Houston Mod

The Fabulous Fifties: Houston Art at the Dawn of the Space Age, 1945 - 1961

Houston Mod invites you to a special gallery tour this Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Noon.
Houston Public Library- Julia Ideson Building, 500 McKinney Street
Houston, Texas 77002
Free Parking at Main Library Building Garage
(Garage entrance on Lamar St.)

This is a free event. No registration is needed.

Exhibition curators Christina Wai Grubitz, Tam Kiehnhoff and Randy Tibbits will guide us through the exhibition of over 100 paintings, sculptures and objects created in Houston by more than 30 Houston artists from 1945 to 1961, a period of rapid growth that transformed the regional Magnolia City into the internationally known metropolis of Space City.

Houston Mod invites you on Sunday, November 16, 2025
for a Mod of the Month (free!) open house event from 2-4 PM at the Hillside Condominiums,
5222 Memorial Dr. and 5242 Memorial Dr. Houston TX 77007
This month’s event centers on two architecturally significant vintage-modern condos in search of preservation-minded owners. The units are located in Hillside, about 2 miles west of downtown Houston. (Additional parking is available along the park edge in front.)
The circa 1960 Hillside condominium complex is a rare find. Not only is it ideally situated on Memorial Drive near thousands of acres of urban parks and convenient to the Heights and Washington Avenue areas, but it's also a MCM jewel of still-intact vintage design. Herbert W. Linnstaedter, of the firm Swenson & Linnstaedter, designed, built, and originally owned the complex. Considered extremely fashionable and exceptional in design when completed, the details include wood beamed sloped ceilings, brick interior walls, copper-trimmed fireplaces (similar in design to some by architect Rudolph Schindler), and specially detailed windows. The terraced grounds, also scarcely found in Houston, are attractive and include a nifty swimming pool. Hillside is a recipient of the Houston Mod Preservation Award.

Houston Mod invites you on Sunday, November 16, 2025
for a Mod of the Month (free!) open house event from 2-4 PM at the Hillside Condominiums,
5222 Memorial Dr. and 5242 Memorial Dr. Houston TX 77007
This month’s event centers on two architecturally significant vintage-modern condos in search of preservation-minded owners. The units are located in Hillside, about 2 miles west of downtown Houston. (Additional parking is available along the park edge in front.)
The circa 1960 Hillside condominium complex is a rare find. Not only is it ideally situated on Memorial Drive near thousands of acres of urban parks and convenient to the Heights and Washington Avenue areas, but it's also a MCM jewel of still-intact vintage design. Herbert W. Linnstaedter, of the firm Swenson & Linnstaedter, designed, built, and originally owned the complex. Considered extremely fashionable and exceptional in design when completed, the details include wood beamed sloped ceilings, brick interior walls, copper-trimmed fireplaces (similar in design to some by architect Rudolph Schindler), and specially detailed windows. The terraced grounds, also scarcely found in Houston, are attractive and include a nifty swimming pool. Hillside is a recipient of the Houston Mod Preservation Award. photography by Patrick Bertolino modtexas

We encourage everyone who loves mid century modern to join our friends at Preservation Houston for the last day of their 2025 Good Brick Tour tomorrow (Sunday), November 9th.
The two locations of interest for mid mod fans are described below, and you can find out more and buy tickets on their website: preservationhouston.org/goodbricktour

Shadowlawn (Anderson Todd House) — This elegant 1961 Museum District home, designed by noted architect Anderson Todd for his own family, is one of Houston’s finest examples of modern vision and thoughtful stewardship

4158 Meyerwood Drive (Style in Steel townhomes) — A trio of 1968 steel-framed homes just inside southwest Loop 610 that showcase crisp modern architecture and the enduring appeal of timeless design, open together this weekend for the first time in 56 years

Houston Mod celebrated with DOCOMOMO US
✨ On Saturday, we gathered at Faith Lutheran Church in Bellaire, a 1959 modernist landmark designed by architect Travis Broesche, to explore this year’s theme — Modern Places of Worship.

Guests enjoyed a special presentation by Houston Mod board member Marty Merritt, highlighting Broesche’s architectural legacy across Houston and Texas, along with a display of original drawings and documents from the church’s design.

🎥 Watch the event highlights on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rs0D_7Td6AI

Thank you to everyone who joined us and to Docomomo US for organizing this national celebration of modern architecture and design.

📍 Faith Lutheran Church, Bellaire
🏛️ Architect: Travis Broesche (1959)
📚 Presentation: Marty Merritt, author of After Alden: Mid-Century Architecture in Brazosport, Texas

Houston Mod wants to help get the word out about this beautiful home for sale. ****Open house Saturday and Sunday**** June 14 and 15 2-4pm at 323 Knipp Rd Houston, TX 77024
See HAR.com and search for the address for more information.
323 Knipp Rd, is an architectural masterpiece designed by the legendary architect Joel Brand in 1975. This one-of-a-kind home showcases Brand's distinctive style, featuring clean lines, open spaces, and high ceilings that create bright, modern, airy living spaces that are both elegant and inviting. The gourmet kitchen is equipped with stainless steel appliances, including a side-by-side Sub-Zero refrigerator/freezer, perfect for culinary enthusiasts. With 4 bedrooms and 3 baths, the home is designed for relaxation and privacy. Situated on a generous 20,000 sq ft lot with stunning flagstone , it provides ample space for outdoor enjoyment. Located in Spring Branch ISD, this property stands as a testament to Brand's legacy, offering a rare modern piece of history that has stood the test of time.

