architect

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…

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 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…

(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…