the elegantly, minimalist International Style structure designed by Gordon Bunshaft of Skidmore, Owings…

Modern Snapshot: The Colony of Wellfleet
"A very special sense of place." That is the appropriate tag line of the The Colony of Wellfleet, 10 Bauhaus-style cottages nestled among soaring pine trees just across the road from Wellfleet Bay.…

Pocket of Mid-Century Moderns in Alexandria
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by Michael Shapiro
I drove through a nice pocket of mid-century modern homes in Alexandria the other day on my way to see Charles Goodman's Severeid House. Turning from North Pickett onto North Pegram, you'll find a…

Architecture Golf, Kevin Roche at Building Museum
Looking for a place to beat the heat? Head to the National Building Museum for some architectural mini-golf and an exhibit on the work of Kevin Roche. Kicking off today (July 4) and running through…

Modern Snapshot: The University of Miami
In Washington, Chloethial Woodard Smith was a trailblazing female modernist architect that left a major imprint on the area: the urban renewal plan in Southwest, the National Building Museum, townhomes…

Modern Snapshot: Saarinen’s War Memorial Center
To mark Memorial Day, I thought I would highlight Eero Saarinen's 1957 War Memorial Center in Milwaukee. The center was designed to "create a new home for two previously separate art collections…

The Allure of Mid-Century Modern Architecture
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by Michael Shapiro
Huffington Post: Mid-Century Modern Homes For Sale In The D.C. Area
Michael Shapiro highlights mid-century modern homes for sale in the area and discusses the allure of mid-century modern architectur…

Modern Snapshot: Silver Spring’s American National Bank Building
When you walk into the lobby of the former American National Bank Building in Silver Spring you think 'Mad Men.' The preserved mid-century lobby (terrazzo floors and marble walls) evokes Manhattan…

Get Your Tickets Now for Hollin Hills Home Tour
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by Michael Shapiro
Spring is in the air (as it has been for much of this winter) and the Hollin Hills House and Garden Tour is fast approaching. The biennial tour will be held rain or shine on April 28. Organizers tell…

Led Zeppelin and the Modernist Wheaton Rec Center
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by Michael Shapiro
When most people talk about the 1964 Wheaton Youth Center (now the Wheaton Community Recreation Center), they are likely discussing the question of whether Led Zeppelin played a show there in 1969…

Washington DC’s Mid-Century Modern Neighborhoods
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by Michael Shapiro
Washington Post Real Estate Blog: Washington’s mid-century modern neighborhoods
Writer Amanda Abrams interviews Michael Shapiro about the area’s mcm neighborhoods.

50 Years of Saarinen’s Dulles
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by Michael Shapiro
The current issue of Washingtonian has a fascinating piece on the construction and politics behind Eero Saarinen's groundbreaking Dulles airport terminal that opened 50 years ago this month. Sudip…

Are you ‘Sitting on a Small Fortune?’
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by Michael Shapiro
The stock market got hit again today, but what about the value of your vintage mid-century modern furniture collection? Check out this CNBC piece examining the booming market for mid-century modern designs.…

Modern Snapshot: Mies’ Crown Hall at IIT
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by Michael Shapiro
I saw this tweet posted yesterday: (CREATION/DESTRUCTION - S. R. Crown Hall’s interior during finals week at Illinois Institute of Technology) along with this picture. I had a chance to stroll…

The Untold Story of Edward Durell Stone
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by Michael Shapiro
Edward Durell Stone (think Kennedy Center, MoMA, the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, Busch Stadium, the former Standard Oil building in Chicago (see above) among others) was an early and leading modernist architect…

The Future of Mies’ MLK Library
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by Michael Shapiro
Interesting post from DCist about the debate over the composition of a panel that is looking into what should be done with the Mies van der Rohe-designed Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. The eight-person…

Exploring Charles and Ray Eames
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by Michael Shapiro
If you are obsessed with the the designs of Ray and Charles Eames or you want to learn more about the famous husband and wife design duo, this is a good time to do some exploring. First, you can see…

Ralph Rapson Exhibit at Archer; Opening Reception Nov. 4
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by Michael Shapiro
Frank Lloyd bought two. That's a good endorsement of the bentwood rocking chair known as the Rapson Rapid Rocker. The chair was originally designed in 1939 by Ralph Rapson, a leading American modernist…

AT’s Design Evening on Mid-Century Modernism in D.C.
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by Michael Shapiro
If you were not able to make it to the recent Apartment Therapy design evening on mid-century modernism, here is a link to AT's write up. The panel discussion was lead by organizer Desiré…

The Homes of Tomorrow, Today
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by Michael Shapiro
I hope you were able to get to the National Building Museum's Designing Tomorrow: America's World's Fairs of the 1930s, which closed recently. The first-of-its-kind exhibit highlighted the innovative…

