Friday, January 14, 2011

More Butterflys



These images, from "Brazil Builds" published in 1943 show an even earlier "Buttrefly" Roof. Its so amazing that here in Palm Springs we seem to have "invented" Mid-century Modernism...turns out Niemeyer was waaaay ahead of us...can't help but wonder how those early modernist buildings are faring these days. I was in Rio a few years ago and saw Corbu/Niemeyer's Ministry of Education. It still looks brand new.
PS: Thanks to the "Doug Hudson Lending Library" for "Brazil Builds.'

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

The First Butterfly Roof?

Largely due to the work of Palmer & Krisel and Wexler & Harrison there is a sense that the Butterfly Roof was invented here. Not true, as evidence. check out this 1949 demonstration house in the garden at MoMA. It was designed by Marcel Breuer.