Coming soon: California mid-century modern in Austin.

Let’s say, for the sake of argument (and it would be a lively one), that residential-scale modernism first took hold of this country in California. Yes, there’s Frank Lloyd Wright’s midwestern reign, along with certain claims for the region that could be made by Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House in Illinois.

But to really capture the American imagination, modernism had to capitalize on the American dream—a dream that invariably lies to the west. As with many things, Southern California proved the best place to turn aspirational ideas about living and lifestyles (swimming pools, movie stars) into mass-produced realities (swimming pools, wet bars), offering home buyers a reasonable facsimile of stylish, easy living and preserving their au courant bona fides.

HomesCindy WidnerMay 20, 2020Mid Century Modern, Coming Soon, Balcones Comment

Mid Century Modern Homes Tour : Austin 1964

Next week is Preservation Austin's annual homes tour, and I'm super excited that this years theme is mid century modern homes in Austin. There is a surprisingly rich culture of mid century modern architecture in Austin, with some of the early local architects having studied under or worked with greats like Neutra, Saarinen and Gropius. The result was some very progressive mid century homes that were adapted to meet the climate and vernacular of Texas hill country. This year the tour will feature 5 homes, two of which were the personal homes of the architects that designed them.

EventsCreede FitchMarch 28, 2014MCM Homes, Highland Hills, BalconesComment