Walking Tour: Chloethiel Woodard Smith’s Southwest
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by Michael Shapiro
Washington Walks will be holding a walking tour of Chloethiel Woodward Smith's archtiecture in Southwest DC on Saturday, Oct. 22. The tour starts at 11 outside the Waterfront Metro. No reservations…

2011 Solar Decathlon, Invite to Hirshhorn Event
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by Michael Shapiro
Every two years since 2002, the U.S. Department of Energy has held its Solar Decathlon on the National Mall to challenge collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective,…

Modern Snapshot: Davis Memorial Library in Bethesda
The mid-century modern Davis Memorial Library on Democracy Boulevard in Bethesda sits on what is left of the Davis family farm, once a 400 acre estate called Rock Spring. Designed in the mid-1960s…

Building Your Own Modern Home
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by Michael Shapiro
A number of clients, friends and readers have been asking me lately about the process of building their own modern home, including prefabs. One of the best resources on the web for learning the ups…

Modern Capital in Chicago; Early Moderns in Bethesda, DC
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by Michael Shapiro
I am exploring the modern architecture of Chicago (you can follow posts from the trip on Facebook and Twitter), but have been keeping my eye on activity back home. I found a couple of earlier modern…

Post on Prefabs, Lost River Modern
The Post's Real Estate section has a story out on modern prefabs, including Modern Capital Sponsor Lost River Modern. The article gives a good overview of story behind how Chris Brown and Sarah Johnson…

The Unbuilt Modernism of Washington
What could have been? This is the question an upcoming (November 2011) National Building Museum exhibition (entitled "Unbuilt Washington") will explore as it looks back at some of the designs for buildings,…

Modern Snapshot: Rollingwood Elementary School Building
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by Michael Shapiro
During and after World War II, the population of the Washington area boomed. There was a great need, especially in the growing suburbs, for libraries, houses of worship and schools. Most of it was basic…

Homes as Individualistic as Their Buyers
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by Michael Shapiro
Washington Examiner: ‘Homes as individualistic as their buyers’
The cover story of the May 19 Home Guide highlights “niche” real estate markets, including the mid-century modern market here…

Neutra’s Rice House Renovated
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by Michael Shapiro
Work on Richard Neutra's Rice House in Richmond is now complete and available for retreats and private events. You can see the recent Richmond Times Dispatch story and slideshow here. (Here's a slideshow…

Design or Size: Which Matters?
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by Michael Shapiro
"Why We're Shunning McMansions." This is this headline from a recent article from U.S. News and World Report. I had just come across an article with a similar theme, but it was from 1962. "What This Country…

Modern Snapshot: The Endangered Marvel Cleaners Building
The mid-century modern Marvel Cleaners sits empty at its perch near the corner of New Hampshire Avenue and Randolph Road in Colesville. It has been sitting vacant for a year and is slated for redevelopment. The…

Arts & Architecture Highlights the Work of Harold Esten
I'm looking forward to the open house tomorrow (or today, if you are reading this on Sunday) at the Esten House from 1 to 4 p.m. As I mentioned in my post about the listing, you will have the opportunity…

Modern Snapshot: Universalist Church of Silver Spring
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by Michael Shapiro
I was heading home from Crest Park this weekend (stay tuned for another Goodman listing I have coming up) and remembered that I had taken some shots last year of the Unitarian Universalist Church of…

What You Can Learn from Just Buying Books
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by Michael Shapiro
You can learn a lot from books even if you do not read them. I picked up a stash of modern architecture books at the annual Stone Ridge Used Book Sale. Many of the books I purchased were from the library…

Mid-Century Modern-Style Dining at the Jersey Shore
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by Michael Shapiro
I am sick of this weather and ready for summer and the beach. Did you catch the Post's story the other day about The Chelsea Hotel in Atlantic City and its retro-style diner Teplitzky's? It warmed…

Celebrating the Neutra Practice’s 85th Anniversary
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by Michael Shapiro
If you will be in LA this coming weekend, you may want to include on your agenda a stop at the Neutra VDL Research House in Silver Lake for a tour and festivities to celebrate the 85th anniversary…

Preserving Iconic Mid-Century Modern Homes
As part of the 75th anniversary celebrations this year for Fallingwater, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is holding a symposium on April 5 at the Carnegie Museum of Art Theater about preserving…

Building Museum Panel to Explore Architecture of Harry Weese
Harry Weese was a larger than life figure. He dominated Chicago architecture in the 1960s and '70s and then had a sorry descent at the end of his life. (See this detailed Chicago magazine article from…

