Masters of Modern Architecture and their Dogs

Most lovers of modern architecture–given sufficient funds–have a very pronounced taste in design. They do not live in a modernist home by accident, but by careful choice.

They may have spent quite a few hours on the web, and even more with some poor Realtor who didn’t know Mashimoto from Matsushita, only to utter to the right house what Paul McCartney said to Linda when he saw her the first time: “Where have you been?”

So if the structure is asthetically appealing and visually pleasing, one wants the items that enliven the space to be as congruent with the architecture and perhaps even the architect’s vision as possible. It can’t and doesn’t end with furnishings, door handles, silverware and the dust collectors. Understandable then that creators of modern architecture are even more specific, including in their choice of pets. 

But what was previously unknown is that many of the modernist masters – including James Walter Fitzgibbon, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, I.M. Pei, Pierre Koenig, Marcel Breuer, Walter Gropius, Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier  – were united in their love for one specific dog breed: the Scottish Terrier. 

However, if you look at the similarities between design elements of modern architecture and Scotties, the parallels are obvious, the match is clear. Recently discovered photographs, many of them taken by the architects themselves, are proof:

Fitzgibbon, Paschal residence, Raleigh, NC

Mies, Farnsworth residence, Plano, IL

Mies, Kandinsky residence, Dessau, Germany

Koenig, Stahl residence, Los Angeles, CA

Le Corbusier with friends, believed to be NY at the UN, ca. 1951

Breuer, Breuer residence, Lincoln, MA

Wright, Kaufman residence "Fallingwater", near Mill Run, PA. Terrier on left under cantilever

Pei, Newhouse school, Syracuse U, Syracuse, NY

Gropius in his office, undated

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the weekend as well as the First of April. 

Photos © by TMH, suttonhoo, Stadt Dessau, meatiesmyrtle, unknown, Matthews, lipingzeng, Jordan, unknown.

The Tale of the Two Barcelona Chairs

Like every household with at least one modernist, there is a creeping infection in our home: the one where the sofa with the scrolled arms has to go and the overstuffed love chair won't do it anymore, where Brnos, Eileens and Barcelonas become such common names, outsiders think they are part of the family with their own voicemail.


But considering pricing, a Knoll Barcelona chair with ottoman sets you back $6,662 at the very least, and that's the crappiest leather you can buy.


Buying replicas (one shouldn't use the ugly term "knock off") on ebay or per mail order is risky, especially since originals come in over 30 different leathers, so matching later is impossible. Fearless and full of hope, I installed an rss-feed on Craigslist. And voila, I found chair and ottoman posted on Jan 5, in driving distance in Miami. But it was Jan 22 now, three weeks later. Still, worth a try.


Nine days later, while I was on travel in North Carolina, the seller wrote back that he was in Europe, but his dad was visiting. And yes, he still had the two chairs and two ottomans, for $700. 


Two? 


Another three days later, back in Fort Lauderdale, my wife and I made an appointment with the father of the seller, drove 40 min to Miami and looked at the chairs. They slightly smelled like an ashtray, but were in fine condition otherwise. We nodded, left the seller a message on his Italian mobile number and made an offer for $600. 


I made an offer, to be precise. Because my wife was busy planning where to hide my corpse, a necessary step after killing me for blowing the deal of the century.


But the offer got accepted the same night, and I got to live. A few days later, we drove down to Miami again, this time with two cars to carry off the loot home in one raid. Happy End.


Lessons: 1) our cats love the ottomans even more than chairs because of their flat surface, versus angled on the chairs. Sliding cats are unhappy cats. 2) Two Barcelona ottomans, two chairs and six cushions fit into one Jeep Cherokee. 3) When everyone else has given up, stubborness often pays nice dividend.

OT: All Your iPhone Passwords Can Be Stolen In Under Six Minutes

I know it's a bit OT (off-topic), but Gizmodo published a very interesting article about the iphone's password security (or lack thereof).

According to the piece, by circumventing the lock screen – given some expertise and nice equipment, true – someone gains access to everything stored on your precious device's keychain: Email, voicemail, Wi-Fi, VPN, Exchange—it's all at risk.

Read on here (by Gizmodo.com).

Guide to Real Estate Transactions: Agents, Brokers and Realtors®

Following the post on Foreclosures and Short Sales (11 Dec 2009), I'd like to briefly delve into the differences between real estate agents, real estate brokers and Realtors®.

Riveting, isn't it?

(Below is based on Florida law; most other US states follow the same or a similar route, albeit sometimes with different names. As an example, only two years ago North Carolina renamed Agents and Brokers, now called Brokers and Brokers-in-Charge. Perhaps they wanted to avoid a discrimination lawsuit by the CIA?)

BROKERING US REAL ESTATE

In order to broker real estate in the U.S., one has to be properly licensed. Most states have a two-tiered system: pass the first state exam and become an agent, pass the second (more demanding) exam and become a broker. 

The former always work under a broker's supervision, while the latter may work either for another broker or self-employed. Both must renew their license every two years. All real estate professions are supervised by state authorities.

