Nicol Residence by Architect, Bruce Goff - Modern Photo(s) of the Week

Name: Nicol Residence
Architect: Bruce Goff
Year Designed: 1965
Builder: Michael Rothstein Construction
Year Built: Third Version 1965
Size: 2868 sq. ft. 4 bedroom 4 bath
Location: Kansas City, MO
Type: Residential
Style: Organic Modern
Status: Excellent Condition with an owner sensitive to the architecture
Photographer: Robert McLaughlin

Here is another classic Kansas City Modern home scheduled to be on the upcoming Out and About Wright: Kansas City Tour put on by the Frank Lloyd Wright Conservancy.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Allen-Lambe House in Miniature

Recently I took my family to Exploration Place, a children's science museum by Architect, Moshe Safdie in Wichita, Kansas. I was surprised to find a miniature of Frank Lloyd Wright's Allen-Lambe House in an exhibit called Kansas in Miniature. The model was part of a model train exhibit done in HO scale-1:87. It was nice to see this unexpected view of one of the last Prairies School Houses by the Master. The unusual (for FLW) courtyard plan may be more understandable in these birds eye views than it is in photos or from the street. This museum and the Allen-Lambe house might be of note to people taking the jaunt down to the Wichita portion of Out and About Wright: Kansas City Tour on Sunday April 19, 2009.

Cumonow Residence by Kivett and Myers, Architects - Rambling Ranch House - Modern Photo of the Week

Name: Cumonow Residence
Architect: Kivett and Myers
Year Designed: 1951
Builder: Unknown
Year Built: 1951
Size: 3400 sq. ft. (720 sq. ft. on lower level)

Location: Mission Hills, Kansas
Type: Residential
Style: California Ranch
Status: Excellent
Photographer: Robert McLaughlin

This large Rambling Ranch built by the Cumonow Family is a rare residential example of the work of Kansas City's venerable Modernist Architects, Kivett and Myers. It is said to have been designed by Clarence Kivett himself. It is sited in one of Kansas City's most prestigious neighborhoods right smack next to the site of the Cliff May Mega ranch that was torn down a few years ago. This large brick ranch house steps down to follow its equally large site just like the neighboring Cliff May house did. The question is, can we assume that this fine home is safe?

This home is scheduled to be on the upcoming Out and About Wright: Kansas City Tour put on by the Frank Lloyd Wright Conservancy. More information about the tour at savewright.org

KCMODERN Hosts Iowa State University Architecture Students

Last week, on March 26th and 27th,our friend Dan Naegle, Professor of Architecture at Iowa State University brought his students to town. When they arrived they had a very interesting tour of A. Zahner Metal Fabricating Co. Later in the the evening they went to the new Block addition at the Nelson-Adkins Art Museum, seeing the use of light in architecture.
On Friday we went to the Mod4 house by Studio 804, in KCKS. The owners hosted a tour of the house and and gave great insight into their lifestyles there. One of Professor Naegele's classes attending were researching "Affordable Portable"which seemed appropriate.


From there we went to the current project by Studio 804. It is a site-built two story house ( unusual compared to their past work) with many green features. There are 22 students working on the project. The photo below shows the east facing front and toward the rear, the ample window/door openings

After a lunch at "Grinders" on 18th street, we proceeded to 60th and Charlotte to see the "Home Contained" house. Built with custom designed shipping containers, windows and doors and connected with structure like this stairwell, the house during construction does not look like your typical residence.
Innovative industrial designer, Debbie Glassberg of Home Contained, teamed with BNIM Architects to get some of the details right. She sees her home as an extreme example of the possibilities this building type has. She thinks with proper design this could be a solution to housing demands in areas damaged by major weather events. Shelter, sized and designed for victims needs and shipped, trucked or railroaded ( full of necessities for a home) to the location.

She feels that architecture and the way we build is changing around the world, and we should be open to new ideas and techniques that have proven successful elsewhere in the world.

For more on this house go to: www.info@homecontained.com
For some great photos and articles on Shipping Container Housing go to:
http://green.yahoo.com/blog/daily_green_news/8/twelve-amazing-shipping-container-houses.html
After this tour we saw a cluster of Lustron houses, MCM commercial buildings in O.P. KS and looked at some classic architectural landmarks before they left town. It was cold, wet and miserable but we had fun.

