Archive for the Mid Century Modern Category
Event – Kenneth Birkemeier Lecture – Artistry in Bricks
Birkemeier mid century home on Fremont in NE Portland
This Saturday, June 25th, 2011, is the encore presentation of the Kenneth Birkemeier lecture at the Architectural Heritage Center. I went to the first lecture last November and it was pretty fascinating, well worth the price of admission!
Details from the Architectural Heritage Center website:
The post-World War II building boom in Portland presented many opportunities for architects and builders to interpret the “modern” home. Ken Birkemeier was one such Portland builder, who designed and constructed completely original homes during this period. Though also credited with building Colonials and conventional Ranch Style houses, the Birkemeier Modern home remains his most identifiable house type. These brick (or partially brick) houses often incorporated avant-garde or whimsical features in their design and looked forward to an optimistic future filled with technological promise. Whether futuristic or conventional, the quality of construction in Birkemeier homes and his always pleasing designs have earned him legions of home-owning fans over the years. A real estate listing today with the name Birkemeier in the title always commands attention and respect.
AHC Education Committee member Jack Bookwalter will discuss the distinctive features found in all Birkemeier houses. You’ll also learn about Ken Birkemeier the man, whose remarkable career spanned the 1930s to the 1970s. Following his talk Jack will lead a short walking tour past several Birkemeier homes in NE Portland. (Transportation from the AHC not provided.)
This program is an encore of the sold-out lecture from November 2010.
Pre-registration is strongly suggested
Buy tickets here
Rummer News – Plaques and Auction
Rummer Home
There will be an auction for Rummer items beginning May 26th, 2011 through June 2nd, 2011. The auction will be in Ebay under the seller name “bobrummer”.
Items included:
- Pieces of furniture displayed in the original Rummer showcase home and used by the Rummer’s in their homes through the years
- Vintage Danish modern rosewood credenza
- Rosewood Danish modern table
- Documents and drawings signed by Bob Rummer
- Vintage Magazine Articles and Rummer Ads.
Have fun shopping!
Rummer Owners
You can now purchase the official Rummer designed home plaque customized with the year your home was built. Order on the Rummer Network website.
Frank Shell House Update
entry atrium - one of three atriums
One of the first blog posts that I wrote here on the Modern Homes Portland site was a visit to a home that was on market designed by architect Frank Shell for his personal residence. Frank and his wife lived in this house until he passed away in 2003. The Shell house was then sold, a little bit of work was done to it then it was sold again. The home then went back up on market a short time after, that listing turned into short sale, a sale never happened so it went back to the bank. During the couple of years it took the bank to take it back and re-sell it, the property ended up suffering from a bit of deferred maintenance. I lost count on how many times I have showed this house but let’s just say that I know it quite well.
During the years that the property was in short sale/bank owned limbo, the fear for most mid century architecture preservationists was that a builder would see a good deal in the land/lots for development and raze the house to build something more “profitable” since it is in a desirable, close-in SW neighborhood.
The good news: I was contacted recently by the new owner, who is a contractor, and very much enamored with the form as most of us are. He is currently working on preserving the structure and updating the systems as necessary but is making an effort to keep many of the details intact and taking care to research the architects original vision for the home.
The owner let me take a look around the other day and take a few photos while they were working, slideshow below:
I can’t wait to see what it is like when he is done and we are so happy that the Frank Shell house will be here for many more years, thank you new owner….next stop, historical register?
Original post on the Frank Shell House.
Shell House – Frank Shell Architect
Photo slideshow of the Frank Shell house vacant prior to it’s most recent purchase and renovation.
More posts on the architect Frank Shell:
Modern Events – Rummer Home Tour and Lectures
Rummer Home
There are 2 Rummer home events coming up in the next week. First, the Oak Hills Rummer tour is this Saturday. Presented by the Historic Preservation League of Oregon, the tour will include 8 Rummer built homes in Oak Hills and a presentation on mid century architecture by Jack Bookwalter mid century expert with the Architectural Heritage Center, and an interview with Robert Rummer. Buy tickets and additional information on the Oregon Historical Preservation website.
Next, Rejuvenation is holding an event that will feature a narrated slideshow of Robert Rummers work followed by a conversation with Robert Rummer himself. The event is a benefit for p:ear and there is a $10 suggested donation. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served along with after hours shopping at the Rejuvenation showroom.
Event details:
- Wednesday May 25, 2011 at 6pm
- Rejuvenation Showroom – 1100 SE Grand Ave PDX, OR 97214
- Wine and light refreshments served.
- $10 suggested donation to benefit p:ear
- RSVP today. Last year’s Conversation with Robert Rummer sold out fast.
RSVP NOW >
See you there!
East County Mid-Century Historic Survey Project
Midtown Estates Advertisement from the Oregonian
The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability recently completed a historic building survey in East Portland neighborhoods, as part of a small grant from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The focus was on “Mid-Century” residential areas developed from 1935-1965, a period when East Portland experienced considerable growth and change.