Modern Snapshot: Mid-Century Wheaton Woods Baptist Church
Some shots from today of the Wheaton Woods Baptist Church located here in Rockville. Nothing spectacular, but a solid mid-century modern church. Or, as this site I discovered recently would call it:…

Biscayne Boulevard: ‘Tropical Modern’ Paradise
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by Michael Shapiro
When I was down in Florida for the holidays, my wife and I left the kids with grandma and grandpa and took a cruise along Biscayne Boulevard to take in the MiMo (Miami Modern) architecture. In 2006,…

Chloethiel Woodard Smith’s Modernist Harbour Square
Some of the most breathtaking views in Washington can be had from the top of Chloethiel Woodard Smith's mid-century modern Harbour Square (1960-1966) along the Southwest waterfront. During the D.C.…

Mid-Century Modern in the Sun
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by Michael Shapiro
I hope everyone is having a good holiday season. I took a holiday hiatus but am back blogging now. As is typical for this time of year, not many new modern listings have hit the market during the past…

Giving the Gift of the Glass House
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by Michael Shapiro
Are you looking for a gift for the modernist who has everything? The folks at the Philip Johnson Glass House have an idea. Think private tour of the Glass House and then dinner at the Johnson and…

Saarinen’s Soaring Legacy of Dulles Airport
I wanted to make sure people saw this weekend's column by architect Roger K. Lewis, professor emeritus of architecture at the University of Maryland and long-time Washington Post architecture columnist.…

Modern Snapshot: Giving Thanks for Little Modern Details
I look at a lot of houses online and in person. I write about many of them here. In this post, I want to highlight some of the smaller mid-century modern details I have come across during the past…

Religious Innovation: Saarinen’s North Christian Church
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by Michael Shapiro
With the Eero Saarinen exhibit running until Nov. 28 at the Finnish Embassy (I hope to go this weekend), I figured it was a good time to finally finish my trilogy on Saarinen's mid-century modern designs…

The Tome for Eames Addicts
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by Michael Shapiro
If you are an Eames addict and your loved ones are looking for gift ideas for the holidays (I hope my wife reads this), send them a link to this post as a not so subtle hint on a what they can get…

America’s World’s Fairs: Introducing Modernism to the Masses
As the nation was gripped with the Great Depression, the world's fairs held in six cities across the United States promised a better future for the country replete with cool modern design and technological…

Mies’ Mid-Century Modern Condos in Baltimore
I stopped at Modern Capital sponsor Home Anthology on Saturday on the way to the Baltimore Book Festival. I checked out Rob and Nini's latest finds and got a great tip about a Mies Van der Rohe-designed…

Empire State Plaza: Wallace Harrison’s Mid-Century Modern Masterpiece
Our country's own mini version of the the grand Brasilia can be found in a city--Albany--with a very different climate than the capital of Brazil, which was designed by Lucio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer. …

A Mid-Century Modern Summer Road Trip
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by Michael Shapiro
Summer time is for road trips. Cycling. Swimming. And eating lots of ice cream. In my book, seeing mid-century modern architecture is definitely part of the mix as well. So on the family's recent trek…

Modern Snapshot: Gropius-Designed House in Lake Barcroft
In my post yesterday, I mentioned a house in Lake Barcroft by Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius. Col. Joseph Barger, the developer of Lake Barcroft, bought the 135-acre lake and surrounding 566 aces…

The Disappearing Mid-Century Modern Safeways
One of the mid-century modern "Marina" style Safeway stores in the area will be disappearing. This one on Georgia Avenue and Reedie Drive in Wheaton, most likely from the 1960s, will be replaced with…

Mid-Century Modern Office Space: Silver Spring’s Technical Service Park
On the new season of "Mad Men," Don Draper and the rest of the crew have new digs in the Wallace Harrison-designed Time-Life Building. Anyone looking for their own mid-century office space? I came…

The Mid-Century Modernism of Mission 66
It's hot in D.C and almost August. Congress is preparing for its extended "recess." With many people planning their escapes (especially those still without power), I thought it would be good to highlight…

Modern Capital’s Pad Places 2nd in Post’s ‘Mad Men’ Look Contest
'Mad Men' meets Modern Capital. Our do-it-yourself interior design helped my wife and me garner second place in the Washington Post's 'Mad Men' look contest that is running in the Saturday Real Estate…

Modern Snapshot: Mid-Century Cooling in Berkeley Springs
Berkeley Springs State Park in West Virginia features two mid-century ways to relax and cool off from the summer heat--one is mid-18th Century and the other is mid-20th Century. You can take a plunge…

The Post’s Mid-Century Modern ‘Mad Men’ Look Contest
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by Michael Shapiro
In anticipation of the upcoming fourth season of Mad Men (can't wait; I just caught up on DVD) , the Washington Post is looking for photos of readers' homes that have the style of the hit show. "Does…

