Archive for the 'Architects' Category
In a city known for its bland architecture, Phoenix can claim a very proud distinction in the unique mid-century modern homes of Ralph Haver
Look at this:
That’s just sweet. It’s a Ralph Haver home in the Windemere neighborhood, off of Indian School Road just east of 44th Street. There are only three dozen Haver homes in the community, and there are fewer that 200 Havers in all of Phoenix.
But for all the cookie-cutter tract homes littering the desert, the unique Ralph Haver style redeems them all.
They’re not the most practical homes, and they tend to seem kind of small to modern sensibilities. But they have a home-of-the-future panache you won’t find in more-normal residential structures.
This particular home is interesting because it’s all-but-unchanged on the inside. These are original sheet-metal cabinets, for example:
As I write this, there are a total of five Haver homes for sale in the Valley — and only one in Windemere. (The home shown here is gone, alas.) If you would like to see them first-hand — or other mid-century modern marvels of design — give us a call at 602-740-7531. We’ll take you to a Phoenix that might have been…
No commentsSunnyslope Home Tour This Weekend: Communing With The Soul of Sunnyslope
By: Cathleen CollinsNovember 12th, 2008
Category: All About Phoenix,Architects,Distinctive Homes,Events,Historic Homes,Modern Homes,Neighborhood News
If this were any city other than Phoenix, Sunnyslope would already be our Beverly Hills. Instead, this sleeping beauty — with its gorgeous mountain terrain, its dazzling views of downtown, its proximity to freeways, resorts, and the Central Corridor — has been dogged for decades by a lousy reputation that evolved from its days as the original Tent City, back when it was a lowly convalescent camp where the sick and dying came to soak up the sun.Founded a century ago by an architect who fell for its unique skyline and klieg-lit, hilly terrain, Sunnyslope has been kept in a continuous holding pattern by that crummy rep. It’s maintained its place as a community on the brink of significance, a place of great paradox. Its handsome, hilly landscape — which stretches from 16th Street to 19th Avenue, between Northern and Cactus Roads — has long been populated by drug dealers and hookers, undesirables whose derelict homes rest in the shadow of million-dollar hillside housing. It’s a community that’s often mistaken for a town; one that’s been home to both one of the city’s best-regarded high schools and its highest concentration of crime.
And though developers have been busy building stadiums and relocating college campuses and renovating fallen neighborhoods all over town, the denizens of Sunnyslope have been quietly rebuilding their community, one street at a time. It’s an eccentric, grass-roots effort unlike any other in the Valley, one born of necessity by this overlooked, redheaded stepchild of a borough, and funded by a corporate benefactor — a hospital, no less — that owes its very existence to Sunnyslope.
So wrote Robert Pela last year in Sunnyslopetopia, his New Times article celebrating Sunnyslope.
In the article, he interviews “the mayor of Sunnyslope” Mike Nielsen, interior designer and gallery owner, whose home you can tour this week during the Third Annual Sunnyslope Home Tour.
Here you’ll see a short history of distinguished building in Phoenix: two homes from the 1920′s, including the renovated Bohn Home — an adobe home built as a labor of love during 1928; a Mid-Century Modern ranch; and two modern homes. In addition to Nielsen’s home, the distinctive Young residence will be on display.
Mr. Young, an architect with the Woolsey Studio designed the home for his personal use. He chose Sunnyslope as the site of his home because of its magnificent views right in the city and its tolerance for creative design. No McMansions here!
When? Saturday and Sunday, November 15 & 16
Time? 9 AM to 3:30 PM. Each tour lasts approximately 90 minutes.
Where? Guided tour buses leave every half hour from Sunnyslope Historical Society, 737 E Hatcher Rd
Cost? $35 per person, benefitting the non-profit Sunnyslope Historical Society Museum. Tickets must be purchased in advance by cash or check.
Anyone Who Had a Heart Would Connect a Country Music Singer, a Jazz Standard and Burt Bacharach together with one smooth line
I recently traded email with a prospect who is relocating to Phoenix from Nebraska, discussing Mid-century modern style in Phoenix as compared to the midwest.
Prospect:
… the home (that I sent photos of) had a different exterior…reminded me of plain block and I didn’t care for the look. The exterior of our home is more towards the traditional ranch, but it does have Roman brick on a portion of it.
To which I replied:
…The “plain block” that you don’t like is a staple on Phoenix Mid-Century modern homes. It’s called “slump block,” and is a favorite of architects from that period. You might consider this as part of getting used to the desert aesthetics.”
Alison King has a great discussion (and wonderful photos) about Mid-century modern homes in Phoenix in her article titled “Jazz Standard“ over at her ModernPhoenix website.