From the City of Portland’s website:
East Portland is a special and complex part of the city, and its history, landscapes, and development differ in many ways from Portland’s urban core and inner-ring neighborhoods. Much of East Portland was developed in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, when new architectural styles and building forms were introduced. Styles such as the Ranch House, Split-level, and “Mid-Century Modern” became popular, for example. Those styles and forms were the focus of this survey project.
A team led by a consulting firm, Historic Preservation Northwest (HPNW), photographed buildings to determine their age, style, and characteristic features. Approximately 600 properties were surveyed, grouped in clusters in neighborhoods. The clusters were selected to represent a range of development eras and patterns, architectural types and styles of construction that were prevalent from 1935-1965. The survey was selective due to the large size and diversity of the study area. Most of the properties surveyed were single-family residences, although some commercial buildings constructed during the 1935-1965 development period were also included.
Go to the City of Portland’s page here dedicated to the survey and click on the PDF marked Modern Historic Resources of East Portland and have fun looking at all of the mid century structures with detailed outline of architectural features and histories.
Modern Event – Kitchen Revival Tour
revival kitchen
This is the 13th year for the Architectural Heritage Center’s Kitchen Revival Tour. It is exciting to see that there are more than a couple either intact original kitchens or painstakingly restored to their original glory kitchens in Portland. This year there will be 2 Kenneth Birkemeier homes on tour and an amazing intact streamline home from the 50′s.
The tour is on April 16th 2011 from 10am – 4pm and is self guided. You will receive a tour booklet with your ticket purchase with directions on where to go. The cost is $20 for members and $25 for non -members. Get your tickets and more details on the Architectural Heritage’s website.
revival kitchen
Time:
The Good Mod – Modern Home Furnishing
The Good Mod Showroom
I had the pleasure of attending a special MCML event a couple of weeks ago hosted by the The Good Mod. I was especially excited to attend because while I have seen all of the inventory on The Good Mods website and have seen some of it staging the Milepost 5 Condos, I had yet to venture down to the actual warehouse.
The Good Mod is a home decor and furnishing store that specializes in vintage 1920′s – 1970′s. The warehouse/showroom is a 7,000 sq ft space in the close in industrial area of Sellwood. It is huge and you can walk through aisles with shelving full of great mid century finds. The back of the warehouse is a staged showroom with 2 floors that has wood floors that have been repaired with metal plates, weathered steel walls, old wood beams that are the perfect canvas to set these beautiful pieces against.
This store is a must see and shop if you haven’t been. Tip: If you think that you might be there for an extended period of time dress warmly, it is a huge warehouse that gets quite cold.
The Good Mod is located at :
4701 SE 24th
Portland, OR 97202
Open Mon, Wed – Sun 11:00am – 6pm or by appointment if you can’t make those hours
Check out their website for updated inventory and follow them on Facebook where they share good tips and finds.
The Good Mod Warehouse
The Good Mod Warehouse
Rummer Tour – Oak Hills Mid Century Modern Homes
Save the date for the upcoming Rummer Home tour in the Oak Hills neighborhood.
When: Saturday May 21st, 2011 from 10am – 4pm
Where: Oak Hills Neighborhood
Details:
- Visit eight homes built by Robert Rummer. These iconic “atomic age” houses are highly sought after and those on tour include some in virtually original condition and others that have been updated.
- An illustrated lecture by Jack Bookwalter (Architectural historian with the Architectural Heritage Center) will present an overview of mid-century residential architecture as context for the work of Rummer and Eichler.
- Mr. Rummer himself will be in attendance to answer questions.
- View the original church and community center in the Oak Hills neighborhood.
Tickets will be available for online purchase in March. The Rummer home tour is a fund raiser benefiting the preservation programs of the Historic Preservation League of Oregon and the Oak Hills Neighborhood Association’s efforts to seek listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Modern Event: MCM League Meeting – Featured Speaker Architect Saul Zaik
Saul Zaik's Zidell House
In keeping with this months theme of NW Regional Style of architecture, Portland’s Mid Century Modern League’s January meeting will feature guest speaker Saul Zaik, famed NW architect. Saul Zaik is known for his beautiful Northwest Regional Style designs and has worked in Oregon since 1952.
When: Sunday, January 30th 6pm (socializing and shopping will start at 5pm-6pm and the meeting will start promptly at 6pm)
Where: The Good Mod – 4701 SE 24th Ave Portland, OR 97202
The meeting is open to the public but it would be really great if you got to know what the MCM League does and become a member (yes, I am a member!).
About the MCM League from their website:
“The Mid-Century Modern League is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation and our goal is to garner this appreciation through public education, hopefully stunting the razing and remodeling of these marvels in the process. As “Portlanders”, our agenda is two-fold – accomplish this great feat AND have fun commingling with like-minded individuals! (umbrella’d drink in hand!) We meet every month, if you have a passion for Portland’s Modern architecture, feel free to join us at our next meeting.”
