03 March 2010

Modern in the Midway: J. Marion Gutnayer


I'm always happy to be reminded that it was not only giants like Breuer, Johnson and Neutra who designed modern houses. Living near New Canaan it can be easy to forget that. I'm also always happy to hear that people have so much fun learning about their own houses.

A woman named Anne Stevens got in touch with us late yesterday to let us know that she's having a great time renovating and learning about her house near Chicago, designed by J. Marion Gutnayer. Nobody's ever heard of him, of course, but nobody's ever heard of Moore & Hutchins or a lot of other modern architects either, which is what makes it all fascinating: they weren't building precious museum pieces; they were building homes, for everyday people.

Anne is blogging about her project at gutnayer.blogspot.com. It's worth reading. That's her house above; I hope she doesn't mind that I borrowed the photo. -- ta

2 comments:

jamie@midcenturymania said...

Thanks. What a great, inexpensive way to spend an afternoon. I will definitely check it out.

Anonymous said...

Another J. Marion Gutnayer house for sale. Address 717 3rd Street, Wilmette, IL.
Please call
Irene Luber @ 847-507-6261