Eero Saarinen Shaping the Future - Exhibition in St. Louis

Three members of KCMODERN headed off to St. Louis this past weekend to see the exhibit, Eero Saarinen Shaping the Future at the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum. It was an exceptionally well curated show. My personal favorites were the GM and the Deere headquarters. The Modern furniture lover in me enjoyed the section on his furniture including the Organic Chair and the classic Knoll pieces such as the womb chair and the pedestal or "tulip" series. I recommend that anyone interested in Modern architecture or furniture should try to see the show before it closes on April 27, 2009. Otherwise you will have to catch it in New York in late 2009 early 2010. Also be sure to check out the book by the same name.

We also met up with a few Modern friends to tour some great Modern neighborhoods (thanks Dan, Grant, Nathan and Neil) and were surprised by some spontaneous invites into several really sweet Modern houses. We will take turns elaborating on the houses in the near future.

Bernard Corrigan Mansion by Louis S. Curtiss, Architect - Modern Illustration - Modern Photo of the Week

Corrigan residence in final constructio stage, 1913, scanned from Stalking Louis Curtiss by Wilda Sandy and Larry K. Hancks

Bernard Corrigan residence 1200 West 55th, Kansas City, Missouri rendering dated June 22, 1912, scanned from Stalking Louis Curtiss by Wilda Sandy and Larry K. Hancks

Since the Frank Loyd Wright Conservancy is coming to town and this is one of the houses that they are touring, I thought that I would add some images from the book Stalking Louis Curtiss by Wilda Sandy and Larry K. Hancks.

Bernard Corrigan Mansion by Louis S. Curtiss, Architect - "What's the Story on That House?"

Construction on the Bernard Corrigan Mansion started in 1913. Corrigan was successful as a building contractor, street railway developer and real estate investor. His company was the builder of the house. He died before it's completion.
After several short ownerships, the Sutherland family (think lumber) bought the home and lived here for a number of years. It is often called the Corrigan-Sutherland house. Located at 55th and Ward Parkway, the house was built on the southern edge of town at the time (the Plaza Shopping District is dated 1922) The black and white photo was taken in 1940.
One of the most architecturally distinctive houses situated on one of the most dominant lots in Kansas City, this Louis Curtiss design is a Tour de Force. Curtiss meshed a number of elements creating at first look, the Prairie Style and Frank Lloyd Wright's work. On closer examination one sees Art Noveau masonry relief, Arts and Crafts ornamentation under a mediterranean tile roof. The art glass windows are remarkable.
This unique home was constructed with long span girders and reinforced concrete, unusual for it's day. The craftsmanship is impeccable. The eclectic mix of elements creates a house of subdued exuberance...truly a masterpiece.
Curtiss was so eclectic...perhaps inspired by Charles R. Mackintosh and Louis Sullivan on the clock and staircase... (recent photos courtesy of Gary Kabrink)

David Benton Runnells House Tour

We have had a few questions since starting the blog asking for information on the house pictured in the header of our blog. We have also been getting a lot of questions about when will we be having the next KCMODERN house tour. Well, we have decided to answer both questions at the same time. The house in the blog header is by Kansas City Architect, David B. Runnells. It is located in Leawood, Kansas (see the info below the photo for more details) and it will be one of the featured homes on the this years tour.

KCMODERN's David Benton Runnells House Tour will feature at least four other houses by the same architect. The date of the event is tentatively scheduled for September 20, 2009.

This years tour will be a little different because we will have multiple locations that will require some driving between house locations. There will be multiple houses to see at some of the locations.

As in years past, we are pursuing opportunities to have an evening festivity with spirits in a special house related to the tour theme. More on that later.

Look for us to start highlighting some work by David Benton Runnells on the blog in the coming weeks and months.
Name: Residence for G. Findlay Reed (original owner)
Architect: David Benton Runnells
Year Designed: 1950-1951
Builder: Donald Drummond
Year Built: 1951
Size: Unknown
Location: Leawood, Kansas (Kansas City)
Type: Residential
Style: Modern
Status: Excellent condition with some minor alterations including new sympathetic siding by present owner and a new kitchen by a previous owner.

