Esoteric Survey

Albert Frey: Inventive Modernist  at the Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center Curated by Brad Dunning Architecture exhibitions are tough to pull off. Often it's mostly photos and plans, which this exhibition certainly has a lot of. However, Brad was able to mount a dynamic show of an architect he knew personally and it shows. In addition to a stellar exhibition design (no surprise there with his background), there are a number of three dimensional pieces and videos. Frey is one of my personal favorites and I certainly learned a lot. So much so that I'm going to have to go back at least once more. Although Albert Frey  (1903-1998)  is synonymous with mid-century Palm Springs architecture, he began his career in the midst of European International Modernism. He  was born in Zurich, Switzerland and studied architecture at Technische Hochschule, Zurich. He  moved to Paris in 1928 to work for Le Corbusier. The Villa Savoye, one of the most iconic mo...

Inspiration Heights, serene contemplative living. Designed in 1960 by Harold Zook.  This is a continuation on my latest visit to the Joshua Tree Retreat Center . To be honest, I never noticed these buildings before. However, they are now being restored in a collaborative effort by the retreat center and Homestead Modern . Brad Dunning  is leading the design and restoration. Needless to say, it's in great hands and soon you'll be able to stay at The Bungalows . The housing was built on a knoll referred to as Inspiration Heights. The permanent living suites were designed for students and retired members of the organization. They were completely furnished and touted as being  "thoroughly modern."  In newspaper articles of the day, it was also described as "serene contemplative living."   Harold B Zook A.I.A, a Cornell graduate and former Albert Frey employee, was the architect and O.K. Earl Jr was the builder. Both were based in Pasadena. Earl was fresh off o...

  The Modern Chair  at the  Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center  This exhibition is organized by Palm Springs Art Museum and curated by Brad Dunning, architecture and design specialist, with support from Rochelle Steiner. The Modern Chair traces the evolution from the first cantilevered example by Mart Stam, and then onward to designs of current times including examples by Cini Boeri, Charles and Ray Eames, Frank Gehry, Eileen Gray, George Nakashima, Charlotte Perriand, Rudolph Schindler, among many others. Technological and stylistic advances pushed chair design forward at a breakneck speed in the 20th century like no other time before. The exhibition will also contain important examples of 21st century as well. The exhibition starts with two Dutch designs by Gerrit Rietveld and Mart Stam. R.M. Schindler Cantilevered chair, 1926-1940  Alvin Lustig Paramount Chair, 1948 I'm without my one comfortable chair until April.  Only 55 chairs wer...