What’s to like about Mid-Century Modern Homes in these Foreclosure days?
Jerry Gropp Architect AIA on 04 13, 2009
These homes are called “Mid-Century Modern” because then was the heyday of architect-designed homes that were carefully fitted to the needs of the owners and the properties involved. Often located on
choice lots in established neighborhoods, most of these have mature gardens not needing to be planted. Many of these homes have had a number of owners- some better than others at maintenance.
Perhaps the main thing that sets these homes apart is the construction – many are “post and Beam” and are laid out showing the structure per the plan for this custom home in Fauntleroy, West Seattle overlooking the Ferry to Vashon Island.
About the Author: Jerry Gropp Architect AIA
I'm a long-time Seattle area residential architect specializing in what's known as Mid-Century Modern single-family homes per my WebSite- As you can see from this, most of my design work is in the Pacific NorthWest although I've worked as far afield as Hawaii and Argentina. I often work with homebuyers in evaluating possible purchases before the sale as well as advising how the homes being considered can be adapted to the families involved after the purchase. This is especially helpful and takes into account many factors including Building Codes, ease of maintenance, etc.. My Google "Knol"s have given me a great way to express my thoughts on a variety of design subjects. (Click) https://knol.google.com/k/knol/system/knol/pages/Search?q=Jerry+Gropp&restrict=general30 Responses to “What’s to like about Mid-Century Modern Homes in these Foreclosure days?”
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Hi Jerry,
What years comprise “mid century”?
I love open floor plans like the one pictured, though I call the “lanai” an “atrium”. A “lanai” to me is that covered space between the house and the pool in Florida and on shows like The Golden Girls
I especially like them when they have floor to ceiling windows in the living areas.
When I think of “mid-century” as in 1951, I think of “levittowners”. 3 bedroom 1 bath boxy houses built for soldiers coming home from the war, and they were not known for quality construction.
http://www.levittowners.com/house_levittowner.htm
Would it be appropriate, as example, to call a new house with floor to ceiling windows “mid-century modern”? Can one build a new house of “mid century modern” design? Or does it have to be built between certain years to qualify?
I love this style, too – so many of the brand new greener eco homes are moving towards this style – luckily they are more energy efficient than the originals, though – LOL. Lake Forest Park is pretty famous for having jaw dropping gorgeous houses in this style – that combined with the sheer volume of trees in LFP makes many of them seem like tree houses:)
There are two current listings, within a block of each other, that this reminded me of:
http://www.redfin.com/WA/Shoreline/15853-15th-Ave-NE-98155/home/86436
http://www.redfin.com/WA/Shoreline/16203-15th-Ave-NE-98155/home/87002
It may just be the brilliance of Windermere’s photographer, but these do seem to show a distinctive set of ideas about shape and light and volume and how house meets the site.
OTOH 90% of what’s called “mid-century modern” in real estate listings are landscape-blighting boxes with low ceilings and tiny windows. Maybe part of it is that for the style to work, you need a halfway interesting landscape for the bldg to be built around.
360 Modern is dedicated to modern and mid-century modern homes. The company filters through every listing on the MLS and aggregates them to one single website, http://www.360modern.com.
If you are looking for that Mid-Century Modern, or the super modern home, you are more than likely going to find it on 360’s website. Also, they host events from time to time celebrating a particular architect, project, or just modern furniture, so sign up to recieve such information!
Cheers!
Hey Jon (or others)
For those of us that aren’t quite as enamored with the mid-century modern, do you know of any similar websites to 360modern which follow Victorian homes?
With regard to the 5 Comments before, as usual they have suggested a future JG RCG Post covering the questions raised. As to defining what exactly is”Mid-Century”, I’m afraid Ardell’s putting Levittown forward shows her East Coast beginnings. “Mid-Century Modern” is another kind of thing entirely and has strong roots in California. Port Townsend, WA is the resource place for Everett_Tom. Jerry
And furthermore- There are a lot of indifferent, poorly designed so-called Mid-Century Moderns out there as well as indifferent “Craftsmans” and indifferent “Victorians”. Any of these can be entirely valid if well done. Jerry
Jon (Comment 4.)- Here is a link to one of the 360Modern “events” you mention above- my Hidden Lake Home as featured as a DoCoMoMo Open House last year. https://knol.google.com/k/jerry-gropp-architect-aia/the-hidden-lake-mid-century-modern-home/246qxuxd260sm/9#
Since my above “Foreclosure Days” Post was published, I’ve produced a “Knol” which better shows the floor plan and its features that set it apart from many so-called “Mid-Century Modern” homes. First of all, it’s a modular post and beam with the exposed structure carefully detailed. Jerry
(click to view) https://knol.google.com/k/jerry-gropp-architect-aia/whats-to-like-about-mid-century-modern/246qxuxd260sm/101#view
The best thing about older homes is that they tend to be located on the best lots in the best locations. Its a simple fact that better pieces of real estate are developed first. You can see this pretty much anywhere. New construction homes are built on the cheapest real estate carved up into as many lots as possible. Kind of makes you reminiscent for the good ol’ days doesn’t it.
I live in a house like this in a great neigborhood. The walls on two sides are glass and all the ceilings are open and some almost 2 stories high. There are two problems:
1. Even with all the glass it is kind of dark the way the roof extends.
2. Due to the glass and large total volume, even with the heater set to 65 it never shuts off cold days.
I put on a metal roof with several inches of foam, but heating is still an issue. I would have to redo all the windows, which would cost a fortune, and it may not make economic sense.
