Cross posted here, at NewRaleigh… additional photos available there.
Triangle Modernist Houses held its inaugural Modernist Mini-Tour on May 17th in Durham. The tour featured three houses designed by three of North Carolina’s prominent modernist architects. Spanning fifty years of design, the public was treated to a glimpse of the past and present of modernism in North Carolina.
(Full image Gallery at the bottom of this post)
3443 Rugby Road – Bruce & Nancy Wardropper House
Brian Shawcroft, AIA
The first stop on the tour was a delightful, though modest, example of modernism built in 1963. Brian Shawcroft’s affinity for craft was displayed in dozens of well thought-out details which have been nicely preserved in this house. Floor to ceiling windows on the rear provide fantastic views of the woods beyond, without leaving the occupants feeling overexposed. The home was well-staged with examples of both contemporary and classic modern furniture. Signature Shawcroft moves, such as the long single-sloping roof following the bend of the site, set against the more unique features of this house render it a memorable piece of Triangle architecture. This was an excellent leadoff choice for the tour, treating visitors to a taste of mid-century modernism that still feels very livable today.
Brian Shawcroft is an architect in Raleigh who taught at the NCSU College of Design for many years, and is widely exhibited and recognized for his drawing abilities and photography skills.
3429 North Rugby Road – Miriam & Henry Nicholson House
Robert Winston Carr
The second house was a much larger mid-century modern home designed by Robert Winston Carr in 1958. This was the oldest home on the tour, and unfortunately it felt it. “Lived in, but not loved” was the first thing that came to mind upon entering the house. Like the Shawcroft house before it, this one was listed as for sale. The house was half-staged and did not show well. The original carport had been enclosed in recent years, resulting in an awkwardly large living space, which now served several purposes, including a home office, media room, and children’s playroom. The house may have once been a fine example of modernism, but these elements were largely hidden due to the late renovation and dated décor.
Judge Carr truly has architecture in the bloodstream, and is responsible for the design of several atomic ranch style houses in the area.
3312 Rugby Road – Monica Hunter Residence “Three Pavilions”
Bill Waddell – Distinctive Architecture
Bill Waddell’s “Three Pavilions” house closed out the tour, and brought us into the 21st century. This larger structure melded together a fine attention to detail, a blending of interior and exterior spaces, and a sensitivity towards materiality that eclipsed the two previous stops on the tour. Inverted butterfly roofs and pervious surfaces throughout the exterior of the home lessen the building’s environmental impact. Living spaces are generous, well-lit, and well proportioned. This contemporary architectural work seemed an appropriate finale as a chronological step towards the architecture of today.
Bill Waddell practices in Durham and does primarily residential design.
Recap
The tour itself was relatively well organized, with generous parking and a shuttle to bring visitors from house to house. The original architects for each project were on site to answer questions about their respective designs. At an affordable $7.50 per ticket, the tour spanned 50 years of modernism into one quick tour. A few hopes for the tour coming in August: an extra shuttle would have been well utilized. Bottled water was available, but only at the third house and for a fee. I would have gladly paid an extra dollar for the tickets had bottled water been available at each stop. Anyone who has been to other home tours in the area can attest to their tendency toward being too commercial; smothering visitors with literature from half a dozen or more brands of cabinetry, appliances, and other building materials. For the most part this kind of advertising was absent from this tour. The only notable exception being the Shawcroft house, here visitors were stopped immediately upon entering the home for a sales pitch on the home that was lacking in real information on the history of the building. This first offering from Triangle Modernist Houses was a refreshing and well-rounded addition to a scene that is dominated by the often mundane Parade tours.
