e Minnesota PPublished byr the Preservationes Allianceerv of Minnesota “to preserve,a protect,t andi promoteo Minnesota’sni historics resources.”t March - April 2010 Preserving the recent past reservation is full of acronyms: e Minnesota PSHPO (State Historic Preservation Editor’s Notes Preservationist Offi ce), EAW (Environmental Assessment Volume 13, Number 2 By Kelli Andre March - April 2010 Worksheet), NRHP (National Register of Historic Places), PAM (Preservation Published bimonthly by the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota Alliance of Minnesota), but here’s one that 416 Landmark Center might be less familiar: DOCOMOMO. Christine Madrid French has contributed an 75 W. Fifth Street Saint Paul, MN 55102-9775 Yeah, it’s a funny one! It’s actually short overview discussion of modernism and the 651-293-9047 (believe it or not) for an even longer proper National Trust’s role in preserving it. E-mail: [email protected] name: DOcumentation and COnservation Website: www.mnpreservation.org In Minnesota, we have a fair share of of buildings, sites and neighborhoods of the Board of Directors modern marvels and we are featuring two Renay Leone, Excelsior, Chair MOdern MOvement. DOCOMOMO is an icons that have been getting considerable Claire Stokes, Saint Paul, Vice Chair international organization “dedicated to the Donna Stevermer, CPA, Farmington, Treasurer attention lately: Christ Church Lutheran study, interpretation and protection of the Todd Nelson, Saint Paul, Secretary in Minneapolis and Marcel Breuer’s Abbey architecture, landscape and urban design of Jeff rey Allman, Rochester and campus plan for St. John’s University in the Modern Movement.” Greg Donofrio, Saint Paul Collegeville. Additionally, Close Associates, Amy Douma, Minneapolis Inc. Architects, a well-known Minneapolis Timothy Griffi n, Saint Paul Th e Modern Movement, or mid- Gar Hargens, AIA, Saint Paul century modernism as we typically based fi rm recognized for its contributions Ellen Herman, Minneapolis refer to architecture from this period, is to residential modernism, is profi led by David Kelliher, Minneapolis President Gar Hargens. Hargens discusses Mary Alice Kopf, Minneapolis characterized by simplicity of style and form. Ann Meyer, Farmington Modernism adopted the principle that form notable Close designed homes in the Twin Amy Mino, Stillwater follows function, meaning that the use of Cities and their specifi c features that make Ron Schirmer, Ph.D., Mankato the building would determine the shape and them distinctly “modern.” Robert Schmitz, Minneapolis architecture. As such, buildings from this era Sarah Voigt, Lake Elmo Have an interest in the preservation of Lyssa Washington, Minneapolis emphasize horizontal and vertical lines, and mid-century modernism and want to get JeriLynn Young, Minneapolis were purposefully lacking ornamentation. involved? DOCOMOMO is currently in Ex-Offi cio Th ough modernism’s beginnings are Nina Archabal*, Saint Paul the process of forming a Minnesota Chapter. rooted at the turn of the twentieth-century, Britta Bloomberg, Saint Paul You can fi nd them on Facebook under modernism grew in popularity and became Will Stark**, Minneapolis DOCOMOMO MN. And while you’re Carolyn Sundquist**, Duluth a dominant building style after the Second there, make sure to friend the Preservation World War. Architects such as Le Corbusier Honorary Director Alliance of Minnesota as well! Speaking of in France, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Richard T. Murphy, Saint Paul the Alliance, we are bringing back our PAM- and Walter Gropius in Germany are well Staff o-rama tours this year and they are focusing recognized champions of the style. Closer to Bonnie McDonald, Executive Director on—you guessed it—the recent past. Watch Erin Hanafi n Berg, Field Representative home, architect Ralph Rapson stands out as Kelli Andre, Administrative Assistant for more information about our tours in the Minnesota’s modern master. Marvel Anderson, Volunteer Coordinator pages of this and upcoming issues of Th e Editing Team In recent years mid-century modernism has Minnesota Preservationist, as well as on our Kelli Andre, Editor website: www.mnpreservation.org Daniel Abrahamson, Design been getting increasing attention as these Contributors to this Issue buildings are reaching or have surpassed Daniel Abrahamson, Kelli Andre, Tom Dolan, the 50–year mark required for listing Erin Hanafi n Berg, Gar Hargens, Stephanie Hartje, Christine Lick, Christine Madrid French, on the National Register. Th e work of TTFN! Frank Edgerton Martin, Bonnie McDonald, DOCOMOMO and similar organizations, Nancy A. Miller, William Morgan, JulieAnn Murphy, Doug Ohman, Katherine Scott, Pete like the Recent Past Preservation Network, Sieger, Will Stark has been integral