modern thrifter
I love beautiful things and thoughtful design. I also live in one of the most expensive cities in the country, and our family lives off a single income so that I can be at home with our kids. Patience and persistence have been the key to finding stylish things on a tight budget.
Search
Additional pages
Twitter feed
Loading Tweet...
Find me on...
Tag Results
8 posts tagged architecture
[ ICE CUBE CELEBRATES CHARLES & RAY EAMES ]
I know this video has been all over today, but how could I not post it here, too? Ice Cube may just be the perfect tour guide.
![[ DOCOMOMO HOUSE TOURS ]
Saturday we toured three Innis Arden houses on the Docomomo National Tour Day. I can’t tell you how excited I’ve been about getting an inside peek at this neighborhood, and I was not disappointed. The first house on the tour was the Sinclair House. Built in 1961 and attributed to architect William Bain Sr. The current owners have lived there since 2003, and since purchasing the house, have done extensive renovation, while keeping the integrity of the mid-century design. Interior photography wasn’t allowed during the tours, but there are several photos as well as more details about the history of the house in this Pacific Northwest Magazine article.
I wasn’t able to gather much information about the second house, the Schisler House, but I do know it was designed by Anker Molver and Rober Marquette. The original owners, Robert Matthiesen, a graphic designer known for his Seattle World’s Fair Century 21 Expo logo, and his wife, Eleanor, sold the house a few years ago to the current owner who agreed to keep the home in its original state.
Of the three houses, the last was my favorite. It is currently for sale and you can see extensive photos here. Make sure to take the virtual tour, too. The owners, Richard and Nancy Rust interviewed more than twenty prominent Northwest architects before finally selecting A. O. Bumgardner to design a house suited for them and their six young children.
I’m so glad I have a husband who enjoys spending the afternoon geeking out on modern architecture with me. Whenever we go to tours like these we come home inspired, motivated, and full of new ideas for our own house.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lss7n8v3hS1qc7v1bo1_r1_500.jpg)
[ DOCOMOMO HOUSE TOURS ]
Saturday we toured three Innis Arden houses on the Docomomo National Tour Day. I can’t tell you how excited I’ve been about getting an inside peek at this neighborhood, and I was not disappointed. The first house on the tour was the Sinclair House. Built in 1961 and attributed to architect William Bain Sr. The current owners have lived there since 2003, and since purchasing the house, have done extensive renovation, while keeping the integrity of the mid-century design. Interior photography wasn’t allowed during the tours, but there are several photos as well as more details about the history of the house in this Pacific Northwest Magazine article.
I wasn’t able to gather much information about the second house, the Schisler House, but I do know it was designed by Anker Molver and Rober Marquette. The original owners, Robert Matthiesen, a graphic designer known for his Seattle World’s Fair Century 21 Expo logo, and his wife, Eleanor, sold the house a few years ago to the current owner who agreed to keep the home in its original state.
Of the three houses, the last was my favorite. It is currently for sale and you can see extensive photos here. Make sure to take the virtual tour, too. The owners, Richard and Nancy Rust interviewed more than twenty prominent Northwest architects before finally selecting A. O. Bumgardner to design a house suited for them and their six young children.
I’m so glad I have a husband who enjoys spending the afternoon geeking out on modern architecture with me. Whenever we go to tours like these we come home inspired, motivated, and full of new ideas for our own house.
![[ INNIS ARDEN TOURS ]
Located just North of Seattle, in Shoreline, the Innis Arden neighborhood boasts astounding views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, but there is also a small, secluded section nestled along Boeing Creek and Hidden Lake that was developed by noted Northwest architect Ralph Anderson.
Patrick and I periodically drive through Innis Arden, and we’re always inspired by this rare pocket of amazing mid century modern homes. After going on the last Docomomo tour of the Hilltop Community, we’ve been holding out hope that Innis Arden would be next. To our delight, the national chapter of Docomomo announced that a tour of the homes along Boeing Creek will be happening on October 8th. From their site:
The homes on 10th Ave Northwest, overlooking Boeing Creek and Hidden Lake, are uncommon, both for their unique architecture and their setting in the environment. Individually, they are fine examples of Modernist Architecture. Collectively, they are a rare example of a Modernist community.Tour meets at the Sinclair House.
$10 per person
The local Docomomo site doesn’t have details posted yet, but I’ll update here when tickets go on sale.
Pictured above: The Innis Arden home of Architect Jerry Gropp.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lqtfhzS7Mq1qc7v1bo1_500.jpg)
[ INNIS ARDEN TOURS ]
Located just North of Seattle, in Shoreline, the Innis Arden neighborhood boasts astounding views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, but there is also a small, secluded section nestled along Boeing Creek and Hidden Lake that was developed by noted Northwest architect Ralph Anderson.