Houston Mod hit the road! We had the pleasure of visiting Denton, TX, to explore its outstanding mid-century modern architecture, featuring works by renowned architects like O’Neil Ford, Caudill Rowlett Scott, and Mount Miller. We extend our gratitude to the sites that hosted us and the individuals who made it happen, including city and library buildings, houses of worship, universities, and private homes. Highlights of the tour included the Little Chapel in the Woods, Denton City Hall and Civic Center, Emily Fowler Central Library, and the Unitarian Universalist Church. We appreciate the City of Denton and our hostesses Pati and Peggy for organizing the visit. Special thanks to Linnie, Nick (of Denton Vintage Modern), Crispin Mount Miller, and Mariam for sharing their knowledge and expertise (and/or their homes/shop!). Denton’s modernist spirit is alive and well, and we’re grateful to have experienced it firsthand!

Check out this vintage video from Bronchstein's and join us in celebrating this Houston mid century modern icon March 22. (See separate event post for details).

Woodworking Wonderland (1951) Brochsteins, Inc. Presents Woodworking Wonderland (1951). A story of designing skill and artistic craftsmanship in the creation of interiors. Featuring Sakow...

February Mod of the Month

Houston Mod invites you this Sunday, February 16, 2025 for a Mod of the Month open house event from 1-3 PM.
Two outstanding architect designed vintage modern houses seeking new preservation minded owners are featured in this month's event, both located in west Houston, about 7 and 11 miles west of downtown and about 4 miles apart.
(Please visit HAR.com and enter the addresses of the homes to view the full listings)

5000 Longmont Drive #17, Houston, TX 77056
Preston Bolton designed this precise, well considered townhouse and lived in another similar to it directly across the street in his same masterful development. Bolton was especially talented with the design of his kitchens and bath-dressing areas, fitting them with special cabinetry and lighting.

Preston M. Bolton (1920-2011) was from College Station, Texas. He received a bachelor's degree in architecture in 1941 from Texas A&M. After serving in WW II, he moved to Houston and worked for architects Kenneth Franzheim, Irving R. Klein and MacKie & Kamrath. From 1951-1960, he partnered with Howard Barnstone where their work was frequently published and awarded, elevating the partners to national prominence. Bolton was also instrumental in helping Houston develop into a world-class arts center. From the 1950s onward he actively served on the boards of the Alley Theatre, Theatre Under the Stars, co-founded the Houston Ballet and was President of the Contemporary Arts Association (now Contemporary Arts Museum).

11119 Wickway Drive, Willowick Section 1, Houston, TX 77024
NOTE: The open house at this location has not yet been confirmed, so check with our volunteers at the Longmont location before proceeding here.

Architect M. Arthur Kotch (1926-97) built this flat roofed modern house for his family in 1961. They have occupied it ever since. The house combines a clean, yet comfortable and interesting modern aesthetic with a prestigious location.

Houston Mod invites you this Sunday, January 12, 2025 for a Mod of the Month open house event from 1-3 PM at the fabulous home available for sale located at 10231 Eddystone Drive, Houston, Texas 77043
(Moss Oaks Subdivision)
Search har.com using the address above for more details about the home.
This "Happy New Year!" edition of the Mod of the Month features not only an outstanding vintage modern house but also the availability of most of the furnishings pictured in the listing photographs- all seeking new preservation-minded ownership. The house is located about 12 miles west of downtown Houston and 1 mile north of Memorial City.
This dynamic vintage 1960 modern house with an architecturally significant butterfly style roof is a standout in this spacious, verdant and well-situated neighborhood. The carefully selected vintage modern furnishings will also be available for sale on Sunday.
The open house is free to visit (it is an open house for the home for sale and hosted by the realtor)

Tour: POST HTX: Adaptive Reuse of the Barbara Jordan Post Office

Saturday, October 19, 2024 11am - 1pm

Houston Mod is participating in Docomomo US Tour Day, an annual celebration of modern architecture and design where the public and like-minded organizations across the country participate in a tour or event. This year’s theme focuses on corporate campuses, examining mid-century corporate architecture.
On Saturday, October 19, we will tour POST HTX, the former Barbara Jordan Post Office at 401 Franklin Street designed in 1961 by Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson.
In 2015, the Barbara Jordan Post Office was decommissioned and sold to Lovett Commercial. Lovett engaged OMA New York/Jason Long and Powers Brown Architecture to design an innovative adaptive reuse project.
The tour of the public areas will include the 5-acre rooftop Skylawn.
This tour will be led by Jeanette Shaw, AIA, RID, LEED® AP, of Powers Brown Architecture.

Tickets are $10.00 per person. Link to purchase tickets https://www.houstonmod.org/shop/ or go to our website and then to "shop" to purchase. There is an additional cost for parking on-site. (Street parking may be available nearby, but that's not guaranteed.)
Please also consider becoming a member of Houston Mod.