California Cool

California has always held a special place in America's dreams, especially in terms of architecture.  Home to numerous examples of modern architecture, California continues to set the bar for modern construction. The following film highlights some of these very cool modern structures.  It is a companion to Russell Abraham's upcoming book: California Cool.

California Cool from Eric Sahlin on Vimeo.

Enjoy!

"The Sixties turn 50"

It's hard to believe, but the sixties will be turning 50 beginning next year. The Los Angeles Conservancy is already celebrating the modern architecture of this important, but endangered, mid-century era with "the Sixties turn 50" campaign.

Modern architects around the world were building structures that epitomized the prosperity, hope and future of humankind during the sixties. Perhaps, nowhere did the combination of business, government, and residential architecture exemplify the lure of the modern world than in Los Angeles.

Some events have already come and passed such as, the October 10, 2008 "Evolving Skyline Tour," but there is still plenty of fun on the horizon. For example, there is the "Fall Tour: It's a Mod, Mod, Mod, Mod City" on November 8, 2009."

These activities are only the beginning stages of a timeline than extends into 2010. Even if you are miles away from Los Angeles, you owe it to yourself to visit "the Sixties turn 50" site and enjoy the information and images. Maybe, you can become involved with the LA Conservancy effort.

Mission 66: Modern Visitor Centers

What do famous modernists such as, Richard Neutra and the well known architectural firm of Anshen and Allen have in common?  National parks!  To be more specific: the design and construction of modern visitor centers.  Christine Madrid French, Director of the Modernism + Recent Past Program for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, notes on her well-documented Mission 66 website, that:

"Park Service planners, architects, and landscape architects devised the concept to incorporate visitor facilities, interpretive programs, and administrative offices in one structure. In a departure from the rustic-style buildings constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Mission 66 designers embraced a contemporary structural form for the new centers."

At Mission 66 you can view many photographs of modern visitor centers that are found in national parks all accross the United States.  Moreover, you can learn about this historic, yet fantastic program that "began in 1956 and ended in 1966."  Sadly, many of these iconic structures are endangered such as Neutra's Cyclorama at Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania which was completed in 1962.  Some like the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, which was "in Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest," was "demolished in 1994.

All images © Christine Madrid, 1998

After spending some time enjoying Mission 66, you may well wish to pack a picnic lunch and visit the nearest national park.  Furthermore, you also may feel inclined to assist in preserving these modern memorials so they don't disappear forever.   Make sure that you also visit The National Trust for Historic Preservation as well as your local preservation group for information on how to get involved

Thermo-Con House

The United States Army has always been known for its power and military campaigns; however, it has never been properly noted for modern architecture. Situated at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, just 14 miles south of Washington, D.C., is an Internationalist Style modern structure that immediately stands out from the traditional brick colonial style military housing. This structure is called the Thermo-Con House.

According to the Fort Belvoir Housing History site, the Thermo-Con House was built as a prototype for the US Army in 1949 using a special concrete building technology developed by Higgins Resources (known for the famous WWII Higgins boats). Albert Kahn Associates, Inc., famous for designing much of Detroit's business buildings and industrial facilities, designed the minimalist structure.

Historically, the Thermo-Con House was designated to billet the post Sergeant Major, yet today it serves as distinguished visitor's quarters. Since 1997, the Thermo-Con house has been on the Virginia Landmarks Register, and was renovated in 2000.