Modern Photo of the Week - KG&E Building Wichita, Kansas

Name: KG&E Building, Kansas Gas and Electric Company
Architect:
Year Designed: Unknown
Builder: Unknown
Year Built: 1954
Location: Wichita, Kansas
Type: Office Building
Style: International Style
Status: Standing, but altered
Photographer: Howard Eastwood from
http://www.wichitaphotos.org/

I do not know much about this building, but I cannot help thinking that the designer was well aware of the work of William Lescaze, the designer of the PSFS Building in Philadelphia, the first International Style skyscraper. I recall being amazed by the KG&E building as a child when going with my mother to a meeting in one of the conference rooms. She worked for another electric company as a home economist, teaching women how to cook on their new electric stoves. The thing that was the most memorable to me was the lighting fixtures and aluminum detailing in the lobby and on the exterior of the ground floor. I wonder if that is still there.

American Cars - Hope they stay around!

Watching the Detroit bailout saga reminded me of a recent email I received. Growing up in the 50's and 60's was a great time to appreciate cars. How times and styles have changed.

1951 Chrysler K310
The 1951 K-310 was the second of the Ghia-built Chrysler concept cars designed under the watchful eye of company styling director Virgil Exner.

1953 Buick Wildcat
A special brochure handed out at the Motorama explained the philosophy behind the Wildcat: "Buick by-passes time and tradition to bring your 'dream car' closer. Buick's progressive search for finer styling and better cars for America's motorists enters a new era with presentation of the revolutionary new sports convertible -- the Wildcat -- featuring a Fiberglass body.
1958 Lincoln Premiere
Low sales and less of the "more is better" attitude generally in Detroit led to an all-new downsized Lincoln line for '61.

1955 Nash Rambler Cross County Wagon
Model offerings expanded noticeably for 1954 with the addition of two- and four-door sedans and a four-door Cross Country wagon.

1956 Ford Fairlane Sunliner
The Fairlane was named after Henry Ford's Fair Lane mansion in Dearborn, Michigan. 1959 was the last year of the Sunliner convertible.
1956 Nash
In developing this new car, Nash had originally planned to call it the Nash Diplomat. This name would have rounded out the Nash family of cars, as for 1950 the 600 line was re-named the Statesman and the Ambassador remained the flagship line.

1951 Buick LeSabre
One of the most famous concept cars was the 1951 Buick LeSabre. Designed by Harley J. Earl’s studio with styling cues from jet fighter planes and used by him for years as an everyday driver, the LeSabre offered a preview of the aircraft styling that followed in the ’50s.
1958 Edsel Convertible
The Edsel was introduced amidst considerable publicity on "E Day"—September 14, 1957. It was promoted by a top-rated television special, The Edsel Show on October 13, but it was not enough to counter the adverse public reaction to the car's styling and conventional build.

Modern Photo of the Week - Temple B'nai Jehuda by Architects, Kivett and Myers

Name: Temple B'nai Jehuda
Architect: Kivett and Myers
Year Designed: Unknown
Builder: Unknown
Year Built: 1969
Location: 69th and Holmes, Kansas City, Missouri
Type: Synagogue
Style: Sculptural Expressionistic
Status: DEMOLISHED

Photographer: Brad Finch

http://www.f-stop.com/

Clarence Kivett and Ralph Myers were the patriarchs of Modern Architecture in Kansas City. They mentored and entire generation of modernists within their office. Their work spanned some forty years of modernism as they matured their style in the Kansas City area. This building was described as an 82 foot concrete tent for worship.

Ray Kappe Modern California House Tour

Many of the people who know me, realize that I have a real love for the work of California Architect, Ray Kappe, FAIA. So I could not resist posting this real estate slide show. You can have this house for a cool $4.95 million. Designed and built in 1966-68, this design represents the mature Kappe style. Lori and I drove by this house in Brentwood last year, which presents almost a fortress like front elevation that betrays the glass facade on the other side of the house. I also had the opportunity to meet Mr. Kappe while I was shooting photos of his own house. To me Kappe's work has historically been under appreciated and is only just now being recognized by the admirers of Modern architecture. Part of this recent recognition is due to his work with Living Homes. Enjoy the entire slide show HERE!

