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What is Triangle Modernist Houses (TMH)? TMH is the website for Triangle Modernist Archive, Inc., a North Carolina nonprofit organization committed to documenting, preserving, and promoting modernist architecture. TMH is our award-winning educational archive for hundreds of cool Triangle houses and dozens of their architects. This gift to the community is our way of remembering and reviving the area's legacy of great architecture. We also host popular modernist house tours, movies, and trips, giving the public access to the most exciting residential architecture, past and present. Our events raise awareness, connect people with history, and help preserve these exceptional "works of art" for future generations. What is a modernist house? Modernist design is characterized by features such as combining traditionally separate common areas (like the living room and the dining room, for example), open interior floor plans with vaulted ceilings, large and numerous windows, flat or low pitched roofs, long exposed beams, extensive use of glass to bring in natural light, and aesthetic geometric forms. See here for an excellent review of modernist types. How many modernist houses are there in the Triangle? An entirely unscientific estimate is about 700, not many for a metropolitan area which will reach two million in a few years. Modernist design is rare in any housing market. However, we have more than anywhere else in the United States except for Los Angeles and Chicago. New Canaan CT is number four. Why aren't modernist houses more popular? Modernist houses truly rock, if you are into this kind of thing. Sadly, most people aren't. The staggering failure of modernist design to catch on with homebuyers is disappointing for its few but loyal admirers. The general public tends to think modernist homes are cool but consistently buy more traditional designs. Except in rare cases, like Arapahoe Acres or Glenbrook Valley, unconventional houses are considered slightly treasonous anomalies to the conservative homeowners association mindset. What is "brilliant" to an architecturally-inclined person is often unsettling to the neighbors. Maintenance can be a problem, too. The bolder the design, the more likely a house will have water or structural damage over time. The good news is that materials science has finally caught up with modernist design, so most new houses don't have these problems. And, like other works of art, these houses tend to be more expensive than average. Who lives in modernist houses? Modernist houses are generally more works of art than construction, and the general public has little taste for living inside art. However, artists, academics, architects, children of architects, and all their patient spouses typically love to live inside art. Are modernist houses endangered? Yes, especially those built in the 1950's and 1960's. Their locations, often on prime real estate inside cities, are worth much more than the houses, making demolition and development an attractive option. For example, see the sad fate of the extraordinary Catalano house, Raleigh's internationally known landmark. By networking current owners and providing the public detailed information, histories and maps, we help endangered houses be purchased or otherwise preserved. Triangle Modernist Archive Board of Directors Left to Right: Sharon Glazener / Principal, Bell Glazener Design Group (Secretary), Dr. Monica Hunter (Treasurer), Emily Kass / Director, UNC Ackland Art Museum, Mack Paul / Partner, K&L Gates (Vice Chair), George Smart / Managing Partner, Strategic Development Inc. (Board Chair), Eleanor Stell / NC State University, Lesley McAdams. George Smart, Founder / Executive Director
Triangle Modernist Houses preserves history for hundreds of cool Triangle homes and their architects, creating an enduring, focused local archive for modernist residential design. This project is a gift to the Triangle community, a way of remembering, appreciating, and promoting this area's legacy of modernist architecture. George Smart founded the website in 2007 and the organization in 2009. HIs dad was a local architect for over 40 years. Like many in his generation, the elder Smart admired Frank Lloyd Wright's exciting modernist style. However, his son, a management consultant, much to his dad's chagrin, showed no interest whatsoever in architecture until 2007, when "it burst forth one night like that scene from the movie Alien," jokes Smart. "Modernist design seems to be irrevocably embedded in my DNA. Even my Mom, Ann Seltman Smart, a WPTF radio personality, produced a documentary during the 1960's called 'A is for Architecture.' " 2009 Advisory Council
