Best of Everett/Mukilteo: MidCentury Modern and Northwest Contemporary
Midcentury modern is one of my favorite architectural styles. Though the period of 1945 to 1975 is normally associated with the commodification of architecture--see the great number of split-levels, tri-levels and ranch homes built during the period--there were some very innovative things going on during this time. In 1945 John Entenza, publisher of Arts and Architecture magazine, sponsored the Case Study House program in Los Angeles, which prompted promising young architects to experiment with new designs and ideas. The works created as part of this program influenced an entire generation of architects and builders, and their work continues to be influential today.
Architects and designers such as Richard Neutra, Pierre Koenig, Charles and Ray Eames, and Eero Saarinen, and many others designed homes that emphasized open space, relationship to the outdoors, and the use of economical building materials. Immediately post-war, building materials were somewhat limited leading to a heavy reliance on wood and glass, but as industrial materials developed during the war became available for residential construction, new materials and techniques such as steel frame construction began to be used. This in turn allowed builders to experiment with a variety of angles and rooflines, providing more flexibility to the design.
What differed from pre-war construction methods and architectural styles was that rather than hiding the construction materials being used, they became part of the design itself. The use of exposed metals, concrete, wood and glass showed that this was a new era, with a new aesthetic.
Mid-century modernism continues to influence today's architecture, through its emphasis on the use of natural light and materials, its use of open/flexible spaces in the home, and its whimsical touches that echo the future-looking ethos of the post-war era. Mid-century modern was also about making good design available to the masses, so homes in this style are often not expensive.
Another unique feature of midcentury modern architecture is the way the style was adapted according to the tastes and available building materials in various regions of the country. Here in the Northwest, mid-century modern is the progenitor of our own Northwest Contemporary style, which shares most of the features and aesthetics of mic-century modern, but because of the availability of wood as a building material, and our role internationally as a major lumber exporter, the use of wood as the primary building material is more pronounced. Whereas Neutra might have used exposed industrial steel to frame his glass houses, a Northwest Contemporary home would be framed in exposed cedar, with extensive use of pine, cedar, teak or douglas fir paneling as a design element. Many other design elements remained the same, including low or no-angle rooflines, emphasis on bringing in natural light, and a sense of relationship to a home's outdoor spaces.
Here is my favorite midcentury home currently available on the NWMLS in my area, which includes Mukilteo and Everett. I'll be covering other properties that typify this style, both on the market and not, as I discover them.
1308 Maryland, MLS # 27102852
What makes this such a great example of mid-century modernism? Teak accents including a living room wall paneled in teak, built-in cabinetry throughout the home, doug-fir flooring, Roman brick masonry (oh-so-'50s), floor to ceiling windows to bring in natural light year-round, and original 50's tile bathrooms. There is also a covered patio area that allows you to enjoy outdoor living year-round. The home has more than 2400 interior square feet and an enormous 16,000 square foot lot with mature landscaping. And the price tag, $384,950, makes it a great value, well in keeping with the modernist ideal that great architecture should be within reach of everyone.
