Mid-Century era of focus for uncovering Tri-Cities treasures
Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley presents the third annual Treasures of the Tri-Cities, a weekend of events celebrating local architectural gems. On Friday, Oct. 9 and Saturday, Oct. 10, you can explore the Fox Valley's examples of Mid-Century Modern Design in residential and commercial buildings dating from 1937-1968.
At the 1937 Campana Building on Friday, Oct. 9, the evening will begin with a presentation by Anthony Rubano from Illinois Historic Preservation Agency titled, "Highlights of Mid-Century Modern in the Midwest," followed by a question-and-answer session. Visitors will additionally have the rare opportunity to view an exhibit of Wolfgang Hoffmann's 1930s furniture, the remarkable Chromsteel tables and chairs he designed for the Howell Company. The evening will conclude with champagne and a buffet of sweet and savories.
From 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, visitors will be able to take guided tours of six Fox Valley homes that serve as examples of modernist design. The featured sites include an elegant 1955 Batavia ranch with dramatic mid-1960s addition, the Jacques Brownson Glass House, circa 1950 "Geneva House", a Bruno Conterato home, designed by colleague of Mies van der Rohe in 1968, a 1950s St. Charles ranch transformed by two additions, the 1954 Wayne home designed by Paul Schweikher, and a1965 Wayne retreat in a wooded setting based on Schweikher designs.
The site tours are part of a prestigious national event, The DOCOMOMO North American Tour Day, which celebrates vernacular and high-style modernist design in the midcentury. The Web site DOCOMOMO-us.org describes that organization's mission to conserve and document the modern movement.
Tickets are $45 for the program and party, and $20 for the Modern Sites Tour. The entire weekend package is available for $55 each or $105 per couple. Tickets for the Site Tour also can be purchased at Past Basket and Scentimental Gardens in Geneva, Bee-Attitudes Antiques and the Limestone Coffee and Tea Shop in Batavia and the Stone House on Cedar in St. Charles.
The Mid-Century Modern Design Weekend is sponsored by Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley. For reservations or for information, call (630) 377-6424 or visit ppfv.org.