Housing Boom Helps Lesser-Known Architects

The real estate boom has helped the fortunes of architects and developer who built in the 1960s and 70’s and who have been fairly obscure until real-estate brokers began resuscitating the reputations of lesser-known mid-century figures.

1 minute read

December 25, 2005, 11:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"Now, real-estate brokers and preservationists are resuscitating the reputations and homes of some lesser-known mid-century figures. Robert Searcy, a broker in Houston, is pushing Glenbrook Valley, a 1950s neighborhood with homes by native son William Floyd. He's launched glenbrookvalley.com to promote the area and started advertising the subdivision as an enclave of forgotten modern treasures. In Denver, a new Web site, MileHiModern.com, offers visitors a downloadable driving tour of MCM neighborhoods and does cross-promotions with modern furniture retailers.

...Some brokers and sellers are banking on the resurgence of the midcentury modern aesthetic in furniture design, as showcased by companies such as Design Within Reach and West Elm. Others are hoping for a Neutra and Lautner trickle-down effect."

[Editor's note: The link to this article is available to nonsubscribers for a period of 7 days.]

Friday, December 23, 2005 in The Wall Street Journal

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