Any suggestions?
re: Comment 10.- Terry- How pleased I am to have RE people from Boston reading my posts- especially when they help me make my points. Thanks. J-
re: Comment 11.- Harry- We architects used lotsa glass back then when oil
and other kinds of fuel were cheap. One of the first things to be done as it was on our own house https://knol.google.com/k/jerry-gropp-architect-aia/our-own-mid-century-modern-home/246qxuxd260sm/102# is to replace the single-pane glass with insulating double-pane units. As you can see by
the photos, the old glass was broken out, new 3/4″x3/4″ wood strips hold
the new glass in place. In the Seattle area, SeaView Glass does this for me
at a reasonable price. http://jgropp2.googlepages.com/alterationsanadditions
re: Comment 1.- Ardell-,; “When I think of “mid-century” as in 1951, I think of “levittowners”. 3 bedroom 1 bath boxy houses built for soldiers coming home from the war, and they were not known for quality construction”.
We had our own “Levittown” here- it was (and is) Mountlake Terrace. One of my architectural co-workers owned one. Of concrete block, two Bedrooms for $4,950.00 as I recall. Not bad. Jerry
Jerry,
I know PNW doesn’t use a lot of brick construction because of earthquakes. What about lots of glass and earthquakes?
Hey Jerry,
Thank, we’ve actually got a small collection of photos of places we like.. I was really interested in something like the 360 web site, where someone else does the work
I do like Port Townsend, WA
socal is a more active seismic zone than the northwest, and the best examples of mid-century modern (post and beam with lots of brick/stonework/glass) are strung between san diego and oakland. the los angeles region is ridiculously famous for this. building codes are obviously very different now, and there are many requirements for seismic retrofitting.
im in the market for a mcm home and have been tracking many over the past couple years. the first one in shoreline linked above by colin is a sad example of the typical flipper butcher job found on the market today, complete with crown molding, horrid track lighting and home depot kitchen and bathrooms. the good news is, there are many original mostly intact examples still existing in the seattle metro area, especially bellevue. if youre into this sort of thing, youd be better off buying something untouched for $100k less and restovating it properly yourself.
Mid century modern homes are extremely popular these days, especially with an many split level homes out there. A number of my clients have told me to focus on MCM’s exclusively, because of the friendly floor plan and potential resale value.
re: Comment 14.- Ardell- As you say- PNW doesn’t use as much brick (as Baltimore for instance) because wood is plentiful. Our own home as you can see (link below) has lots of glass and has withstood many vigorous earthquakes in its 54 years. Our good Uniform Building Codes assure strong construction in any case. https://knol.google.com/k/jerry-gropp-architect-aia/our-own-mid-century-modern-home/246qxuxd260sm/102#view
re Comment 15.- Everett_Tom- We used to have a summer place on Marrowstone Island, right across from Port Townsend- full of Victorians.
re Comment 16.- Fillmore- SoCal and the whole State have even stricter Earthquake Codes than we do. They’ve learned the hard way as we will when the Seattle Waterfront Viaduct tumbles in the next big one.
re Comment 17.- Fillmore- your “typical flipper butcher job found on the market today, complete with crown molding, horrid track lighting and home depot kitchen and bathrooms” says it all. “you’d be better off buying something untouched for $100k less and restovating it properly yourself.” is the way to go.
re: Comment 18.- Tor- Your “Mid century modern homes are extremely popular these days” makes my point once again. It’s back to basics in both housing, banking and government.
I’m very gratified at the above Comments. The Fauntleroy Custom Home I showed is really a pretty far out example of a “Mid-Centure Modern” home designed by this architect for his classmate/graduate architect client.
Once again, it shows how important it is to have well-educated clients and
home sellers, home buyers, salespeople. Rain City Guide is leading the way-I’m glad to be part of the RCG Writer Team. Jerry
Correction-
I am no longer part of the Rain City Guide Writer Team and will be contributing no more architectural design-oriented or other Posts. JG
what happened to jerry? i hope he didnt get cut due to correct criticism of hack jobs perpetrated by todays version of real estate “professionals”….
Having stopped contributing to Rain City Guide back in April feeling unable to properly convey my architectural design concepts, I now feel the completely updated RCG is something to which I can add my long-time residential architect’s viewpoint. This in complete harmony with the other parts of the Real Estate Sales industry which RCG now covers so well and thoroughly. Jerry
Still living in this home- the deceased owner’s sister to whom I just talked. She still finds it “a wonderful place to live”. Music to my ears. Jerry
Still living in this home- the rest of the story-
https://knol.google.com/k/jerry-gropp-architect-aia/so-whats-to-like-about-mid-century/246qxuxd260sm/101#
NorthWest Contemporary is probably a better term.
The magazine “Arts & Architecture” was the bible of all of
us residential architects back then- and it still is. I’m
reading the King County Library’s new bound set as
described in this “Finding the Grail” Post.
http://tinyurl.com/n2wceu
Jerry,
Thanks for the link to my blog! Hope your readers here enjoy it.
Jesse
Jesse- I hope you and your followers enjoy RainCityGuide. It covers mainly Real Estate Dealings. Hopefully it will cover more Design Aspects of the Seattle Scene. NorthWest Contemporary, As you well know, is coming back- (for some, it never left). Jerry
Here’s the Arts & Architecture Collection on FaceBook. http://tinyurl.com/lvz5sa
One of the prime creators of Mid-Century Modern/ Contemporary Architecture was Julius Schulman, photographer who died 7/16/09. Here’s his NYT Obituary which explains why his work was so widely admired. http://tinyurl.com/n56ltl