Patrick and I periodically drive through Innis Arden, and we’re always inspired by this rare pocket of amazing mid century modern homes. After going on the last Docomomo tour of the Hilltop Community, we’ve been holding out hope that Innis Arden would be next. To our delight, the national chapter of Docomomo announced that a tour of the homes along Boeing Creek will be happening on October 8th. From their site:
The homes on 10th Ave Northwest, overlooking Boeing Creek and Hidden Lake, are uncommon, both for their unique architecture and their setting in the environment. Individually, they are fine examples of Modernist Architecture. Collectively, they are a rare example of a Modernist community.Tour meets at the Sinclair House.
$10 per person
The local Docomomo site doesn’t have details posted yet, but I’ll update here when tickets go on sale.
Pictured above: The Innis Arden home of Architect Jerry Gropp.
[ MODERN VIEWS ]
“An insightful new documentary about mid-century northwest modern architecture, Modern Views illustrates how designers today can learn from sustainable and economic choices made as many as 50 years ago. Through the personal histories and insights of five prominent northwest modern architects, the film offers a deeper understanding of this unique style of architecture happening in the Pacific Northwest in a period that is often overlooked.”
I saw this trailer nearly two years ago, and I’ve been eagerly awaiting a chance to view the film in its entirety ever since. I was excited to find out that it is finally streaming for free online here, or you can watch it on the Seattle Channel at various times (see the schedule here).
Even if you’re not an architecture enthusiast, you might still enjoy this short documentary. It may give you a new appreciation for the work that was being done in the middle of the 20th century.
![[ BRUTALIST ARCHITECTURE: CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH ]
We were headed out of Tacoma when Patrick mentioned that he’d like to see if we could find a church that we’d seen on Docomomo’s site. I looked it up on his phone, and it turned out that we were only a few blocks away.
Christ Episcopal Church was designed by renowned Brutalist architect Paul Thiry, and completed in 1969. The building stands in stark contrast to the structures that surround it in this historic section of downtown Tacoma.
Here is an excerpt on Brutalism from Dococmomo-WeWa:
The term Brutalism is derived from the French word for rough concrete or “beton brut.” Brutalist structures have a heavy mass and scale, and their highly sculptural blocky shapes are often stacked together in various ways, creating an unbalanced look. Common design features include the “Russian Wedge,” in which a wall plane projects outward on a sloped angle. Broad surfaces are often interrupted by deep-shadow penetrations of the building’s mass; vertical slots may contrast with broad oblong openings or tall openings with horizontal slots, while “egg-crate” effects are also much employed. The exterior treatment, as the name suggests, is usually exposed concrete, which is left rough to show the wooden formwork. However, some examples of brick and stucco can be found. Fixed windows are set deep into the walls and are often small in relation to the size of the structure. Another common feature is the use of “Waffle” slabs for floor and roof systems. As the name implies, this cast-in-place building system utilized a continuous pour of concrete with a coffered underside to reduce the weight of the slab. Such slabs were often left exposed.
If you’d like to see more of my photos of the church, you can find them on Flickr here. You can also see more examples of Brutalist architecture in the Northwest here.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lieyok8qDq1qc7v1bo1_500.jpg)
[ BRUTALIST ARCHITECTURE: CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH ]
We were headed out of Tacoma when Patrick mentioned that he’d like to see if we could find a church that we’d seen on Docomomo’s site. I looked it up on his phone, and it turned out that we were only a few blocks away.
Christ Episcopal Church was designed by renowned Brutalist architect Paul Thiry, and completed in 1969. The building stands in stark contrast to the structures that surround it in this historic section of downtown Tacoma.
Here is an excerpt on Brutalism from Dococmomo-WeWa:
The term Brutalism is derived from the French word for rough concrete or “beton brut.” Brutalist structures have a heavy mass and scale, and their highly sculptural blocky shapes are often stacked together in various ways, creating an unbalanced look. Common design features include the “Russian Wedge,” in which a wall plane projects outward on a sloped angle. Broad surfaces are often interrupted by deep-shadow penetrations of the building’s mass; vertical slots may contrast with broad oblong openings or tall openings with horizontal slots, while “egg-crate” effects are also much employed. The exterior treatment, as the name suggests, is usually exposed concrete, which is left rough to show the wooden formwork. However, some examples of brick and stucco can be found. Fixed windows are set deep into the walls and are often small in relation to the size of the structure. Another common feature is the use of “Waffle” slabs for floor and roof systems. As the name implies, this cast-in-place building system utilized a continuous pour of concrete with a coffered underside to reduce the weight of the slab. Such slabs were often left exposed.
If you’d like to see more of my photos of the church, you can find them on Flickr here. You can also see more examples of Brutalist architecture in the Northwest here.
