Happy Birthday, Charles Eames

On this day in 1907, Charles Ormond Eames was born St. Louis, Missouri. Charles Eames was a great American architect and designer who, along with his wife Ray, made a lasting impact in all facets of furniture, film, design, and architecture.

Image source

The Eames are perhaps best known for their cool sleek furniture designs such as the Eames Lounge and Ottoman, the Lounge Chair Wood (LCW), and the Lounge Chair, Metal Legs(LCM). Eames designed many other chairs as well as storage units. Charles and Ray Eames pioneered the use of many construction materials like molded plywood, plastic, fiberglass, and metal during and following World War II. Eames believed that affordable and functional modern furniture should be available for all Americans. 

One thing is for certain, the furniture that Eames designed and built has stood the test of time. These classic pieces can fetch quite a hefty sum regardless of whether they are brand new or antique.

In 1945 editor John Entenza invited Charles and Ray Eames to be part of the Arts & Architecture magazine Case Study House program. Their house was Case Study House 8 (CSH#8), located in Pacific Palisades, California.  Charles Eames, along with fellow friend and architect Eero Saarinen, designed John Entenza's home (CSH#9) which is at the same location.

The Eames also produced many films such as Powers of Ten and Image of the City. They also worked on various exhibitions, most notably of which was Glimpses of the USA in Moscow.

Charles Eames died in 1978 followed by his beloved wife Ray in 1988. Nevertheless, their designs will live for many generations.

Philip Johnson's Glass House (replica)

The Glass House by architect Philip Johnson is one of America's iconic International Style Modern structures.  The folks over at the Replica Buildings blog have a neat miniature of this famous historic landmark.  They also have many other building replicas to whet your architectural appetite at their site.

 Please enjoy!

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!

Hollin Hills House and Garden Tour 2010

Hollin Hills is a unique and verdant mid-century modern neighborhood located between Washington DC and George Washington's Mount Vernon plantation in Fairfax County, Virginia.  Hollin Hills was the idea of developer Robert Davenport during the 40's to create a different type of community; a "community of vision."  Architect Charles Goodman, who designed the National Airport Terminal, set about creating modern home designs which formed a symbiotic relationship with the natural surroundings and terrain.  The concept of merging nature with these modern homes was given to three landscapers which included famed landscape architect Dan Kiley.  Hollin Hills over the years has received many awards.

The Civic Association of Hollin Hills (CAHH) has been actively pursuing National Register Designation for Hollin Hills and hopes to have it completed soon.  Hopefully this request will be heeded quickly, thus preserving these modernist homes for future generations to enjoy and study.

Each year the CAHH holds the highly anticipated Hollin Hills House and Garden Tour.  Please enjoy some of the photographs I was able to capture during my own visit.

You can view the rest of my photographs by visiting the Modernesia Facebook Group.

Las Vegas Modern

When I think of Las Vegas, I visualize many things such as, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and the rest of the Rat Pack, Wayne Newton, extravagant casinos with equally outrageous shows, the Mob, mid-century modern structures and Googie signage.  Unfortunately, much of the mid-century modern and Googie-themed architecture in and around Vegas is disappearing to make way for a new generation of bigger architecture (most of which is bland in my opinion).  Architects like William Krisel, Paul Revere Williams, Welton Beckett, Dan Palmer and others helped make Las Vegas architecturally distinctive during the 50's and 60's.

If you are fortunate enough to be passing through "Sin City," and want a break from its vices then you should stop by the Mid-Century Modern in Las Vegas exhibit currently on display at the Nevada State Museum.  The museum is open from 9:00am until 5:00pm, Wednesday through Saturday and is located at 700 Twin Lakes Drive in Las Vegas.  At $4.00 for non-member adults, the admission is much better than gambling in the casinos.  Among the exhibit highlights are photographs by Jay Florian Mitchell who photographed the futuristic terminal pictured above at McCarran International Airport.

The Amazing Retro-Styled Philco PC

I cannot deny that I suffer from bouts of extreme midcentury modern nostalgia occasionally.  Dave Schultze's retro-cool Philco PC could definitely cause a welcome relapse.  Schultze has eerily captured the essence of the futuristic Philco Predicta television of the late 1950's, and combined some steampunk elements to create a beautifully rendered 3D model of a PC.


Philco PC from Dave Schultze on Vimeo.


Unfortunately, the Philco PC does not exist in real life, but if it did exist, my guess is that it would be a top seller.  You can, however, enjoy a Predicta television from Telestar.

Mid-Century Modernism on Film

For those of you lucky enough to have traveled to Palm Springs for the annual Modernism Week, congratulations!  Since I was trapped by snow and work, I could only wish that I could have been there.  Perhaps, next year!  In the meantime I eagerly anticipate the following Design Onscreen films titled Desert Utopia: Mid-Century Architecture in Palm Springs, and William Krisel, Architect  when both are available for viewing in a theater nearby and on DVD.


Desert Utopia: Mid-Century Architecture in Palm Springs from Design Onscreen on Vimeo.


William Krisel, Architect from Design Onscreen on Vimeo.

Design Onscreen premiered various films during the annual celebration.  Visit Design Onscreen for more information on their films.