Selling Lake Vista 1938

The Times-Picayune 16 September 1938, p. 17.

Claiborne Towers 1950

In December 1950, architects William Nowland Van Powell (1904-1977) and Henry Ehrensing (1907-1985) received attention for their design of a new luxury apartment complex to be located at the intersection of South Claiborne Avenue and Canal Street (bounded by Cleveland and S. Derbigny). At the time, Claiborne Towers was the South's largest apartment project, with a planned 1036 units that included air conditioning. Construction of the 17-story $10 Million building had begun in April of 1950, after a lease agreement for the site was negotiated with Tulane University. By 1952, Claiborne Towers featured a beauty shop, lingerie boutique, cleaners, and a lounge on its ground floor. Its lobby was apportioned with terrazzo flooring and black walnut panels, and a mural depicting the progress of New Orleans was planned for the 62-ft wall expanse above the structure's Otis elevator bank.

Image above: National Architect Vol. 6 No. 12 (December 1950): p. 7. Tulane University Libraries.

DOCOMOMO US December 2010 E-News Brief

Join Today!

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.

Go Modern! www.docomomo-us.org

Follow DOCOMOMO US on Ning, Facebook and Twitter. 

IN THIS EDITION:

Mexico 2010 Conference Travelogue

CHAPTER UPDATE: DOCOMOMO US/NOLA

THREATENED: Lloyd Wright's Moore House
BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT: Zonnestraal Sanatorium

SURVEY: Give us your feedback
Docomomo International Journal

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DOCOMOMO INTERNATIONAL: MEXICO CONFERENCE RECAP

The eleventh International Docomomo Conference was held this past August in Mexico City.  DOCOMOMO US/Georgia member Jack Pyburn was in attendance and gives his account of the proceedings, presenting a travelogue of Living in the Urban Modernity.

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CHAPTER UPDATE: DOCOMOMO US/NOLA


IS THERE A FUTURE FOR THE RECENT PAST IN NEW ORLEANS?

Francine Stock, president of DOCOMOMO US/Louisiana, has written a compelling narrative about the current situation of the mid-century public schools in New Orleans.  Featured in the recent MAS Context journal, the piece discusses the significance of the architecture to its climate and landscape, and how the process to discuss their future has failed. Click here to read the article and the MAS Context journal in its entirety.

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THREATENED: LLOYD WRIGHT'S MOORE HOUSE


House Faces Imminent Demolition: How You Can Help

The Los Angeles Conservancy is leading the cause to advocate for the preservation of the 1959 Moore House designed by noted architect Lloyd Wright - the son of Frank Lloyd Wright - in Palos Verdes Estates.  The house is currently threatened with demolition and the owners plan to construct a new house on this prime site overlooking the ocean.
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BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT: ZONNESTRAAL SANATORIUM


Zonnestraal Sanatorium
The History and Restoration of a Modern Monument
Paul Meurs and Marie-Thérèse van Thoor (eds.)
The birth and history of DOCOMOMO is closely related with the preservation of the former Zonnestraal Sanatorium. The building, which is emblematic of Functionalism or Nieuwe Bouwen in the Netherlands, is a national monument of international significance and a globally recognized icon of the the Dutch arm of the International Modern Movement. Designed by the architects Jan Duiker and Bernard Bijvoet in 1925, the building is internationally regarded as one of the highlights of twentieth century architecture.
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MEMBERSHIP: JOIN TODAY!

Join the national community of architects, historians, designers, planners, 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 via mail by using the membership form.

Member Survey: DOCOMOMO US promotes the exchange of knowledge and experience between our members.  Help us make your membership of DOCOMOMO US as useful and enjoyable as possible by providing us with feedback on your experience.  We kindly request you to take a few moments to fill out this short survey.  Your answers are very valuable to the organization and our ever-expanding work to preserve of the Modern Movement! VIEW THE SURVEY

DOCOMOMO INTERNATIONAL: SUMMER 2010 JOURNAL

 

We are pleased to announce Docomomo International Journal 42 Art and Architecture has been distributed to our international members.  Journal 42 includes essays and articles discussing the synthesis of Art and Architecture and features an article by DOCOMOMO US President, Theodore Prudon.

