Metropolis Magazine Questions Preservation of Moderns

On her blog, Susan S. Szenasy of Metropolis magazine discusses the differences between two National Trust Historic Sites—Kykuit and the Glass House—and claims that the “velvet-rope mode of preservation is anathema” to modern architecture. She wonders if the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which grew up in an era of preserving traditional places, is ready to preserve anti-traditional modern architecture; whether the restoration of Modern buildings should use historic materials and technologies or new ones that reflect the spirit of Modernism; and if the preservation of Moderns should be limited to “the portion that belonged to our royalty” or other more humble buildings? She’ll be exploring these questions at the Glass House Conversations this weekend with architects Steven Ehrlich, William Massie, Tosh­­iko Mori, and Vincent Chang; graphic-design historian Steven Heller; Michael LaFetra, a restorer of Modern properties; Fiona Morrison, a consultant for Jet Blue; and Christy MacLear and Dorothy Dunn of the Glass House.

But let me assure you the National Trust is ready to preserve Modern architecture, both masterpieces and common buildings—and has been for decades. Here are some examples to start the conversation:

• The National Trust accepted Glass House from Philip Johnson in 1986. Mr. Johnson retained a life estate and constructed “da Monsta” in the 1990s and made other significant changes to the site with the approval of the National Trust.
• In 1964, the National Trust saved the Pope-Leighey House (1940) from demolition when the building was less than 20 years old. This small Usonian house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright is now a National Trust Historic Site adjacent to Woodlawn, an 1805 house associated with George Washington and the first site operated by the National Trust.
• In 1994, the National Trust included the nation’s oldest MacDonald’s Restaurant (1953) on its list of 11 Most Endangered. It was eventually restored and reopened, received a National Trust Honor Award, and is now recognized on the National Register for Historic Places.
• In 2002, the National Trust acquired the Farnsworth House (1950) to prevent its threatened relocation. Farnsworth House is considered Mies van der Rohe’s masterpiece and often compared to Glass House. Spending nearly $7 million at auction, it was the first time the National Trust purchased a property to protect it and it is now a National Trust Historic Site.
• In 2004, the National Trust included 2 Columbus Circle (1964) by Edward Durrell Stone on its list of 11 Most Endangered. Unfortunately, the Museum of Arts and Design tore down the distinctive marble façade in 2006 as they prepared the building for radical redesign.
• The Historic Artists’ Homes and Studios program includes several sites associated with Modernism, including the Frelinghuysen Morris House and Studio, Donald Judd’s 101 Spring Street, Manitoga, Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center, Roger Brown Study Collection, and the Vance Kirkland Museum.
• Lustron Houses, post-WWII factory-made houses, are receiving continual attention. Preservation magazine often includes stories (such as “Loving Lustrons“) and the Midwest Regional Office is developing a Web site to encourage their preservation.
• Preservation magazine discusses the preservation of moderns on a regular basis, including the debate over the replacement of the glass at Lever House and the demolition of a midcentury nuclear reactor. The current issue (May/June 2008 ) is entirely devoted to Modernism.