Five seemingly transparent dwellings you've seen in magazines and online publications will star in Restore Oregon's soon-to-sell-out 6th annual Mid-Century Modern Design Series held May 10-11.
The two-day series includes a popular self-paced tour of well-preserved homes in the Portland area that showcase easy indoor-outdoor living, glass walls that invite natural light and other ideals of modern design once considered revolutionary.
--Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072
jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman
Dina Avila Belluschi
Restore Oregon organizes the annual home tour so visitors can see carefully maintained original materials and complementary upgrades up-close as well as speak to owners, designers and builders.
The statewide preservation group supports sensitively adapting older homes for today’s living. A 1960 house in Gresham has a new open kitchen that matches the original architect's intent better than a 15-year-old traditional remodel.
"As more and more people recognize that modern is historic and worthy of preservation, they encounter special challenges related to the materials from that era that didn't hold up and can't be replaced in kind," says Peggy Moretti, Restore Oregon's executive director. "We've found terrific examples of how best to adapt these wonderful homes to 21st century living while retaining important original features. We think MCM fans will find them to be inspiring -- and fun!"
Marisa Swenson
The popular home tour on Saturday is prefaced on Friday by an informative panel discussion lead by architect Anthony Belluschi at the Jupiter Hotel in Southeast Portland.
Attendees can meet vendors offering vintage and renovation services and furnishings.
Nina Johnson
Ticket holders can also attend the MIX:MOD After-Tour Party at Rejuvenation in Southeast Portland on Saturday.
Proceeds from the fundraising events benefit the nonprofit Restore Oregon. It's $75 to attend Friday and Saturday events or $50 for just Saturday's home tour and party.
Arciform
Saturday’s self-driving tour will open the doors to private homes designed or built by the most influential people in modern architecture in the Pacific Northwest. These early projects and others like them changed the way we live today.
Sally Painter
One of the stops on Saturday's tour is architect Pietro Belluschi’s famous last Portland residence, an exemplar of his breakthrough Northwest modern style. Ceiling planks extend beyond exterior walls and glass panels frame West Hills views.
The 1948 Burkes-Belluschi residence is owned by Pietro’s son, architect Anthony Belluschi and Anthony’s wife, Marti. Anthony Belluschi, who designed a detached tea house behind the main residence as well as created a gallery space from a breezeway in the ridge-top house, will moderate the panel discussion Friday at the Jupiter Hotel.
Kjrsten Madsen
Also on display during the tour will be two post-and-beam modern houses built by Robert Rummer based on plans by architects A. Quincy Jones and Claud Oakland. These plans were prolifically produced by California developer Joseph Eichler.
Rummer, who is 91, built hundreds of modern homes affordable to middle-class families in Portland, Beaverton, Lake Oswego, Clackamas, Gresham and other places.
Nina Johnson
Most notable in Eichler’s and Rummer’s work is a glass atrium that accesses the front entrance, side bedrooms, kitchen and central living area that leads to the backyard patio.
Arciform
Another midcentury modern on the tour has a front door carved by artist Tom Cramer.
Arciform
The front door handle was modeled after a 1954 Chevy Bel Air hood ornament.
Arciform
Step inside to see Douglas fir ceilings, sea green walls and bright blue, wavy wood paneling. Illuminating a room is a classically airy George Nelson saucer pendant.
Atomic Ranch
A "Mad Men"-evoking house on the tour in Gresham was designed by Day Hilborn, who is recognized as one of Washington state's best midcentury architects.
Marisa Swenson
Over his 40-year career, Hilborn designed civic and cultural buildings as well as trophy homes for most of Vancouver's political and social elite, according to Washington state's Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.
Marisa Swenson
He planned this 1960 house on a view lot in Gresham for builder Paul E. Emerick with floor-to-ceiling windows framing Mount Hood. Hilborn was the architect of the Mayflower Dairy Headquarters, which Emerick's construction company had recently completed.
Atomic Ranch
The current owners, Peter and Marisa Swenson, found the house in mostly original condition except for a 2004 kitchen remodel that didn't match the modern aesthetic.
Marisa Swenson
BEFORE
Marisa Swenson
BEFORE
Marisa Swenson
BEFORE
Atomic Ranch
AFTER: The Swensons removed a wall to join the kitchen and dining room. Taking down ceiling tiles and opening up the dropped ceiling exposed the beams and added height.
Marisa Swenson
Off-white tile counters were replaced with white quartz.
Marisa Swenson
Marisa Swenson
In the new dining area, old carpet was pulled up and the concrete floors were polished.
Atomic Ranch
Don't miss seeing the original pink-and-blue tile in the bathrooms or the built-in tissue box and toothbrush holders.
Marisa Swenson, a real estate broker who specializes in midcentury modern homes, and her husband, successfully petitioned the city of Gresham to have the property listed on the Historic and Cultural Landmarks List.
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