200th Oktoberfest

If you think "hold it, there really is no connection between "Modern", "South" or "Florida" and the Oktoberfest", think again:

Munich is located in the South of Germany.

Handy Germany map shows N, S, E, W and Munich location

Only someone supercritical  would call that stretching it just a bit.

Today was the opening of the 200th Oktoberfest, the first one celebrated 1810 on the occasion of a Royal Bavarian wedding, Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of Saxen-Hildburghausen (full 411 on Wikipedia.)

Now, if you think her name reminds you of a German wine label: stop that, you're being mean.

Gunshot salutes on the opening of the 200th "Wiesn". ©dpa

Munich breweries joined forces to brew (!) a commemorative beer.
Commemoration lasts until the stein is empty. ©sz/Lisa Sonnabend

15 more Oktoberfest photos – with German captions, sorry – in today's Munich newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung. Prost!

Fall Decorating

 
First though, a special treat I found yesterday, only 6'31'' long but jaw-droppingly fascinating: the video "The Known Universe".

Created by the American Museum of Natural History, it takes viewers from the Himalayas through our atmosphere and the inky black of space to the afterglow of the Big Bang. And back to earth, thankfully.

I recommend to watch it in full screen, and if you have a fast internet connection, in 720p.
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FALL DECORATING TIPS

The classic, earthy colors associated with Fall decorations are an homage to Mother Nature herself. The burnt oranges, browns, and golden wheats are the colors we witness first-hand as the seasons change.

But the changes in color aren't just for out of doors. These days, the most savvy of decorators bring the season inside.

How can you makeover your home for Fall?

Here are some simple ways to capture the spirit of the season, without turning off potential home buyers.

Changing Tablescapes: When staging your home, your dining room does wonders for setting a mood. And in the Fall, that mood is magnified by family dinners and the holidays. To take advantage of the season, change up your tablescape.

The first step can be to change your tablecloth or runner to richer, more earthy tones. If you are a true do-it-yourselfer, you can find seasonal fabrics at your local fabric store. A runner is as simple as cutting a straight line and making neat edges.

Next, invest in gold or jewel color chargers that will accent your family china. A charger is simply the decorative "plate" that is used to dress up your dining table.

And finally, don't be afraid to set a theme. Mini-pumpkins can be used to hold name-cards. Use the florals of the season, such as holly berries and decorate branches to create a festive centerpiece. And accent the table with beautiful leaves.

Scents: Fall is a great time for warm, rich scents, such as apple-cinnamon, French Vanilla, and anything related to cookies or baked goods! Just keep them away from your dining table, so that their scent doesn't overpower the tantalizing aroma of your home-cooked meal.

Welcome Wagon: The first thing your buyer sees is your front door. So, make this space inviting. Use mats, wreaths, or a simple hanging cornucopia as a seasonal display.

Swap out Fabric: It's time to get cozy on the couch. Bring out your favorite throws, especially those in luxurious chenille or velvet! And don't forget to add a cozy blanket to your guest rooms as well.

Fall colors are a fun way to welcome guests, so take advantage of the season!

Used with permission. © Carla Hill/Realty Times
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I.M. Sep 11, 2001

Property Values: What to expect around $500,000

Much in demand are currently modern homes in the price bracket $500,000 to $599,000. Here is a look at some of the available modernist homes and townhomes in that range:

Alfred Browning Parker built this classic mid-century residence (above) in Coconut Grove in 1953. It has two bedrooms, one bathroom and an office on 1072 sf under air – not large by today's standards, but an open floor plan and wrap-around balconies integrate tropical outdoors and indoors nicely. $599,000.

Within walking distance to the beach are these new townhomes in Pompano Beach. Three bedrooms, three bathrooms and a guest bath are spread out over approx. 3,031 sf under air, with several models available, including some on the water with private dockage. Starting at $578,788; waterfront units are in the $800,000s.

A five-bedroom/four bathroom home directly on a golf course in Tamarac, with ca. 3,940 sf under air, built in 1969. The property offers volume cedar ceilings, a wood/gas fire place, an oversized garage and pool with spa. $549,000.

Short sale in Miami Shores: a waterfront home with 122 feet on a deep canal, with no bridges to the Bay. Renovated kitchen and baths; big master suite, kitchen open to the family room. 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, ca. 2,880 sf, two-car garage, corner lot, built in 1949. Reduced twice to $525,000.