What did TMH accomplish during 2009? Website: Executed a complete site renovation plus expanded coverage statewide on over 125 architects, 700 houses, and 4600 photos. Integrated TMH with Twitter and Facebook, with 440 fans thus far. Created “Pioneering NC Women in Architecture”. Achieved average of 10,000 hits per month, with a peak of over 25,000. Tours: Cassilhaus, West Raleigh Architects, DPAC/Phil Szostak House, Arthur Zuco House, Michael Coates House, Johnson House, the 60th Anniversary of the NCSU College of Design Tour (six houses). Newsletter: Published twice weekly to a list of nearly 1000 modernist enthusiasts. 4. Sponsors: Attracted 20 website, tour, and movie sponsors, with continuing commitments into 2010. 5. Social: ModStock Party, hosted this November with the Young Architects Forum at Nowells Contemporary Furniture. 6. Awards: Won the Vernacular Architecture Foundation Paul E. Buchanan Award, and the City of Raleigh Sir Walter Raleigh Award. 7. Education: Tour for East Chapel Hill High School, and an easements workshop with Preservation North Carolina. 8. Affiliations: Joined the North Carolina AIA and the local chapter, AIA Triangle. 9. Preservation: Monitored and publicized nearly 80 available modernist houses through the For Sale section on the website. Issued a national endangerment alert for the Carr House designed by Kenneth Scott (now under contract). 10. Outreach: Released a modernist architecture music video developed by Enloe High School. Launched a TMH NewsBlog for press inquiries. 11. Speaking: Spoke at the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Nashville TN, and at the East Chapel Hill Rotary Club. This presentation is now available to interested civic, real estate, and design groups statewide. 12. Research: Awarded first Macon Smith Research Grant to Professor David Hill of NCSU for his George Matsumoto project. 13. New Tours: Launched national travel opportunities, starting with a January excursion to Modernist architecture in NY and CT. 14. 2010 Programming Plans: The Nowells Architecture Movie Series (Jan-April 2010), ModStock 2010, The Max Isley House. Volunteers and I worked diligently since August on the “Icons of Modern Project,” which will feature internationally known houses of Richard Meier, John Lautner, Pierre Koenig, Paul Rudolph, Rudolph Schindler, Harwell Hamilton Harris, and Charles Gwathmey. This exciting and detailed online archive should be ready by summer. 15. Volunteers: Attracted approximately 60 people as researchers, photographers, “shoe police,” house docents, registration workers, cashiers, and fundraisers. 16. Fundraising: 48 people became donors through the Mod Squad. Their leadership allows us the financial flexibility to explore innovative programming and forge key collaborations. 17. Media Exposure: Featured in DWELL, the News and Observer, WUNC The State of Things, Residential Architect, NewRaleigh.com, GoodnightRaleigh.com, NCSU Alumni Website, GogoRaleigh.com, The Larry Lane Show, Daily Tar Heel, The Valder Beebe Show, ArchNewsNow.com, Recent Past Preservation Network, Metro Magazine, and the Durham Herald-Sun. This thanks to our brilliant publicist, Kim Weiss of Blueplate PR. Public Comments"Thank you so much for putting my parent's house on the website (which is a great site, by the way). I really appreciate your doing it." -- Lyn Satisky "You are doing a wonderful service to the modernist community in North Carolina." -- Peter Simons "George, thanks for the lovely spot on your website." -- Ellen Cassilly, Chapel Hill "Your website is incredible. Thanks so much for taking the time to research and put it forward. I believe that educating the public about modern design is the only way the it will not be seen as "ugly" or an eyesore and people need to know these are in their own backyard. Thanks again." -- David Fish "Thanks so much for all you do. The website is just wonderful and I enjoy each and every update you send!" -- Audie Schechter, Chapel Hill "Thank you for keeping us informed about the history and preservation of modernist homes. Your website has opened my eyes to a whole world of such beautiful homes. It reminds me so much of my father and my family." -- Betty Anne Haskins Schlegel "May I just say that your website has brought me great joy. I love mid-modern homes and I've always wanted one. I want to say thank you for a great website filled with tremendous and valuable information." -- Arlene Leveille, Durham "You have done a marvelous job with this web site. It really rocks. Every time I browse I see something new. Keep up the good work." -- William C. Correll, Jr. |
DonateWhat can you do to support Triangle modernism? TMH invites donations and sponsorships. There are considerable expenses (insurance, publicity, postage, web hosting, scanning, meetings, association dues, mileage, research grants, etc.). Please make a donation through PayPal. It’s an easy, secure, and safe transaction. Choose VISA, MasterCard, AMEX, Discover -- just about any credit, debit, checking account, or bank card. Donations are tax-deductible as we are fully approved by the IRS as a 501(C)3 nonprofit. To donate stock, real estate, or other non-cash assets, please call for special instructions. Contact: George Smart The Mod Squad
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Awards
2009 Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Community Appearance from the City of Raleigh.
2009 Paul E. Buchanan Award from the Vernacular Architecture Forum, established in 1993 to recognize contributions to the study and preservation of vernacular architecture and the cultural landscape that do not take the form of books or published work.
2008 Gertrude S. Carraway Award of Merit by Preservation North Carolina for individuals and organizations that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to promoting historic preservation.
2008 Award of Merit by the Preservation Society of Chapel Hill for the effective use of the internet as a educational and preservation tool.
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