![[ MODERN INSPIRATION ]
I just returned yesterday from a quick trip to my hometown in Montana. My father is ailing and in the hospital, so the kids and I flew back to be with him for a few days. As many times as I’ve driven past this rural hospital, I’ve never paid much attention to some of its more charming details—my favorite is the sign near the front entrance. I can’t remember what it used to say above “Hospital” but I love that it is so simple now.
Again, the signage at the Emergency entrance is fantastic, though I’m not sure what is going on with the “G.”
Here is one of the old exam tables in the clinic portion of the medical center:
It was a little refreshing during this heavy-hearted trip to find small snippets of visual inspiration. I wish I could have been with my family for a longer stretch of time, but I am so thankful that there are so many caring people surrounding my dad—taking care of him, visiting him, and praying for him.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lgn7xkzWxX1qc7v1bo1_500.jpg)
[ MODERN INSPIRATION ]
I just returned yesterday from a quick trip to my hometown in Montana. My father is ailing and in the hospital, so the kids and I flew back to be with him for a few days. As many times as I’ve driven past this rural hospital, I’ve never paid much attention to some of its more charming details—my favorite is the sign near the front entrance. I can’t remember what it used to say above “Hospital” but I love that it is so simple now.
Again, the signage at the Emergency entrance is fantastic, though I’m not sure what is going on with the “G.”
Here is one of the old exam tables in the clinic portion of the medical center:
It was a little refreshing during this heavy-hearted trip to find small snippets of visual inspiration. I wish I could have been with my family for a longer stretch of time, but I am so thankful that there are so many caring people surrounding my dad—taking care of him, visiting him, and praying for him.
![[ MODERNISM’S GINGERBREAD HOUSE CONTEST ]
Get out your thrift store rolling pin and baking sheets, and get to work to enter Modernism’s First Annual Gingerbread House Contest! I’m so glad someone is holding this contest. I wanted to have a gingerbread house contest here at Modern Thrifter, but being a thrifty, I couldn’t think of a prize that would be incentive enough for people to enter.
Last year our family attempted to make a MCM gingerbread house, and though I had dreams of clerestory windows and modern landscaping, my plans fell apart when the kids got involved in the construction. Seeing them have fun was far better than a perfect house, so the house in the photo was what we came up with—a little more Fred Flinstone than Joseph Eichler. Hopefully, we’ll have time to enter Modernism’s contest this year, and if we do, we’ll probably have to make a separate house with the kids.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lctbz5Vo6W1qc7v1bo1_500.jpg)
[ MODERNISM’S GINGERBREAD HOUSE CONTEST ]
Get out your thrift store rolling pin and baking sheets, and get to work to enter Modernism’s First Annual Gingerbread House Contest! I’m so glad someone is holding this contest. I wanted to have a gingerbread house contest here at Modern Thrifter, but being a thrifty, I couldn’t think of a prize that would be incentive enough for people to enter.
Last year our family attempted to make a MCM gingerbread house, and though I had dreams of clerestory windows and modern landscaping, my plans fell apart when the kids got involved in the construction. Seeing them have fun was far better than a perfect house, so the house in the photo was what we came up with—a little more Fred Flinstone than Joseph Eichler. Hopefully, we’ll have time to enter Modernism’s contest this year, and if we do, we’ll probably have to make a separate house with the kids.
[ HILLTOP HOUSE TOURS: REVIEW ]
Saturday, Patrick and I went to the Hilltop House Tours with some good friends, who are also modern architecture fans. After a week of rain, we were surprised by a sunny afternoon—a total bonus since it was a walking tour. 360 Modern put together a helpful and lovely booklet to accompany the tour, that was filled with old photos, original architectural plans, and histories of the houses.
The Hilltop community was planned between 1947 and 1950 and each of the 40 homes were custom-designed by some of Seattle’s best known architects. The views from the homes we toured were breathtaking and panoramic. From a few of them, we could see downtown Seattle, downtown Bellevue, the Olympics, and nearly all of Lake Washington, all from a single spot on the deck.
The homes were modest in size, but carefully laid out. There was very little wasted space, and a huge emphasis on incorporating the natural surroundings into the home—walls of windows and natural materials were used throughout each house.
The only disappointing part of the tour for me, was seeing some of the remodels that were done in a few of the houses. Though they maintained much of the original look and feel of the house, there were a few bathrooms and kitchens that felt out of place amongst their minimalist surroundings. The exception was a remodel done on the Smith Residence, which was absolutely outstanding. They were able to add bedrooms, a bathroom, and a music room to the lower level of the house that flowed seamlessly from the existing space on the top level.
Since many of the houses had similar architecture to our own home, we gained a wealth of information about lighting fixtures, stairwells, decks, and landscaping. Overall, the tour seemed to be a huge success, and we will likely attend again next year. Many thanks to the hard work of the people at Docomomo WeWa for putting it all together!
Image Credits: Vista Estate Imaging
