Mid-century modern

Alex Gorlin’s renovation of a penthouse studio in a mid-century modern building in downtown Manhattan simplified and opened up the formerly cluttered floor plan. Natural hardwood floors and clean white surfaces serve as a neutral backdrop to a collection of bold pieces of furniture and artwork.  Eric Petschek Gorlin’s inspiration for the transformation came from Eileen Grey’s villa E-1027, a Modernist house that she built in the south of France in 1929. Grey’s compact, open interior layout seamlessly melded public and private, and architecture with decoration. Eric Petschek Here, Gorlin collaborated with interior designer Bachman Brown to create one big open lounge space. Dominating the living area i... More

Eero Saarinen’s iconic 1962 TWA Flight Center at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City is among the most significant examples of mid-century modern architecture in the world. The landmark was shuttered for nearly 20 years after the airlines went out of business in 2001, but was later protected in 2005 when it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Eventually, the terminal was saved when MCR and MORSE Development won the bid to turn the historic landmark into a hotel for the 21st century, which eventually opened in May 2019.  The historic Flight Center underwent a total restoration by Beyer Blinder Belle Architects and Planners, LLP; the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Preservatio... More

Euroart93, a digital agency focused on building web projects, mobile apps, social media experiences and visual identities, recently redesigned its office located in an old railway warehouse in Sisak, Croatia.   “We started with the main goals we want to achieve: keeping the historical heritage, open space concept, using the pre-existing materials, functionality. Original building was used as a railway warehouse, with a lot off industrial elements which we decided to keep and build upon them.   To achieve functionality we decided to section the open space into 3 sectors, design, development and managers. When it comes to interior design we opted for clean, Scandinavian look combined with mid-century modern look. A lot of... More

This beautiful example of mid-century modernism has been given a considered renovation to ensure it stands the test of time and stays true to its history.   The Seaforth Residence involved modest alterations and additions to an existing single-family home in Sydney’s Northern Beaches. The clients were enamoured with the existing mid-century modern style of the home and sought to update it in a way that further exemplifies this era. The response takes a restrained approach, improving the liveability, solar access, and environmental performance of the residence, while retaining its existing charm.   The design included dropping the original pitch roof to a flat profile roof with slender circular column supports, framed by... More

Extending seamlessly into Portland’s renowned Forest Park, William / Kaven Architecture’s Royal project is positioned at the coveted ecotone of forest and city. Located within minutes of downtown Portland, this airy, generously glazed modern dwelling cantilevers far above the forest floor among reaches of Douglas fir and vine maple. Royal is set into 0.65 forested acres less than 500 feet from the Balch Creek Forest and Forest Park, and boasts 735 square feet of exterior terraces and balconies overlooking a lush wooded expanse.   A dramatic 1.5-story foyer with clerestory windows leads into the main living area, which features white oak floors with dark walnut inlay borders, a substantial dual-fuel hearth, and a spacious... More

In Fort Lauderdale, The Dalmar, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, offers guests a downtown alternative to the city’s beachside destinations. DesignAgency worked with the Wurzak Hotel Group to both conceptualize the brand, the interiors, and everything from the signage to the flip-flops that can be used throughout your stay to present a unified vision of the hotel as a topical urban oasis for where business and pleasure travelers can come together with local residents in The Dalmar’s laid back, open-air surroundings.   The design team recognized that the needs of both Fort Lauderdale travellers and local residents were evolving. The Dalmar offers a 209-room urban counterpart to conventional Fort Lauderdale beach hotels, and estab... More

This vintage rambler sits in a 1960’s builder’s subdivision, and had not been touched. Over the years, nearby homes had been torn down and replaced with big box houses, but our owners are mid-century aficionados and wanted to upgrade the mid-century elements to really ramp up the modernism in this modest house! We rebuilt a good portion of the roof, allowing for a soaring ceiling inside the main living spaces. We also opened up lots of walls for more open living, including a big folding wall opening the rear of the house to outdoor rooms – both covered and open patio areas. Guiding the design were classic modernist principals espoused by Mid-Century greats like Richard Neutra and Joseph Eichler. Eichler’s influence... More

Our client approached us with a love of mid-century modern homes and a dream of living in one of their own on their semi-rural property in Wahgunyah, Victoria.  Georgie James Georgie James From the outset we worked with our client to explore the themes and context of mid-century Modernism with regards to style, but more importantly, materiality and construction techniques. Georgie James Georgie James A four-bedroom ‘forever home’, this project became an extremely personal project for us, as the first residence our studio has completed, and also owing to the amazing relationship we have forged with the clients. Georgie James Georgie James Team: Architect / Interior Design: Regional Design Se... More

The client, a single 40 years-old Greek who’s deeply involved in the artsy world, has lived in Brazil for almost 8 years and requested the Atelier PECLAT+CHOW to completely renovate a 1960's apartment located in the trendy neighborhood of Jardins, in São Paulo. The apartment hasn’t been restored in over 50 years, in that way we proposed a completely different layout.   As one enters the apartment one sees itself surrounded by walls and doors wrapped in brushed walnut paneling, as one walks towards the living space you perceive at its heart a floating wooden monolith which seems to have been detached from the entrance hall. This volume embodies the space with a sense of permanence and also acts as an invisible separ... More

Cameo is the latest privet villalocated in the heart of Moscow. The unique architecture of Cameo Moscow Villas is an oasis of country life in the center of one of the most densely populated cities in the world. High 4 meter ceilings and impressive gold arched windows combined with collectible items of legendary designers XX century allowed us to create a dream space. LivingroomThe interior is made in the style of mid-century modern filled with light and calm. The white and beige palette visually enlarges and fills a large space with air. The idea of arches borrowed from architecture, I decided to repeat many times in the interior. This technique allows you to achieve a powerful relationship between all the interior items. Roman Plyus... More

House Etch is a private home for a professional couple with children located in the Lakeview neighborhood in Chicago.  The couple was drawn to the mid-century modern aesthetic of Latin American architecture where ornament made way for interest in volumes and planes and exterior materials were expressed and celebrated. Drawing on the visionary work of that time from architects such as Niemeyer, Villanueva and Le Corbusier, the owners looked to explore those past innovative forms and materials with a fresh interpretation.   In response to their vision and the materials used in early Latin American modern architecture, the exterior was comprised of two materials to ensure a strong composition; board formed concrete and stained ceda... More