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Articles by Ken MacIntyre
Tucson: A Modernism Oasis
Mid century optimism is alive and well in the Arizona desert. Nestled amid the backdrop of the Santa Catalina mountains in the southeast corner of Arizona, Tucson stands as a living testament to a bygone era; a vibrant city that’s embraced a post-war past when architectural innovators and designers left their mark on the burgeoning desert community.
A Vintage Phoenix 'Haver Home' Inspires a New Mid Century Guesthouse
A real estate agent builds on the past when he thoughtfully adds a guesthouse to a 1959 Haver home. As mid century enthusiasts are keenly aware, most cities can point to a handful of architects and designers who helped shape their respective urban landscapes.
Mod Traveling Through Washington
The Emerald State boasts many mid-century gems if you know where to look. When people are asked what their favorite mid-century spots are in Washington State they might list the Space Needle, the Pacific Science Center or even Dick’s hamburger drive-in. Not surprisingly, all three of these modernist treasures are in Seattle. However, a retro road trip east of the Emerald City reveals a plethora of mid-century gems.
A Garden Apartment Makeover
This small Palm Springs vacation condo was transformed from a tired “tennis unit” into a retro gem. Tucked away in the sleepy Palm Springs neighborhood of Araby Commons is CoCo Cabana, a former Mid-Century Modern garden apartment hotel that, for many, is the picture of desert leisure living.
Roy's Motel and Cafe: A Route 66 Must-See
As any retro road tripper will tell you, Roy’s Motel and Cafe on old Route 66 in California’s eastern Mojave Desert is a bucket list must-see of mid century proportions. Built in the town of Amboy in 1938, originally as a gas station to service the needs of travelers journeying across America’s first primary east-west connector–US Highway 66–its founders, Roy and Velma Crowl, saw potential in the location. The original Roy’s Garage and Cafe, a popular stop along Route 66.
Retro Road Trip: Valley of the Temples Memorial Park
A sensitive renovation gives historic Hawaiian building new purpose. Located on the windward (eastern) side of Oahu near Kaneohe, the Valley of the TemplesMemorial Park–best known for its 1968 replica of the 11th Century Japanese Byodo-In Buddhist Temple–was founded in 1963 by prolific real estate magnate Paul Trousdale (Palm Springs’ Racquet Club Cottages West and Trousdale Estates in Beverly Hills). It is the final resting place for thousands of island residents.
Miami Modernism in West Vancouver - Home
More and more, it seems, new construction has Mid Century Modern enthusiasts collectively mourning the loss of their favorite vintage buildings. While increasing density continues to threaten many of these structures, there’s one neighborhood in West Vancouver, Canada that boasts apartments that take cues from Miami Modernism. The neighborhood is notable not only for its architecture but also for preserving it as long as it has.
Southern California Artist Rides Nostalgia Wave to Success
William’s Residence by Danny Heller. Artist Danny Heller was ahead of his time, so to speak, when he began immortalizing Southern California’s modernist architecture of years gone by. In the early 2000s, few people cared about the region’s forgotten mid century tract homes, but something about the Golden State’s much maligned suburban sprawl spoke to the recent art school graduate and he started recreating these modernist dwellings in his photo-realistic oil paintings.
Homes with History: The Morelli House
Photo courtesy of the Junior League of Las Vegas Built in 1959 and originally located at the posh Desert Inn Country Club Estates where the Wynn Hotel & Casino’s golf course is now located, the historic Morelli House was saved as part of an unprecedented preservation project led by the Junior League of Las Vegas, and relocated to its current downtown location at 861 East Bridger Avenue, in 2001.
Retro Road Trip: A True Googie Icon, The Covina Bowl
The Covina Bowl was designed by architect Gordon Powers and is a masterpiece of 1950s Southern California Googie bowling alleys. Photo courtesy of When We Were Home. Southern California is known for its many intact Midcentury Modern architectural treasures and this year marks the 62nd anniversary of one of its best and brightest; The Covina Bowl, an unapologetically showy shrine to the sport of bowling and all its kitschy trappings.
Retro Road Trip: Las Vegas' La Concha Visitors Center + Neon Boneyard
The parabolic structure is a memorable example of Googie architecture. Currently pulling double duty as a Visitors Center and the gateway through which guests can enter the Neon Museum’s Boneyard, the La Concha Visitors Center started out as the iconic lobby to the La Concha Motel, designed by noted modernist architect Paul R. Williams, in 1961.
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