Today I learned that comments I made at the Historic Seattle Panel Discussion, “Preserving and Repairing Resources from the Recent Past”, saved a homeowner $60,000. At least that’s the figure he gave, and it is money that he can now use on other more necessary repairs to his Mid-Century Modern home. And saving this money was very easy. Let’s look at two products, each designed to serve the same function. One, product A, has been around for many, many years. It is very durable, and as an individual piece, can last with very little maintenance, for more than 100 years. Product B, is relatively new in design and manufacture. It is four times more energy efficient than product A. However, its life expectancy is perhaps an eighth of product A’s life expectancy. And B’s replacement uses lots of energy. Which is the most energy efficient product in the long term? The question involves a life cycle analysis. In comparing products that are more energy efficient on the surface, a life cycle analysis will sometimes reveal that the more durable product actually consumes less energy over its life. While my example of a comparison between product A and product B is purely hypothetical, there are many products today that are labeled to be more energy efficient than older products. One of these products is insulated windows, and that is where the panel attendee saved his money. It is true that insulated windows are more thermally efficient than single pane glazing. However, they also have a very finite life span before they need to be replaced due to the failure, not of the glass, but the seals that give them their high performance. A failure rate of 15% in ten years is not uncommon even on the higher quality windows. This failure rate increases dramatically on lower quality windows. The cost, both in terms of money spent on replacement, transportation and energy costs for manufacturing, delivery, installation, and disposal, diminishes the advantages of insulated windows by a large factor. If your home is in Montana, then those winters in which the mercury hovers below zero for months, will probably make insulated windows a worthwhile investment over the long term. But if your home is in a temperate climate, such as we have here in the Pacific Northwest, keeping the single pane glazing that is original to your home, will certainly be the more cost effective, and long term energy saving proposition. And, from a purely aesthetic standpoint, single pane glazing more effectively blurs the transition between the interior and exterior of a home, a key element of Modernism. 

I recently attended an opening of a new venue, Space, A Design Build Collective, which is featuring artisan made ceramic tile. We have our Modernist tile line exhibited there. One of the comments I overheard, was from a woman who said that the tile would work well in houses from the 50’s and 60’s, or for people who wanted a “retro” look. While those two applications are certainly correct, Modernist tile designs can have a much broader appeal and use. In fact, one of the key values of the Modernist Movement, was the production of designs that are timeless. Ludwig Meis van der Rohe designed his iconic Barcelona chairs for the German Pavilion at the International Exhibition in Spain in 1929. Yet today, they are as functional and fresh as if they had been designed yesterday. Tile in the Modernist tradition can have that same timeless quality. The tiles that we produce are hand made and employ glazes that transcend a specific period. The shapes and patterns are clean and honest, two important precepts of the Modernist Movement.

I recently had the opportunity to attend a lecture by Leo Marmol, a principal in Marmol Radziner, an architecture firm specialising in environmentally sensitive prefab homes. “Green” is very much at the forefront of today’s construction industry. And clearly, ways to reduce our carbon footprint are very important in our world. However, there is one “green” technique that barely rates a footnote in today’s “green” revolution media. That “green” idea is to restore rather than raze and build anew. We recently had a client who needed some consultation on his Mid-Century Modern home. Built in 1965, it was mostly original and in excellent shape. The kitchen is where the new homeowner wanted to make some changes. His concern was with the cabinetry. Constructed of teak with an oil finish, the original cabinets were full overlay, undoubtedly site built and very high quality. Touch latches and pin hinges for the cabinet doors, and simple handles with wooden slides for the drawers. What the client didn’t like was the smudges on the doors from forty years of use. As well, the movement of the drawers was rather stiff and imprecise. The client was looking for advice on how best to replace the cabinetry. On inspection, I found that the doors were in excellent shape, and the Washington Iron Works pin hinges still held everything in close, even alignment. Finding that the teak veneer was quite thick, I advised a relatively low cost, and very environmentally sensitive solution. Rather than replacing the cabinetry, I proposed cleaning with steel wool and re-oiling the cabinet faces. To make the movement of the drawers easier, new metal drawer slides would be easy to install. The end result…beautiful and functional cabinets that match the aesthetic and quality of the original home. And the cost was low compared to replacing the cabinets with something of even lesser quality. “Green” does not always mean replacing what exists with something more environmentally sensitive. Restoration is the ultimate “green” technique.   

We’re excited to have this space to share stories, ideas, and techniques for creating enhancing the Modern authenticity of your home. Check back soon for case studies, events, and more.