Midcentury era tract homes in Scottsdale and Phoenix are so ubiquitous that they often pass under the daily radar, and for good reason; classic ranch homes paved the suburbs of the Phoenix Metro area, emulating the romance of ranch style living in this citrus-field-gone-cosmopolitan city. During the same development boom that brought us western-themed ranches and whimsical character ranch styles such as Swiss Chalet and Dutch Colonial, there emerged a desert-adapted style of Contemporary Ranch architecture that passed on nostalgic forms in favor of neat lines and shade-soaked spaces.Few postwar architects in Arizona can match the volume of production, variety and notoriety than that of Ralph Haver. Californian by birth but Phoenician by choice, Haver offered his accessible contemporary style to thousands by collaborating with local developers on sizable tracts of land. In the postwar era, tinkering with this new style of home became the American family’s leisure time hobby—their imaginations were fueled by a new genre of home-improvement publications such as Popular Mechanics and Sunset magazine. Today, Haver Homes are sought as creative projects for professional architects and do-it-yourselfers alike. Their clean lines, inherent potential for expansion and solid construction have allowed them to endure the decades through every possible design trend, from skimming with stucco to Santa Fe styling. Now Haver Homes are more likely to be stripped down to bare block or clad in corrugated steel to offer additional protection from the sun.
There was little intended as precious in Haver tract homes. Expression of economy and a few signature elements define the Haver Home styles. Preservationists generally agree that these homes retain their character better as one-story structures and that certain hallmark qualities, such as the clinker bricks and clerestory windows seen in several Haver neighborhoods are best left unmolested. But simply put, the tract homes were designed to be modified, including smooth concrete patios that were often destined to become Arizona Rooms, and the carports that could easily transform into a third bedroom to support a growing nuclear family. This inherently mutable trait poses a challenge among today’s designers who appreciate the original forms but invoke an oath to guide their work: Do nothing that cannot be undone.
In this regard, Haver Homes have become one of the Jazz Standards of architecture—a set of simple themes that an artist can improvise around while maintaining general integrity, and in the best cases emotionally thrill those it takes deep inside.
Be sure to follow the link to take a look at the rest of her article and at her pictures of the Lorna House.
I didn’t want to steal any of Alison’s gorgeous photos, but neither did I want to leave you unfulfilled of any visual treat, so here’s Shelby Lynne covering Burt Bacharach’s Anyone Who Had a Heart. She’s neither Dusty nor Dionne, but the setting of this video is cool and clean, and both 60s icons would have been right at home.
Technorati Tags: arizona, arizona real estate, phoenix, phoenix real estate, real estate, real estate marketing
2 commentsPhoenix, Usonian
As I understand it, Frank Lloyd Wright didn’t actually coin the word “Usonian,” but he sure is responsible for the style. The word takes its root from the United States of North America, and Wright used the word to describe his vision of the uniquely (North) American style — A democratic style of architecture for the American lifestyle. The intent was to provide small and inexpensive, but stylish and functional homes for the middle class, and he designed about fifty of these. A local Usonian home that I know about is in Moon Valley. Though he didn’t design this particular house, it’s clear that he influenced its style.
I stumbled across this beauty during the summer of 2005. We had a client for the house — an architecture aficionado and a Frank Lloyd Wright purist — who almost bought the house…
… except he realized, when he flew in for the inspection, that he would have to put too much into the house to restore it, including tearing down additions that in his opinion destroyed the integrity of the design.
Still, I’m in love with the house. When Wright designed the Jacobs house in 1936, he created the prototype of the Ranch Style. I know, Ranches are so ubiquitous that they hardly inspire a yawn from most people. Yet, from the time of the first Usonian during the depth of the Depression through the Postwar housing boom and into the 1950s, the Ranch Style projected a streamlined, casual, energetic lifestyle. The house expanded — using picture windows in front and glass doors in the back — to bring in the light and energy of the outdoors.
Of course, this, too, was the birth of Mid-Century Modern.
You can go here to see the rest of the visual tour we created for our client to wander the home from his Boston residence.
Technorati Tags: arizona, arizona real estate, phoenix, phoenix real estate, real estate, real estate marketing
4 commentsMid-Century Marvels Photographed By Michael Lundgren
ArtLink’s First Friday is tomorrow night. I don’t know about you, but the heat’s been rough on me this week. Plus, the weatherman’s warning us of possible thunderstorms tomorrow evening. But rather than skipping this month altogether, I’m going to try making it to Burton Barr’s @Central Gallery. They’re sponsoring a First Friday Reception from 7 to 10 PM, featuring photographs by Michael Lundgren:
The Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture Public Art Program partnered with the Phoenix Office of Historic Preservation in 2006 to create the Historic Buildings Photography Project. Recognizing the rapid rate of development in Phoenix, this project intends to capture a specific historical era in local architecture. The City commissioned artist Michael Lundgren to create a photographic portfolio of important Phoenix buildings from the latter half of the 20th century. Lundgren worked closely with the Public Art Program and the Office of Historic Preservation to select the buildings and to create a view of each that best communicates its architectural significance. As the City continues to change and grow, these images will become a valuable resource for residents, planners, and scholars interested in the City’s more compelling historic structures.