Modern Photo of the Week - Yanda Residence

Name: Yanda Residence
Architect: Albert J. Yanda
Year Designed: 1965
Builder: Albert J. Yanda
Year Built: 1966
Size: 1700 sq. ft. 2 bedroom 2 bath
Location: Kansas City, MO (Valentine Area)
Type: Residential
Style: Organic Modern
Status: Very Good Condition
Photographer: Unknown

The Yanda Residence was built by Architect, Albert J. Yanda for himself and his wife. The structure, built of steel, sits on what was considered for years to be an unbuildable lot. His creative response to the site is an introverted façade to the street and a soaring glass filled structure to the rear. The inspiration for this house may have been looking West to John Lautner's Chemosphere house in California , built a few years earlier. Not long after completing this house Yanda would move west himself. Yanda had previously been in the employ of David B. Runnells, Architect to several early Drummond Projects. Yanda's initials appear on many of Runnells' drawings as the draftsman of these plans.

The Worden's Modern House Tour Featured on Apartment Therapy

KCMODERN friends, Steve and Cathy Worden's home has been featured on Apartment Therapy!

Click here for the article and here for the slideshow.

KCMODERN Loves Mad Men

Just in case you have been too busy working on your Modern house to watch TV, we thought that we should tell you about one of the hippest and cool shows on TV. The second season of AMC's Mad Men features some of the best Mid-century Modern goodness that we have seen on the little screen (although our little screen ain't so small anymore).

The first season of Mad Men was set in the 1960 world of a Madison Avenue Advertising Agency. Season two has fast forwarded to 1962 and has extended its luscious set dressing beyond New York to locations such as Palm Springs. While it took me a few episodes at the beginning of season one to warm up to the characters and the story line, the sets and the fashions are what kept me coming back every week.

The show has not escaped acclaim outside the world of mid-century modern lovers either, with its 6 Emmys, including outstanding drama series for season one. If you missed season one it is available on DVD.

The season two premiere episode is available online for free here.

Modern Photo of the Week - Snower Residence by Marcel Breuer

Name: Snower Residence

Architect: Marcel Breuer

Year Designed: 1954

Builder: Unknown

Year Built: 1955

Size: Unknown sq. ft. 3 bedroom 2 bath

Location: Mission Hills, Kansas

Type: Residential

Style: International Style

Status: ENDANGERED due to the value of the land in Kansas City's most affluent neighborhood

Photographer: Unknown, Taken Circa 1955 (From original owners)

This residence was built by its current owners who commissioned Bauhaus Architect, Marcel Breuer to design it for them in 1954. The owners have painstakingly maintained the original interiors as designed by the architect. The exteriors also remain exactly as they were originally planned. The house was designed as a long and narrow box, housing the living and bedroom spaces, built on a masonry base containing the garage and a family room. Large cantilevers at both ends dominate the design much like Breuer's own house built in 1947, in New Canaan, Connecticut. This may be one of only two Breuer House built West of the Mississippi. It is likely one of the most original Breuer Houses standing today.

See what the house looks like today here!

A quick roadtrip to Wichita.

I had the chance to take a quick trip down to Wichita, Kansas this past weekend. While I was there I cruised around some MCM neighborhoods. There are some really great MCM homes around the Wichita State University campus and many of them are in great shape. Here are a few pics from my trip. Jerad

Modern Photo of the Week - Morley Residence

Name: Morley Residence
Architect: John "Jack" Morley (for his own family)
Year Designed: Unknown
Builder: Unknown
Year Built: Circa Early 1950s
Location: 6735 Belinder Mission Hills, Kansas
Type: Residential
Style: Mid-Century Modern
Status: DEMOLISHED 12-07 to make way for another McMansion
Photographer: Unknown (Photo From Family)

A mid-century modern passive solar, post and beam design with south facing windows, clerestories and wide overhangs. It had mostly wood interior with some interior stone walls used for thermal mass. The exterior was predominantly stone and wood.

For a photo taken shortly before the house was demolished go here.

