Date: Mon, 7 May 2012 06:51:17 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jennifer Gillis
Subject: Chatham Community Library to Host “Mayberry Modernism” Wednesday, May 9
Chatham Community Library To Host “Mayberry Modernismâ€
Triangle Modernist Houses’ George Smart will discuss the state’s
Modernist legacy.
April 30, 2012
(Pittsboro, NC) — George Smart, founder and director of the award-winning non-profit Triangle Modernist Houses (TMH), will present his signature talk “Mayberry Modernism: North Carolina’s Modernist Legacy†at the Chatham Community Library in Pittsboro, NC, on Wednesday, May 9, beginning at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
“Mayberry Modernism†showcases
North Carolina’s surprisingly large collection of Modernist
residences from the
1950s through today, particularly those in the Triangle region. Many of these
houses are in good shape, some are endangered, and many have been destroyed.
“Most people, even architects, are surprised that the Triangle has the third largest number of Modernist houses in America,†Smart says. “Through ‘Mayberry Modernism,’ I discuss why we have so many and share photographs of over 50 eye-popping, award-winning Modernist houses in the region from mid-century to new construction.”
Smart’s discovery of the Triangle’s large number of “livable
works of art†in 2007 led him to found
Triangle Modernist Houses.com. Today, the TMH website is the largest single
archive of Modernist residential architecture and architects, in the nation.
According to Jennifer Gillis, branch manager of the Chatham Community
Library, architecture is a
subject of interest in Chatham County. “Especially with regard to ‘green’
construction,†she said. “Our library, which was designed by
[architect] Louis
Cherry, serves not only as a public library, but also as the library for
Central Carolina Community College, which has a strong program in
sustainability.
“One of the aspects of Modernist architecture that should resonate
with people at this time
is its emphasis on practicality and economy of space,†she
continued. “Because
of the rural nature of the area, these homes are hidden gems—for example, a
Lustron home that is in walking distance from our library. I think people will
be surprised to hear how many modernist homes are located in Chatham and Lee
counties.â€
The Chatham Community
Library is located at 197 NC Hwy 87 North, Pittsboro NC 27312
(919-545-8084). For directions and more information about the library, go
to http://www.chathamnc.org/Index.aspx?page=304.
For more information
on Triangle Modernist Houses, visit www.trianglemodernisthouses.com.
About Triangle Modernist Houses:
Triangle Modernist
Houses (TMH) is a 501C3 nonprofit organization established in 2007 and
dedicated to documenting, preserving, and promoting modernist residential
architecture. The award-winning website is now the largest educational and
historical archive for modernist residential design in America.. TMH also hosts
popular modernist house tours several times a year, giving the public access to
the Triangle’s most exciting residential architecture, past and present. These
tours and a host of other TMH-sponsored events raise awareness and help
preserve these “livable works of art” for future generations. Visit
the website at www.trianglemodernisthouses.com. TMH also has an
active community on Facebook.