Mid-century modern, a term used as a style descriptor as early as the mid-1950s, was reaffirmed in 1983 by Cara Greenberg in the title of her book, Mid-Century Modern: Furniture of the 1950s (Random House), celebrating the style that is now recognized by scholars and museums worldwide as a significant design movement. CovetED brings you a selection of masterpieces of modern architecture that are still influencing home design today, all with a mid-century modern twist — see if any elements appear in your own home!
Lovell Beach House
- Year built: 1926
- Architect: Rudolph M. Schindler
- Location: Newport Beach, California
- Visiting info: Only rare visits scheduled
- Must know: In this third residence that R.M. Schindler designed for Philip Lovell, he raised the house on five sculptural columns to gain ocean views over neighboring buildings. The structure also responded to seismic considerations and survived an earthquake five years after completion. Schindler's own mid-century modern style is evident in this architectural masterpiece.
Gropius House
- Year built: 1937
- Architect: Walter Gropius
- Location: Lincoln, Massachusetts
- Visiting info: Self-guided tours available
- Must know: Walter Gropius, founder of the influential Bauhaus School in Germany, emigrated to the United States in 1937. He designed this house for his family in nearby Lincoln. The house expresses a Bauhaus aesthetic with its ribbon windows and white surfaces, while also incorporating strong regional influences.
Eames House, Case Study House No. 8
- Year built: 1949
- Architects: Charles and Ray Eames
- Location: Pacific Palisades, California
- Visiting info: Reserved self-guided exterior tours only
- Must know: This house/studio for designers Charles and Ray Eames is a colorful expression of their design sensibility. The house's two rectangular volumes made of off-the-shelf steel structures and windows are a backdrop for their collections and creations. The design also merges seamlessly into the sloping site, embodying both place and universal modern ideals.
Gamble House
- Year built: 1908
- Architect: Greene and Greene
- Location: Pasadena, California
- Visiting info: Docent-guided tours available
- Must know: The Gamble House is a masterpiece of architectural synthesis, combining various styles and influences such as Arts and Crafts, art nouveau, Japanese timber construction, and bungalows. The house is widely recognized from the film Back to the Future and is admired for its well-crafted wood architecture.
Glass House
- Year built: 1949
- Architect: Philip Johnson
- Location: New Canaan, Connecticut
- Visiting info: Individual, private, and group tours available
- Must know: Philip Johnson played a significant role in defining modern architecture with his International Style exhibition in 1932. His Glass House, completed before Mies van der Rohe's Farnsworth House, is a prime example of mid-century modern design. The transparent structure showcases Johnson's architectural style and ideologies.
Farnsworth House
- Year built: 1951
- Architect: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
- Location: Plano, Illinois
- Visiting info: Individual and group tours available
- Must know: Mies van der Rohe's Farnsworth House is a glass box nestled by the Fox River. It is his last residential commission and showcases his influential postwar architectural style. The house's clean lines and minimalistic design exemplify the essence of mid-century modernism.
Villa Mairea
- Year built: 1939
- Architect: Alvar Aalto
- Location: Noormarkku, Finland
- Visiting info: Must inquire about tours in advance
- Must know: Villa Mairea is a summer home designed by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. Inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, Aalto aimed to create a Finnish yet modern design. The resulting two-story, L-shaped house is an idiosyncratic masterpiece that emphasizes humanism in architecture.
Villa Savoye
- Year built: 1931
- Architect: Le Corbusier
- Location: Poissy, France
- Visiting info: Individual and group tours available
- Must know: Villa Savoye, a weekend house near Paris, is an iconic example of modern residential architecture. It perfectly embodies Le Corbusier's five points of architecture, which include raised pilotis, a free facade, ribbon windows, an open floor plan, and a roof garden. The house showcases the essence of mid-century modern design.
Frederick C. Robie House
- Year built: 1909
- Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright
- Location: Chicago
- Visiting info: Guided and group tours available
- Must know: Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House represents the epitome of his Prairie style architecture. The low-slung house exemplifies the horizontal relationship between the house and the landscape. It is a testament to Wright's organic architecture and his constant reinvention of architectural styles.
Schröder House
- Year built: 1924
- Architect: Gerrit Rietveld
- Location: Utrecht, Netherlands
- Visiting info: Audio tours or guided tours available
- Must know: Gerrit Rietveld's design for Schröder House is like a painting come to life. The house defies traditional ideas of construction and enclosure, instead focusing on lines, planes, and splashes of color. This design approach is also reflected in the furniture designed by Rietveld, emphasizing the synthesis of the De Stijl movement.
These mid-century modern homes designed by famous architects continue to inspire and shape the world of modern architecture. Each house showcases unique design elements and influences that have stood the test of time. Whether you appreciate the simplicity of glass structures or the fusion of various architectural styles, these homes are a testament to the enduring appeal of mid-century modern design.
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