October 11, 2007

Saviours of Modernism: Are You Out There?

There was an interesting article in the New York Times’ “Style Magazine” recently about a film producer in L.A. who has taken it upon himself to save iconic modern homes in the Los Angeles area from the wrecking ball — or at the very least from over-zealous remodelers.

Michael LaFetra has bought and restored 11 homes, including Pierre Koenig’s Case Study House #21 (which last year sold at auction for $3.1 million), John Lautner’s Stevens House in Malibu and the Ray Kappe-designed home he himself currently lives in (pictured above).

It set me wondering whether there is a similar knight in shining armor in northern California — be it an individual or an organization — striving to preserve the state’s modernist heritage.

I know the Eichler Network is doing good work disseminating information and providing resources for the tract house crowd. And I have mentioned before in this blog a great source-book on the architectural style, NorCalMod, by Pierluigi Serraino.

But who are the champions of modernist conservation in the Bay Area? I would love to know.