Another townhome, this time in Highland Beach, located just north of Boca Raton. Waterfront with dockage included (!), and pet friendly to boot. Completely updated, with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a guest bath, ca. 1,456 sf under air, built in 1977. $540,000.

1950s mid-century home with Bay views in Miami, offering four bedrooms and three baths on ca. 2,220 sf under air. Bay across the street affords water views, vaulted ceilings and a open split floor plan emphasize space. $485,000 (admittedly, that's not in the $500,000 range, but only because it was just reduced. That's not my fault, really.)

International Style and Brutalism made love and gave birth in Lighthouse Point, to a 4/3 with ca. 2,800 sf (the listing Realtor calls it "hip and contemporary Frank Lloyd Wright style”. A visit to the history page could clear that up quickly). Built in 1971, with impact doors and windows throughout, and a pool. Reduced this week from $549,000 to $499,000.
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If you're not completely thrilled with what you see here, email me for alternative suggestions please.

In the meantime, thanks for reading this post!

Odd Obsessions, Miami Vintage Stores anyone?

In this post: The obsession with Pending Sales, July Market Statistics, upcoming post "Vintage Furniture Stores in Miami-Dade", housing for Purple Martins.

Pending Sales: Wrong Approach?

If you read the Wall Street Journal, you may have seen an interesting piece last week about the housing market; interesting because it quoted a data set I have a major problem with: Pending Sales. 

If you are not familiar with the real estate industry, you may not know that some analysts regard Pending Sales as an early indicator of housing market trends.

I wholeheartedly disagree.

Merely because buyer and seller execute a contract does not at all mean they will go to closing; only last month I represented a buyer who got a severe (but understandable) case of cold feet. In my observation, currently approx. 25 to 35 percent of all pending contracts do not close because financing or other conditions point the transaction south. 

Please consider that whenever you see Pending Sales being interpreted as a market indicator.

Upcoming post "Vintage Furniture Stores in Miami-Dade" 

Back in March, I wrote about furniture stores in Broward county that specialise in vintage modern furniture. That post turned out to be quite popular, so I just started researching the same for Miami-Dade.

I have quite a list of stores already together, but would love to get your input. If you know of a store that deals with used modern furniture in Miami-Dade, would you please fire off a quick email? Thanks for helping me!

Interesting Reads:

A great read (for Saturday morning over coffee at the Eurobread?) appeared in yesterday's NYT: Birdhouses Designed for Repeat Visitors. Enjoy!

Günter Behnisch, German modernist architect, 1922–2010

The architect who gave post-War Germany a new face, Günther Behnisch, passed away in July at the age of 88. 

His radical modern designs, including the Munich Olympic Stadium, marked a departure from the bombastic architecture of the Nazi era and shaped the face of the new German democracy.

The world gazed at Behnisch's work on August 26, 1972 with the opening of the Munich Olympic Games. The stadium he designed at the age of 50 was an icon – a perfect symbol for the new, democratic Germany (He designed the Olympic park together with the architect Frei Otto and the landscape planner Günther Grzimek).

Olympic Park and Stadium, Munich

The open, undulating tent roof that seems so light, so weightless, reaches well beyond the actual stadium. The magically woven, transparent carpet, 75,000 square metres in size, rests gently on the Olympic Park and sent a powerful message: A democratic, open country is welcoming the nations of the world. It was an attempt to distinguish West Germany from the bombastic architecture of the Nazi era when Berlin had hosted the 1936 Olympics.

Behnisch, who was born in 1922 and who became a submarine commander in WWII, took an interest in architecture when he picked up a book on the subject in a hotel in the Italian port of La Spezia. "It was about how you construct buildings. The war was over and I had to do something for a living," he recalled. He became a prisoner of war; the British released him in 1947. After that he studied architecture in Stuttgart. He opened an office in 1952 and quickly gained kudos for designing school buildings and sports halls.

In 1973, Behnisch was awarded the coveted task of designing the new parliament in the then-West German capital, Bonn, but the project dragged on for an eternity. He only got the green light in 1987 for a modified version, and in 1992, his parliament building was finally opened. But Germany was reunited by then, and the Parliament moved to Berlin at the end of the 1990s.