Then, if it turns out the weather turns in our favor, the guardians of Modern Phoenix are chatting about an open house at DWL Architects, 2333 N. Central Ave. from 6 to 10 PM.
Nota Bene: I was honored to hear from Michael Lundgren, who pointed out that this post was confusing, because it isn’t clear that the photographs I used here are my own, not his. He’s right, and I offer my sincere apology. Of course, all you have to do is go to Mr. Lundgren’s site, and take a look at his masterpieces to know that the above photos are made by an amateur.
My gratitude to Michael Lundgren for pointing out my error, and for being patient for me to fix it while I dealt with the recent death of my father.
Technorati Tags: arizona, arizona real estate, phoenix, phoenix real estate, real estate, real estate marketing
No commentsPhoenix envy? Dwell with local architect, Will Bruder
Dwell Magazine is a celebration of distinctive, modern architecture and design. If you’ve never picked up an issue before, this is the month for you to explore Dwell.
This month’s Detour feature, titled “Phoenix Envy,” is an interview with local architect, Will Bruder.
In this article Bruder tells Dwell readers what he likes most about the Valley of the Sun. No surprise that most of his favorite structures here are those that he designed, including the Burton Barr Central Library and the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. But he is justifiably proud. He also talks about arts in Phoenix, including First Fridays.
And if you’re ever looking for ideas for cool places to meet friends over drinks or dinner, be sure to pay attention to Bruder’s rundown in this article. If you’ve missed any of the restaurants he mentions, you really should make a point of making the rounds… especially if you’re in Phoenix’s historic neighborhoods, where so many of these establishments, such as My Florist Cafe and Zoës Kitchen, are found.
I’m disappointed with the sole photo the online article uses… it’s an unimpressive shot of our downtown skyline looking west over an empty field and detritus toward the buildings in Copper Square. It even shows a gray sky! Come on! How often do we have gray skies? The pictures in the magazine, especially that of SMoCA, are far more compelling.
Alternatively, a great source for images of local residences that have been designed, in whole or in remodeling, by Will Bruder is the MLS. You can use this link to an MLS Gateway I put together of homes currently listed for sale, or those that have sold through Realtors.
Technorati Tags: arizona, arizona real estate, phoenix, phoenix real estate, real estate, real estate marketing
No commentsMoPho Gem Pulls Record Price
As I mentioned the other day, Modern Phoenix is holding its 3rd Annual Modern Phoenix Expo this weekend. I hope you were more successful than I finding the time to enjoy the seminars today. Maybe better luck for me tomorrow…
Speaking of the distinctive MoPho style, did you notice the sale, reported in today’s Arizona Republic, of Chase Tower for $166.9 million?
The state’s tallest building sold this month for the highest price ever paid for an office building in metropolitan Phoenix.
This beautiful, shiny skyscraper, originally home to Valley National Bank, was built in the early ’70s, but the idea of the tower, meant to revitalize downtown Phoenix, had been envisioned for a decade before it was built.
Valley Bank Center was designed by important mid-Century modern architect, William Becket. Becket is well known for his influence on commercial LA buildings, including the Capital Records Building and Cinerama Dome. I’m personally glad that the grand building he brought to our town is one of soaring, sleek elegance rather than kitsch. Whatever flavor of Modern Phoenix you prefer, here is a building that surely makes you proud of our downtown.
.JPG.jpg)
A fun side-note for Modern aficionados is this reflection I found in Matt Hinrichs’ Scrubbles.net archives:
Wednesday, July 19, 2000
This is strange – from the August 1973 issue of Phoenix magazine, concept sketches of a nightclub in downtown Phoenix’s newest hotspot, the Valley Bank Center (now the Bank One building). “The Prime Interest, located at the concourse level, will feature a cocktail lounge and separate dining/dancing area.” A veritable swingers’ paradise, I’m sure. Of course, it may have never looked this exciting. When I first went there in the mid-’90s, the Eero Saarinen tables and chairs were all that remained – and they were gone within two years. The mirrored ceiling is a nice touch; very Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice.
Technorati Tags: arizona, arizona real estate, phoenix, phoenix real estate, real estate, real estate marketing
No comments