This house was built with prefabricated panels that were manufactured in a millwork shop with windows pre-installed. The panels were then brought to the site and erected.

Bixby Residence Garden Facade - Bonus Modern Photo of the Week

Name: Walter Edwin Bixby, Sr. Residence
Architect: Edward W. Tanner
Landscape Architect: Hare and Hare
Interior Designer: Kem Weber
Year Designed: 1935
Builder: Unknown
Year Built: 1936-37
Size: Unknown
Location: State Line Road, Kansas City, MO
Type: Residential
Style: Moderne with International Style influences
Status: Exterior excellent; Interior altered
Photographer: Norman Hobart. Courtesy of Leon and Margaret Jacobs via The University Art Museum, University of California at Santa Barbara

See their website here:
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Since we have been covering the Bixby Residence here and here, I thought I would go ahead and add this vintage exterior photo of the rarely seen Garden Facade of the house. The cantilevered balcony on the right is much more visible from this view.

Bixby Residence Rumpus Room by Kem Weber - Modern Illustration - Modern Photo of the Week

Kem Weber. Elevation of Rumpus Room for W. E. Bixby, Sr. Residence, 1936-37. Watercolor and graphite on board. The University Art Museum, University of California at Santa Barbara.

Rumpus Room of W. E. Bixby, Sr. Residence, Kansas City. Photograph by R. B. Churchill, 1937. The University Art Museum, University of California at Santa Barbara.

This illustration and photograph are the interior designs of Kem Weber for the Bixby Residence which we featured an exterior photograph of here last week. The Moderne Style residence is located on the Missouri side of State Line Road. I am sure that many of you have driven by this house hundreds of times.

Weber is best known for his designs for the interiors of the original Walt Disney Studios in the 1930's and the ubiquitous Airline Chair (1934), which was used thoughout the studios.

In 1936 and 1937, Weber designed thirteen rooms for the Walter Edwin Bixby, Sr. home that was done in an uncharacteristic Modern style by noted Kansas City architect, Edward W. Tanner, who designed many of the buildings on the Country Club Plaza.

According to the University Art Museum, University of California at Santa Barbara website:
In its 1939 review of the Bixby interiors the London-
based International Studio praised Weber’s exploration
of the full creative potential of the Moderne aesthetic
through bold colors—Dubonnet (maroon), midnight
blue, coral red—and such new materials as aluminum,
glass block, linoleum, and masonite as well as richly
veneered plywood and cork paneling. Weber used
moveable and built-in furniture, combined with
veneered wood paneling surrounds to manipulate the
existing outline of Tanner’s rooms. Critics singled out
Weber’s distinctive use of the curved line in his design
for the built-in furnishings of the basement rumpus room
and its drop ceiling with concealed overhead lighting.

Bixby sold the house 1949 and unfortunaly the interiors were eventually dismantled, but we still have Weber's original renderings to show us this great design.

See the University Art Museum, University of California at Santa Barbara website for a more in depth discussion of the Bixby Residence.
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Carl Stenstrom, Architect- "Stonestream" Revisted

The previous post about "Stonestream" generated quite a bit of interest from friends and acquaintances that wanted to see more of the house... I recently located some photos I had taken in 1989 and 1990. I hope you find them interesting...The above pic was taken from the "car court" looking toward the entry, garage/workshop on the left, bedroom wing on the right.
Looking toward entry. Stenstrom loved an entry sequence. Columns had integrated lighting at the tops...note Carl's 16 inch module lines in the concrete.
Looking toward entry, screens seen at left and below enclose the Tea Garden.
Car court perimeter is defined by this fence, 30 ft. by 30 ft. workshop below.
Above looking toward front door, dining room screened from foyer...below Carl and friend looking at plans in dining area. Early evidence of roof leaks which ultimately doomed the house.

Above, fireplace nook with low ceiling deck. Below, wall of french doors in living room. Carl designed the lamp.

Above, cantilevered roof over master bedroom terrace. Below, master bedroom terrace as seen from the south. The pond seen here in the previous post is long gone.
Below, master terrace looks into the woods.
Below, one of the many "straight as an arrow" retaining walls Carl built.
Below, a fusion of two photos showing the idyllic setting under the trees.
The next post about Stonestream will show more recent photos highlighting the poor current condition of the home.