Mini Modern Film Festival: “Minnesota Modern Masters”

Docomomo US/Minnesota and the Minnesota Society of Architectural Historians (MNSAH) will host “Minnesota Modern Masters,” a mini film festival and panel discussion, Wednesday 10th March 2021 at 6:30pm. “​This year we are thrilled to be presenting a special joint program hosted with our friends at the Minnesota Society of Architectural Historians (MNSAH). We will be screening a selection of interviews from MNSAH’s extensive “Minnesota Modern Masters” oral history project. Interview subjects include Close Associates, Hodne & Stageberg, Ed Sovik, Rafferty & Rafferty, and Val Michelson. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with MNSAH and Docomomo US/MN members.”…

Lost – Burroughs Wellcome Building

Docomomo International received the sad news that the Paul Rudolph designed Burroughs Wellcome Building (Elion-Hitchings Building), by Paul Rudolph, Durham, USA, 1969-1972, – the most important modern site in North Carolina, and perhaps Rudolph’s 2nd most influential built project to Yale – is being demolished. “A landmark building that helped raise the profile of Research Triangle Park and where scientists pioneered the use of AZT to prolong the lives of countless people infected with HIV is coming down. The Elion-Hitchings Building is both an important part of Paul Rudolph’s architectural legacy as well as the only Rudolph-designed structure in North…

Docomomo US National Symposium 2021 – Chicago: Crossroads of Modern America

“The Docomomo US National Symposium 2021 Chicago: Crossroads of Modern America will take place online Tuesday, May 25th – Friday, May 28th. After seeing so many of our peers host successful and engaging online events and hosting our own virtual Modernism in America Awards celebration, we are excited to bring Midwest Modernism and the National Symposium to you. While we will not physically be together, the online format will provide excellent opportunities for participating in educational sessions, experiencing tours, and connecting with speakers, sponsors and each other. We also find it exciting that virtual events break down many of the…

Sign the petition – PepsiCo “Bottlecap” Theater

Docomomo International became aware by Docomomo US that the brutalist PepsiCo “Bottlecap” Theater, by Daverman Associates of Grand Rapids, Doral, USA, 1964, is under threat of being demolished due to the news owners’ plan to demolish all of the buildings on the PepsiCo property. Designed by the architectural firm Daverman Associates of Grand Rapids, Michigan, one of Michigan’s key mid-century architectural firms, being the project supervised by Robert J. Boerema. “In late 2017, PepsiCo sold its offices and bottling plant in Doral, Florida to local developers Terra and Terranova Corp. for just over $40 million. The 23.7 acre property, a…

Walter Farley House listed as one of “Florida’s 11 to Save”

Docomomo International would like to draw your attention that Florida Trust for Historic Preservation listed the Venice home once owned by “The Black Stallion” author Walter Farley on “Florida’s 11 to Save” this summer at a virtual conference hosted in conjunction with Florida Main Street. Each year, the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation announces its 11 to Save program as part of its Florida Preservation Conference. The program is designed to increase the public’s awareness of the urgent need to save Florida’s historic resources, and to empower local preservationists and preservation groups in their efforts to preserve Florida’s rich history. Inclusion…

“be:cause modern: the auction for modernism”- first online auction by Docomomo US

“Docomomo US is excited to be launching its first online auction this November. The auction entitled be:cause modern: the auction for modernism will feature one-of-a-kind pieces of art and collectibles, drawings and books, as well as exclusive modern experiences and modern home stays. The be:cause modern auction will benefit the ongoing work of Docomomo US and support its mission during the challenging times we find ourselves in. The online auction will open for bids on November 2, 2020 and is expected to bring together more than 100 uniquely modern items across all price points.” To know all the details, go to Docomomo US website.

Buffalo’s Willert Park Court receives Modernism in America Advocacy Award of Excellence

“Willert Park Courts, the first housing complex for African Americans in Buffalo and an early example of International Style design, will receive the Docomomo US 2020 Modernism in America Advocacy Award of Excellence. The organization’s top advocacy prize honors the work of Preservation Buffalo Niagara and the Michigan Street Preservation Corporation, who for over 15 years have maintained their stance that the complex is “one of the single most historic places in the City of Buffalo.” The organizations have dedicated countless hours and resources to the preservation battle for this culturally, socially and architecturally significant resource. The award for Willert…

The Diversity of Modernism

Docomomo International is pleased to inform that Docomomo US continued to develop their annual advocacy theme “The Diversity of Modernism”. Docomomo US and its chapters focused their attention on the work of diverse designers, updating a document where is represented architects and designers of color and women who made significant contributions to the Modern Movement. There is now a Special Edition newsletter is dedicated to highlighting some of these designers which can be find in Docomomo US website.

Docomomo US National Symposium – Chicago: Crossroads of Modern America

[Dear Symposium Speakers, Registrants, and Sponsors, Thank you for your ongoing and generous support of the Docomomo US National Symposium in Chicago.  I am writing today with good news. We have identified May 26-29, 2021 as the new dates for the Chicago Symposium. We believe these dates allow us to move forward with the outstanding program of speakers, tours and events that were originally scheduled. While we considered dates in the fall of 2020, we believe keeping the Symposium in the late spring necessitates the least amount of changes, provides a time with excellent Chicago weather, and allows for largest number of people to participate in the…

Docomomo US Response to Draft Executive Order

Docomomo US became aware in the last few weeks of a draft executive order that is circulating for consideration by the White House officials that would designate “classical” architecture as the preferred style for federal buildings. This significantly alters the long-standing Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture written in 1962 by Daniel Patrick Moynihan, which states that Federal architecture and new buildings should place major emphasis “on the choice of designs that embody the finest contemporary American architectural thought.” The policy continues to explicitly state, “The development of an official style must be avoided. Design must flow from the architectural profession…