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In the Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles, a marvelous mid century modern home resides. It was constructed by husband-and-wife team Charles and Ray Eames in 1949. The structure was designed to serve as their home, and the couple lived in the house until they died.  The design of the house is simplistic and nature-oriented: two rectangular boxes with glass serve as the foundation of the house; 17-foot-tall mezzanine balconies overlook a large central room; the facade of the home is defined by colorful painted glass tiles and a series of rectangles. One rectangle served as the Eames’s studio, and the other rectangle was their living space.  Additionally, the house was built into a hill instead of on it; Charles and Ray wanted nature to seamlessly flow into their home. They built the Eames House to specifically fit their needs. The…

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, it may seem difficult to feel connected to the world around us. At Histoury, one of our goals is to celebrate architectural heritage in communities through visiting historical homes; however, with stay-at-home orders across the nation, it’s impossible to safely tour the beautiful buildings we love. Today, we wanted to offer some five alternatives to architectural appreciation that you can do in your home.  Connect with architects and designers virtually through social media! Architect Magazine recently shared this article with a list of 15 wonderful Instagram accounts you can follow to be inspired by architecture around the world. Scroll safely from the comfort of your couch! Watch webinars and interviews about architecture on YouTube. Some of our favorites are De Zeen, Architectural Digest, and Sam-E Studio.  Read about how COVID-19 will change architectural…

Celebrated architect Marcel Breuer (1902-1981) was well known for his Brutalist, Modernist, and International Style designs. The Hungarian-born architect was recently honored posthumously by the Metropolitan Museum of Art when they acquired the building that had previously been home to the Whitney Museum. Noting the building’s original designer, the Met named its new acquisition the…

Recently, I had the honor of interviewing William Earls, an architect based in Wilton, Connecticut that specializes in custom residential, commercial, and municipal architecture. Earls has worked towards architectural preservation, something which awarded him a Preservation Award from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation. In 2018, he completed his two-year-long partnership with the New Canaan…

Happy Town Tuesday everyone! For this week’s post, I thought I would highlight a notable architectural style, figure, and site from my own hometown of Miami, Florida. A distinct offshoot of the Mid-Century Modern architectural style, Miami Modernist architecture (coined MiMo) developed in South Florida during the post-war period. Architect Morris Lapidus (1902-2001) greatly influenced…

On a Wilton, Connecticut street filled with colonial homes, one very special home stands out: a towering, seven-level, mid-century modern masterpiece. Referred to as “Fort Apache” by The New York Times in the 1960s, the family home is one Robert van Summern’s most notable architectural creations.  One week ago, we called van Summern and interviewed him about mid-century modern architecture and his life as an office planner and architect. 

Happy Town Tuesday everyone! We hope you are all well and staying safe. This week, we are discussing Stony Creek’s Thimble Islands! The Thimbles are an archipelago of 365 small islands off the coast of Branford, Connecticut. Did you know they were originally called the “Hundred Islands”? The size of the islands vary greatly, the…

Happy Sunday, everyone! We hope you and your family are staying safe and healthy during this time of uncertainty. With most people isolated in their homes due to COVID-19, it’s difficult to feel connected to others (even with social media). Today, we want to share some resources for you and other architecture lovers who are…

New Haven’s Union Station celebrated its 100-year anniversary on April 5th. Opened to the public in 1920, the station was designed by architect Cass Gilbert in the beaux-arts style. The building’s features include its ornate ceilings, elegant chandeliers, high arched windows, and a grand clock suspended from the ceiling. The station underwent significant restoration efforts…

(February 2, 1867 – August 30, 1946) Theodate Pope Riddle was truly a pioneer of her time, fighting the odds to become one of the first American female architects. From a young age, she displayed a strong desire to take control of her own destiny. At 19, she changed her birth name of Effie to…

Hello everyone! Happy Town Tuesday! Did you know that Redding was home to three encampments during the Revolutionary War? General Israel Putnam held a strategic position there during the winter of 1778–79, where he was joined by three Continental brigades. Prior to the establishment of these encampments, Redding had been playing its part in the…

On March 14, 2020, the City of Norwich, Connecticut bid just over $32,000 on a historic Victorian-era home. The City was the sole bidder, securing ownership of the Cassidy House, arguably one of Connecticut’s most notable examples of Stick architecture. Pictured: Partial view of the Dr. Patrick Cassidy House in Norwich, CT.  (Dana Jensen/The Day)…