The Miller House: Mid-Century Modernism at its Finest
The second project J. Irwin Miller and Eero Saarinen worked on in Columbus was the Millers' personal residence, one of the few residential homes Saarinen designed and the second home he designed for…

Modern Columbus: Saarinen’s Irwin Union Bank and Trust
As I noted in my previous post about Columbus, the friendship between J. Irwin Miller and Eero Saarinen resulted in three important projects in the city, all National Historic Landmarks with stunning…

Modern Capital Tours Modern Columbus
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by Michael Shapiro
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"Mediocrity is expensive." This quote by the late J. Irwin Miller sums up the ethos behind the commitment to serious, high-level architecture and landscaping in Columbus, Indiana, a small city of roughly…

Modernism of the Danish and Finnish Embassies
As part of last month's "Shortcut to Europe: European Union Embassies' Open House Day," I toured the embassies of Denmark and Finland. The 1960 Danish Embassy is the first modern embassy in Washington…

The Modern Mecca of Columbus, Indiana
I'm headed this weekend to Columbus, Indiana, Middle America's Modern Mecca. The town of 39,000 people located 40 miles south of Indianapolis has dozens of mid-century modern and modern buildings by…

Post’s Kennicott Takes a New Look at Mies’s MLK Library
If you were away for the weekend, check out Phillip Kennicott's piece re-examaning Mies van der Rohe's Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library and its new neighbor that will rise on the adjacent…

Modern Snapshot: St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Kensignton
The 1968 St. Paul's United Methodist Church building in Kensington is the fourth the congregation has had since its founding in 1885. The current mid-century modern sanctuary was built after fire destroyed…

Modernism in Washington: A Brief History
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by Michael Shapiro
If you want a concise history of mid-century modernism in Washington, pull up your favorite Eames chair and read "Modernism in Washington" a 20-page brochure published at the end of last year by D.C.'s…

Modern Snapshot: Brazilian Chancery
The 1971 Brazilian Chancery on Massachusetts Avenue was designed by Brazilian architect Olavo Redig de Campos. The Miesian, floating glass box is currently undergoing interior renovations. Stay tuned…

Exploring D.C.’s Modern Embassies
Are you ready for another tour this Saturday after exploring Hollin Hills last week? I hope so because this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. you have an opportunity to explore the mid-century modern…

It’s Easy Being Green–and Modern
With the 40th anniversary of Earth Day this year, D.C. Modern Luxury Editor in Chief Karen Sommer Shallet recently put out a "green" issue (in which Modern Capital was featured) focusing on local sustainable…

A Glassful of Nature: The 2010 Hollin Hills Home and Garden Tour
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by Michael Shapiro
Here are a few shots from yesterday's Hollin Hills Home and Garden Tour, the largest to date with more than 1,300 people exploring the 12 featured homes and gardens. What is most striking about Hollin…

Hollin Hills Ticket Givewaway Winner
Christopher in Charles Goodman's River Park is the winner of the pair of free tickets to this year's Hollin Hills Home and Garden Tour being held May 1. Here is his submission:
"My favorite mid-century…

Post: Southwest ‘Takes Turn for the Better’
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by Michael Shapiro
The Post's Lisa Rein has a piece in today's paper about the revitalization of Southwest. More than 50 years ago, the area underwent a massive transformation, representing at the time the largest urban…

1933 D.C. Colonial with Woodard Smith Modern Addition – 699K; Open 4/27
This 1933 home could be a good choice for a couple that might not see eye-to-eye on design. A 3 bedroom/2 bath traditional colonial home with a twist: a renovation and modern addition by none other…

Post Magazine Highlight’s Another Mid-Century Modern
Is there a modern revolution taking place in Washignton? Are people rebelling against traditional homes and the McMansionization of the area? For the second time in a matter of months, the Washington…

Two Mid-Century Contemporaries in Mohican Hills
My custom mid-century modern listing in Mohican Hills in Bethesda is under contract and going to closing, but here are two other mid-century contemporaries on the market in the neighborhood full of…

Two 1970s Deck Houses in Fairfax, McLean
With spring finally here, take a look at these two 1970s contemporaries by Deck House. Both are on large lots with plenty of surrounding nature. This one on .75 acres in Mantua in Fairfax is from 1979…

Modern Snapshot: The Inn of Rosslyn
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by Michael Shapiro
I've driven by The Inn of Rosslyn on Route 50 many times, but never seemed to have time to actually stop to take pictures. I finally did the other day so here are a few shots of the former Motel 50,…

The Architecture of Harold Esten, FAIA
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by Michael Shapiro
When I recently sat down with architect Harold Esten, I asked him why he thought mid-century modern architecture was experiencing a renaissance. He said the architecture is "good basic design" that…