DOCOMOMO US May 2011 E-News Brief

MAY 2011 DOCOMOMO US is the working party of Docomomo in the United States. It is a 501(c)3 registered non-profit organization, a union of regional chapters that shares its members' knowledge of and enthusiasm for the Modern Movement, promotes public interest in it through lectures and walking tours, and organizes advocacy efforts to protect endangered sites and buildings. Join the national community of architects, historians, preservationists, students and modern movement enthusiasts dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of modern architecture and landscapes in the United States. Membership is available online at www.docomomo-us.org or by downloading our membership form. Go Modern! www.docomomo-us.org Follow DOCOMOMO US on Facebook and Twitter   IN THIS EDITION: - First Texas MODern Month - Breuer's Whitney Leased to Metropolitan Museum of Art - International Views: Docomomo Japan - Chapter Spotlight: New England - DOCOMOMO US Annual Board Meeting: Touring Stahl House - Book Announcement: American Glamour - Save the Date: Tour Day 2011, Conversations In Context and more - Photo Contest FIRST TEXAS MODERN MONTH: EVENT RECAP April 2011 was the first annual Texas MODern Month, organized to raise awareness of the need to preserve locally, regionally, and nationally significant examples of modern buildings sites and neighborhoods in Texas. Texas MODern Month was organized by Preservation Texas and a number of partner organizations including the North Texas and Mid-Tex Mod chapters of DOCOMOMO US, and HoustonMod, the first Friend Organization of DOCOMOMO US. Photo: Stuart M. Johnson READ MORE >   BREUER'S WHITNEY TO BE LEASED TO METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART On Tuesday May 24th the Whitney Museum of American Art will break ground on its new location in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. In light of the Museum’s planned relocation in 2015 to the new Renzo Piano-designed flagship, there has been speculation in recent months as to the fate of the original Marcel Breuer building. Photo: Edith Bellinghausen READ MORE >   INTERNATIONAL VIEWS: JAPAN On March 11, 2011 Japan suffered an earthquake of unprecedented magnitude, followed by a devastating tsunami. Our colleagues at Docomomo Japan - Hiroyuki Suzuki, President and Kenji Watanabe, Secretary - recently shared this update. READ MORE >   CHAPTER SPOTLIGHT: NEW ENGLAND On In April 2011, with the input of DOCOMOMO US/New England, the Boston Landmarks Commission declared the Christian Science Center (CSC) a Boston Landmark. The urban complex was joined between 1965 and 1975 by a now world-renowned group of modern buildings designed by Araldo Cossutta of I.M. Pei & Partners, with landscape design by Sasaki, Dawson, DeMay. Photo: Marie Sorensen READ MORE >   DOCOMOMO US ANNUAL BOARD MEETING: STAHL HOUSE For two days in early April 2011 the DOCOMOMO US Board convened in Los Angeles to both investigate and promote the organization’s national growth. Following the open session at Richard Neutra's VDL Research House II, the group visited Case Study House #22, also known as the Stahl House. Photo: Board members and student interns at the Stahl House READ MORE >   BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT: AMERICAN GLAMOUR American Glamour and the Evolution of Modern Architecture Alice T. Friedman, Author. Published by Yale University Press, New Haven and London, 2010. This fascinating book by Alice Friedman provides new insight into the development and acceptance of what we now so often and somewhat erroneously call "mid-century" modernism. She discusses not only different building typologies and some of the "starchitects" of the time but also, more importantly, places them in the social and cultural context of the postwar era. While preservation is not specifically discussed, the "glamour" of the architecture as Friedman presents it may explain why high-style magazines and publications continue to be captivated by the period.   SAVE THE DATE! DOCOMOMO US TOUR DAY 2011 5th Annual National Event! October 8 Various locations READ MORE >   Glass House: Conversations In Context through November 17, 2011 New Canaan, CT READ MORE >   9th Annual Docomomo Brazil Conference June 7 - 10, 2011 Brasília, Brazil READ MORE >   CAH 20thC Conference NEW! June 14 - 16, 2011 Madrid, Spain READ MORE >   Campus Heritage Symposium NEW! November 3 - 4, 2011 Washington, DC READ MORE > CONTEST: MEMBER TRIVIA Congratulations to our April trivia contest winner!   Ted Cleary of Charlotte, NC correctly identified the angled façade of the Palm Springs residence designed for builder Robert Alexander in 1962 by William Krisel, and also known as the "House of Tomorrow". The winning entry was selected at random from all correct entries, which included an email from Mr. Krisel himself! He writes: The photo shows the 'ROBERT ALEXANDER RESIDENCE' on Ladera Circle in Palm Springs, CA (later known as the Elvis Presley House). The architect for the residence is: WILLIAM KRISEL, A.I.A. (at that time the firm was known as Palmer & Krisel, A.I.A. Architects). I am that architect and I am still alive at the ripe old age of 86. -- William Krisel       APRIL PHOTO Name this building and architect for a chance to win a prize from the DOCOMOMO archives. Email your responses to info@docomomo-us.org by May 31st.     TALK TO US! The ongoing strength of DOCOMOMO US lies in the action and communication of our members. Please keep us apprised of your local work, advocacy and other current issues by e-mailing us at info@docomomo-us.org.   DOCOMOMO US P.O. Box 230977 New York, NY 10023 United States