in ensuring that modern *State Historic Preservation Offi cer masterpieces are getting the recognition Kelli Andre **Advisor to the National Trust for Historic Preservation and preservation that they deserve. Th e Editor Th e Preservation Alliance of Minnesota is a private, nonprofi t, National Trust for Historic Preservation 501(c)3 organization dedicated to preserving, protecting, and promoting Minnesota’s historic resources. Th e Alliance has launched a new center for Modernism is a Statewide Partner of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Views expressed in the Minnesota Preservationist and the Recent Past and, in this issue of do not necessarily refl ect the position of the Alliance or its board of directors. Th e Minnesota Preservationist, its director 2 The Minnesota Preservationist Saving America’s Modern & Recent Past Architectural History By Christine Madrid French, Modernism & Recent Past Program Director, National Trust for Historic Preservation and JulieAnn Murphy, Research Assistant fi rst–time visitor to Minnesota may a bang-up party at the Uptown studio of “Modern Module” (funded by the National Abe surprised at the variety of modern furniture purveyor Design Within Reach Endowment for the Arts) that was intended architecture, from rectangular glass houses that attracted a range of modern enthusiasts. to bring people together for conversation to curvy concrete campuses, in this northern Last October, the National Trust for and analysis in a program tailored to the state. Indeed, a quick survey of built Historic Preservation, with the Preservation local community’s preservation concerns and resources from the mid-twentieth century to Alliance of Minnesota and the Minnesota addressed within the context of the region’s today, often referred to as the “recent past”, Historical Society, organized a two-day own historic modern resources. More than reveals a productive and creative infatuation between modern architects and the Land Johnie’s Broiler in Downey, California. Nearly demolished, the building was rebuilt by Bob’s Big Boy and is now re-opened. of 10,000 Lakes. Equally notable is the presence of a strong local contingent working to ensure that these buildings are not only remembered, but celebrated. Minnesotans make strong claims to their modernist heritage—whether it be architect Marcel Breuer’s work at St. John’s University in Collegeville or Ralph Rapson’s designs for suburban houses— and their passion is growing. A newly minted chapter of DOCOMOMO, an international organization dedicated to the documentation and conservation of the modern movement, recently hosted On the Cover uilt in 1963 by Minoru Yamsaki, Bthe building with its 85-foot high portico that recalls classic architecture, has a commanding presence at the northern end of Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. Th e Northwestern National Life Insurance Company Building (now ING) is considered a highlight of 1960s modernism in Minneapolis. Photo by Katherine Scott, Black Box Images. Photocourtesy Christineof Madrid French. March - April 2010 3 150 people attended the Minneapolis panel were disappearing before our eyes while plans of buildings constructed after World War discussion at the 1949/1962 Eliel and Eero for the demolition of others continued to II? What are the methods for analyzing Saarinen-designed Christ Church Lutheran, come in. The momentum of the conferences character defining features for a structure designated as a National Historic Landmark was followed by a series of similar events, new that is only forty years old, and delineating last year, while more than twenty local public education strategies, and the founding standards for preservation and reuse? Are leaders, historians, planners, and architects of a number of grass-roots organizations, existing guidelines adequate to address these joined us for an invitational roundtable the including the Recent Past Preservation issues, or are widespread changes required? following day in St. Paul. Network. A few major victories were scored, At the 1995 conference, H. Ward Jandl, with notable building “saves,” yet there were a noted preservationist, predicted that we These recent events built upon nearly two also casualties within the field, marked by would be “grappling” with these key issues decades of persistent effort by preservationists contentious battles and sad losses over the “for the remainder of this century and well in Minnesota and across the country. In last decade, including Minneapolis’ original into the next millennia.” Well, here we are, 1995, the first conference dedicated to this Guthrie Theater designed by Ralph Rapson. still sorting through what makes a building topic—Preserving the Recent Past—took or landscape worth saving. In the meantime, Advocates