 

Plenary Hall, Bonn (1991 - 1992)

Focusing more on public buildings than residences – his website lists only nine residential projects – many other of his designs were highly regarded, but much less in the limelight than the Olympic Stadium or the Plenary Hall:

Tower of the Nürnberg Airport (1997-1999)

NordLB bank in Hannover (1999-2002)

Therme Bad Aibling (hot mineral springs), in Bad Aibling outside of Munich (which my wife and I visited in winter 2008, swimming from the inside to the outside on a crisp and clear winter night – incredible!)

Buchheim-Museum, Bernied (1997 - 2001) located on Starnberg Lake outside of Munich, dedicated to the Buchheim art (as well as knick-knack) collection. The structure, just down the road from my wife’s and my Bavarian base camp, resembles a ship, jutting at a 90° angle towards and over the lake.

The Berlin Academy of the Arts was his last spectacular project, but also rightly criticized for design faults such as excessive noise and not enough space.

Berlin planning department officials had been horrified by his plan for a high-tech glass façade. "Why not?" said Behnisch the modernist. "I never even thought of putting a stone façade there. We didn't want to awaken any associations with the pretentiousness of the Hitler and Wilhelminian architecture." 

He deeply disliked the new style of the Berlin republic and of its architecture. He regarded historical copies as the architecture of security that served a petit-bourgeois yearning for comfort at a time when bold new visions were needed. "If someone needs comfort, they should get a cat," he once said laconically.

Günter Behnisch died on 12 July 2010 in his home in Stuttgart, Germany.

Excerpted from and based on an article in the Der Spiegel, published 7/13/2010 

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Please make your opinion heard – and at the same time donate to a charity for free! 

How? Participate in the poll "what modern magazines do you read?" – see last Friday's post.

 

For every vote the poll (left column) receives, I will donate $1 (up to $100) to The Children's Aid Society, rated among the Top Ten charities by CharityNavigator.org.
 

Many thanks!

Survey: what do you read?

I know it's Friday the 22nd, and the next MSF post isn't due until next week. But to keep you on your toes and see if you're awake, I designed a short survey for you.

• Since you are interested in modern architecture, would you share with me which modern architecture print publications you read (and with reading I mean at least one out of every four issues)? 

For every vote the poll (left column) receives, I will donate $1 (up to $100) to The Children's Aid Society, rated among the Top Ten charities by CharityNavigator.org.

If there is a cherished publication I overlooked, let me know please – either by comment or email me privately. Many thanks and have a fine weekend!

Modernist Field Trip, Happy 4th!

If you don’t know about the non-profit Triangle Modernist Houses (TMH) and the man who created it, George Smart: it’s about time. TMH’s goal is to document, preserve and promote residential modernist architecture. And it succeeds on all levels. George and his Mod Squad, most of them based in the Triangle area in North Carolina, are modernist maniacs, in the best and most complimentary sense.

One of TMH’s activities are field trips to interesting properties, mostly private residences not open to the public. I took part in one two weeks ago together with 13 of the nicest modernistas you can imagine, and had a blast.

Flying very early in the morning from Raleigh to Baltimore, we spent the day in the DC area and returned late at night. One of the trip highlights was a visit to the private Brown residence, Richard Neutra’s only house he built in DC and his last one in the US; he didn’t see it’s completion.

Brown house, built in 1968. 4,000 sf including an addition by Heather Willson Cass from the early 90's, which won an A1A award. – Many thanks again to the Browns, extraordinarily gracious hosts.

Neutra, born in Austria (and thus pronounced Noitra), immigrated to the US in 1923 and died in Germany in 1970. He built mostly in California, but also in Texas, Michigan and even complete subdivisions in Germany.

Famous for querying clients about their expectations in detail, he sometimes used questionnaires to discover his client's needs. In case of the Browns – and much to their surprise – Neutra even moved in with them for two weeks in their previous residence, to better observe their lifestyle. The result is beautiful.

Find out more about Neutra's projects (as well as upcoming trips) on TMH’s website.

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If you follow the business news, you certainly read by now that May housing statistics on the national level are simply dismal. It seems that without intervention or a considerably improved economy, the housing market is far from being able to leave the bed and walk, not even mentioning being released from the sick ward.

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Here in the Southeast, we will be baking around 90°F or 32°C this 4th of July weekend, so a cozy fire for a nice little barbecue seems appropriate. (For my last one, I got up at 5:30 am, and after smoldering for 14 hours, the pork butt emerged so tender we didn’t need knifes or even forks.)

In that spirit: have a laid-back, relaxed and delicious Independence Day!