midcenturymodern

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…

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.