 

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CONTEST: MEMBER TRIVIA

Congratulations to our November trivia contest winner!

Richard Longstreth from Washington, DC correctly identified the rugged Cor-ten steel used by Eero Saarinen at the John Deere World Headquarters in Moline, IL. Congratulations to Richard and to everyone who responded. We will be sending Richard a DOCOMOMO US embossed Moleskine notebook and our new DOCOMOMO US Go Modern button.

DECEMBER PHOTO:

Name this architect and building for a chance to win a prize from the
Docomomo Archives.

E-mail correct responses to: info@docomomo-us.org by December 31.

 

 

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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.

Not a member? Join now!

Visit us online: docomomo-us.org

Follow DOCOMOMO US on Ning, Facebook and Twitter.   

DOCOMOMO-US

P.O. Box 230977
New York, NY 10023
United States

Is there a future for the recent past in New Orleans?

Francine Stock, president of DOCOMOMO US/Louisiana, writes about the current situation of the mid-century public schools in the city. Either demolished or in danger of demolition, these structures represent a type of architecture that was forward thinking and innovative in the way they were built and used by the public. The process to discuss their future when they become obsolete has failed to provide a fair space to listen to new options. Can we establish another way of approaching this problem?

read more..... MAS Context 8| PUBLIC WINTER 10

Replacing the Claiborne Overpass with Lightrail: Impossible or Visionary?

Point 8 Forum

Replacing the Claiborne Overpass with Lightrail: Impossible or Visionary?
Thursday November 11th 2010
The Building Block @ The Icehouse
2803 St. Philip St, New Orleans, LA
6:00pm - 8:00pm

Auditorium eligible for National Register to be demolished without public input

Auditorium shared by the George Washington Carver Junior- Senior High School and Helen Sylvania Edwards Elementary School. 3059 Higgins Boulevard, New Orleans, LA. (1958, Curtis and Davis, architects) photo © Emily Ardoin

The City of New Orleans has issued a demolition permit for the George Washington Carver Junior-Senior High School designed by Curtis and Davis, architects. The Helen Sylvania Edwards Elementary School shared many campus facilities with Carver, but has already been demolished. The integration of three schools (elementary, junior and senior high) on a 65 acre campus in the upper ninth ward allowed the schools to share common facilities (cafeteria, kitchen, auditorium) and yet retain age-segregated classroom buildings. The auditorium was also available for community events. Curtis and Davis' plan gained national recognition when Progressive Architecture awarded the First Design Award to the Carver School in 1957.

The Federal Emergency Management Association deemed the auditorium building eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The striking design of the auditorium with its soaring (40 ft high and 200 ft long) parabolic concrete vault and hinged buttresses is truly monumental. DOCOMOMO US/Louisiana advocated for the auditorium structure to be retained and suggested that it be adaptively reused as an open air pavilion.

We still do not understand why FEMA never sought public comments for the Carver High School auditorium building. The Section 106 process in New Orleans does not appear to be functioning in the spirit of the National Historic Preservation Act. Section 106 does not mandate preservation, but is supposed to encourage it. Yet too many buildings are being demolished. In fact, in the past 5 years, have any of the historic buildings under Section 106 review in New Orleans not ultimately met their demise?

In this situation, the Recovery School District is using public funds to demolish a public building without seeking input from the general public and with the support of a federal agency.

838 Canal Street 1952

Miller Brothers operated its jewelry store at 838 Canal Street in the early 1950s. They sold diamonds, watches, silverware and photographic supplies.

Image above: Miller Bros. Square Deal Jewelers Advertisement, New Orleans City Directory (1952-1953), p. 183.