What is this? Architectural Quiz No. 3

What is This? / Photo: Eugenia Woo

Yes, that thingie around a door handle has a name! What is it?

Modern House Tour on Saturday, March 27, 2010

Ryning House / Photo: Docomomo WEWA

Join Docomomo WEWA for a fantastic tour of the Ryning House (designed by Paul Hayden Kirk) in Medina, built in 1953.

WHAT: Ryning House 
Tour
WHERE: 3212 Evergreen Point Road in Medina 
(near Bellevue). On-street parking is available (please do not block driveways).
WHEN: Saturday, March 27, 2010. Come anytime between 11:00 am and 2:00 p.m.
COST: The tour fee is $5 per person. Reservations are not needed. Please pay at the door. Enjoy refreshments on the tour.

More info on Docomomo WEWA’s website.

Preservation in the News: Federal Reserve Bank, Seattle Branch

Federal Reserve Bank, Seattle Branch Building / Source: Google Maps streetview

Two more articles in Crosscut were published this week about the Federal Reserve Bank, Seattle Branch Building (1015 2^nd Avenue) and the lawsuit brought by the Committee for the Preservation of the Seattle Federal Reserve Bank against the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Seattle Branch. Knute Berger attended the hearing and reported extensively on its proceedings in an article titled, “City’s Landmark Preservation Process on Trial.” Today, Berger reports the breaking news in a Crosscut blog post that U.S. District Court Judge Robert Lasnik found the Federal Reserve Bank’s purchase and sale agreement of the bank building “unlawful.” For background on this issue, read Berger’s first article in Crosscut.

Preservation in the News: Endangered

1967 Sunset Magazine cover showing the Brauner House designed by Paul Thiry

This was a busy week for preservation in the news.

Paul Thiry-designed House in Normandy Park Endangered – Jeff McCord of Nickel Bros. (a house moving company) has been looking for a new owner for this unique Modern residence in Normandy Park designed by Paul Thiry who was known as the “Father of Northwest Modernism.” The house is for sale for $1 (yes, one buck) but it needs to be moved (barged) to a waterfront location. More info on the house is available on the Nickel Bros. website. Jeff has been leading this effort to save the house, with assistance from Seattle Modern, Docomomo WEWA, the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, and Historic Seattle. The Seattle Times published an excellent article about the issue and the significance of the house.

Bainbridge Island’s Moran School Building Slated for Demolition – A little-known historic school building, built in 1918, is endangered. The Moran School was founded by Frank Moran, the same person who founded the Moran-Lakeside School (later the famous Lakeside School). Island preservationists are looking for alternatives to demolition. Knute Berger writes about the school and its fate in Crosscut.

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (Seattle Branch) Building: Victim of Downtown Seattle Development Pressure – Knute Berger’s article about the “Case of the Vanishing Bank” in Crosscut looks at the 1951 Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco in downtown Seattle, a building denied City landmark status but eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Knute looks at some of the issues involved including the lawsuit filed by the Committee for the Preservation of the Federal Reserve Bank to nullify the sale of the property by the Federal Reserve.

Preservation/Heritage Events of Note – March 12 and 13

Logo source: Irish Georgian Society

Film Screening and Lecture at the Henry Art Gallery (Friday, March 12, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm)

“Saving Our Heritage, the Irish Georgian Society.” Learn about efforts to conserve heritage across the Atlantic. Spend an evening with Rt. Hon. Desmond Guinness, Irish author on Georgian art and architecture and a conservationist, and president of the Irish Georgian Society. Mr. Guinness will present a lecture and a special screening of a 50 minute documentary filmed on location in Ireland. Go to the Henry Art Gallery’s website for more information about this event and how to buy tickets online. This film is being presented as part of the Irish Reels Film Festival (March 12-14), a forum for features, shorts, and documentaries by independent Irish filmmakers. Screenings will take place at the Henry Art Gallery, Seattle Art Museum and Seattle Center. To learn more about the Irish Georgian Society’s mission and efforts to conserve Ireland’s architectural heritage, check out their website.