KCMODERN's Charles Phoenix Show a Huge Success

KCMODERN's "The United States of Charles Phoenix" show was huge success by all accounts. Over 200 people crowded beneath the wing of the Lockheed Constellation to enjoy CharlesPhoenix's retro vacation slide show. We made a lot of new Modern friends that evening because well over half the crowd was made up of people who had never been to a KCMODERN event before. Charles putting his spin on local Kansas City Landmarks like the White Haven Motor Lodge, Town Topic, Fritz's, Villa Capri and Johnny's Space Age Doughnuts was a first, one of a kind show for him and it was my favorite part of the show.The TWA Clipped Wings Stewardess fashion show was great to see. Can you believe some of the women can still wear their original uniforms from the '60s?

At intermission some people chose to tour the interior of the Lockheed Constellation and everyone enjoyed hand-crafted root beer supplied by 75th Street Brewery and three kinds of popcorn from Velvet Creme Popcorn. KCMODERN was proud to offer these local treats.When Charles went into his vintage retro vacation slideshow the audience was mesmerized by his delightful commentary and unusual, sometimes campy slides. It really was “the classic living room slide show supercharged.” I, for one, hope that we can bring him back next year to perform another show, The Charles Phoenix Christmas Jubilee!

A special thanks go out to our event sponsors, Bob Myers Properties, Bob Greenspan Photography, Retro Inferno and Michael Q. Gratz of Pulaski Bank. And thanks to all of you who attended!

Is this an undocumented Bruce Goff design?

While driving across town snacking on greasy burgers from Town Topic and shooting vintage roadside attractions and signage for the upcoming Charles Phoenix retro slideshow, we spotted a really odd house off of I-35, near the Southwest Trafficway exit. After some back alley encounters with neighbors and a few really funny looks form the locals, we snapped a few pics. So the question is, who is the Architect of this house? Bruce Goff? A student of Bruce Goff? Or just "In the Style of Bruce Goff?" Let us know if anyone knows the story behind this house.

(Edited on 2.9.09)
For the answer on these questions please go here.

Foster's Modern House Tour on Apartment Therapy

KCMODERN friends, Jerad and Jessica Foster's 1950 Modern House by Architect, David B. Runnells has been featured on Apartment Therapy!

Click here for the article and here for the slideshow.

KCMODERN crew visits Julius Shulman

KCMODERN regulars Eric Lehnert and Robert McLaughlin recently drove the 10 hour roundtrip to Oklahoma City in Eric's Mini Cooper to meet the famous mid-century architectural photographer, Julius Shulman. Julius is famous for his quintessential black and white views of California's Modern architecture, but many people do not realize that Mr. Shulman photographed many buildings in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Iowa. Despite the torrential rain showers, the duo arrived on time for cocktails and the lecture. The talk featured many of Julius' iconic photos that were taken in Oklahoma. Afterwards, there was a question and answer period and then Robert managed to get his Taschen, Julius Shulman: Modernism Rediscovered tome signed by Julius. Robert even spoke to Julius about the possibility of a future Shulman exhibit in Kansas City. Julius, who was born on 09-09-09 will be 100 next October and insists that he will be coming back to OKC then for the opening of a new exhibit of his Oklahoma photographs.




Thanks to Lynne for the use of her Flickr photos. For more pics of this event go to Lynne's Lens.

Welcome to the New KCMODERN Blog

As we approach the beginning of our fourth year, KCMODERN has been contemplating how to best grow our web presence and reach new members. After three years of the painful and expensive task of updating and upgrading the present website, we have decided to move our efforts to a new KCMODERN blog format. The old site will remain, but will be supplemented by the new blog.

We hope this move will make KCMODERN’s web presence a more frequently updated and dynamic experience for our readers. It will allow us to keep members informed of upcoming events, add new information about great Modern architecture in our area and allow us to do some new things. Please watch for new regular features like the Modern Photo of the Week, Modern House Photo Tours and Modern Roadtrips.

Please add us to your blog roll, subscribe to our RSS feed, leave comments and by all means, check with us frequently. The blog will be our primary way of posting KCMODERN news and upcoming events from this point on. And if you are feeling really ambitious, submit your own article related to Modern architecture and design for us to post.

Also, please make sure we have your current email address so that we can reach you about events between blog visits.

Your KCMODERN founders Robert, Scott and Bob at the top of the Frank Lloyd Wright's Price Tower in Bartlesville, Oklahoma