Unless you are a highly experienced investor, you really should use a real estate agent (following for agent or broker) when buying or selling any property. And even investors tend not to go at it alone. Your chosen one should fulfill these qualifications:

• A valid Real Estate license for the state (s)he operates in,
• For residential transactions: membership in the local Board of Realtors (see below),
• Experienced in the type of property you consider.

SO WHAT IS A REALTOR?

An agent may call himself a Realtor® only if he (following for he or she) belongs to the local Board of Realtors®, of which there are ca. 800 throughout the U.S. These Boards are voluntary regional professional associations, imposing certain business and ethical guidelines which often exceed state law. 

Membership in a Board of Realtors® is the only way for full access to and listing privileges in a proprietary computer database called MLS, which contains all properties in the region offered on the market by MLS participants. 

As an example, the Southeast-Florida-MLS, consisting of several Boards and reaching from Homestead to Fort Pierce, connects approximately 23,000 agents and approximately 95,000 properties and businesses for sale. Because of this, buyers can concentrate on working with one single agent who is able to offer and sell any property shown in the MLS, not only the ones offered by his own firm. Properties in the MLS cover ca. 85 – 95% of all properties offered for sale. 

HOW DO I PICK A REALTOR?

Your choice of an agent comes down to

• the level of expertise and competence (e.g., don't hire a downtown condo expert to buy a resort home in the mountains),
• the range of services offered, 
• personal recommendations and references, and
• a feeling of trust, comfort and confidence – not much fun working with someone you don't like.

It's important that your agent is experienced in transactions similar to what you plan and also knows what you are expecting from him. 

He should explain the complete process to you in plain language and guide you through the deal. Finally, if there are any international components involved, you will most likely be served best by an agent who is certified as a CIPS (Certified International Property Specialist).

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Questions? Comments? I look forward to hearing from you!

Happy [Helvetica] 80th for a Designer

The invitation was in Helvetica. So were the modernist birthday posters and the gift book printed for the occasion.

Such fealty to a font is to be expected when the honored guest is Massimo Vignelli, the graphic designer known for the 1972 New York City subway map, among other iconic designs. 

He turned 80 on Monday and, to celebrate, 200 of his friends organized a surprise party at the SoHo showroom of Poltrona Frau, the Italian furniture company.

The guests, too, looked like part of a design installation, dressed in black suits and angular architecture glasses... [complete article at the NYTimes]

Merry Christmas...

 

...and a healthy, happy and prosperous 2011!

 

(Photo: near Tutzing/Bavaria; ©tckaiser)

Lies Have Short Legs

That's the translation of a common German saying "Lügen haben kurze Beine", meaning that lies don't make it very far. Doesn't that make more sense than setting the pants of a liar ablaze?

Mutual respect in business relationships: I very much appreciate it, I often encounter it, I wrote about it before. But sometimes values get so blatantly violated that I have to air my frustration first before I can move on to the lesson. Which I did learn. Here's what happened:

In October, Brent B., an American who lives in China, contacted me to find a modern home in Florida. He stated he's not working with another Realtor; we communicated regularly and often. Altogether I sent him 42 listings. 

Arriving in Florida the Saturday before Thanksgiving, he had requested to see three of those the following Tuesday. I emailed Brent before he left China, and again on the day of his arrival. No response – odd. Tuesday evening, I received an email from him (the juicy bits are in bold):

Tobias,

That would be great. I was wanting to see some properties further up north and would like to see what a nice home out there would cost. I have heard offers are being taken, at some point, near half what the asking price is...

Let me know, thanks for the time and looking forward to our 3rd meeting. Regarding todays properties, our favorite was the 3rd (looks) the second (neighborhood) and 1st for (style) , but after some time and thought, we will probably pass as of now.

Best,
Brent-

Four minutes later, a second email:

Tobias,

Mixing agents, we went out with an Agent introduced by a family friend in Miami today who is actually living in Fort Lauderdale, so the second part of that mail was for him and did not know if you were able to schedule for Friday so we scheduled with him (tentatively) .

If you would still like to meet up, let me know as I will try to rearrange an email.

Once again, sorry for the mix up.
Brent-

Leaving the barn-sized hole in his explanation aside, not having heard from Brent is quite understandable. He was a busy bee, meeting a Realtor colleague twice and setting up a third appointment. Only a cynic would question if he would have told me without the mix up. Or if he told my colleague that he was in contact with me for two months, having received 42 listings.

And the lesson? 

For real estate buyers and sellers: Be honest. Be respectful. Don't lie; it's bad for you/your dogs/children/breath. 

For real estate professionals: ask if the prospect works with another Realtor. Ask again. And make clear what your position on lack of integrity is. Mine: I don't accept it. I have enough clients who have the right to my honest, professional, undivided and respectful attention. I don't have time to waste with clowns.
___

As a story of friends of mine unfolds, I am writing an interesting post: The Case Against Building Long-Distance. Currently it reads like the script for a bad high-school play, it's that pathetic. Stay tuned.