http://www.ultraswank.net Retro Living and Design from the 50s, 60s and 70s Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:59:46 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/are-we-ready-for-the-jetsons-yet/ http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/are-we-ready-for-the-jetsons-yet/#comments Thu, 14 Apr 2011 05:52:13 +0000 Amy Thyr http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3242 What better epitomizes the visionary futuristic-utopia of the 20th century than the Jetsons? Created in 1962 the prime-time animated sitcom took place in 2062… looking 100 years into the future. Besides the futuristic gadgets and gizmos-surely ahead of their time-the architectural influence is clearly that of Googie design. Including “upswept roofs, curvaceous, geometric shapes, and [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/are-we-ready-for-the-jetsons-yet/feed/ 5 http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/cruisin%e2%80%99-to-the-wich-stand/ http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/cruisin%e2%80%99-to-the-wich-stand/#comments Wed, 24 Nov 2010 06:51:23 +0000 Amy Thyr http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2839 The origins of “Googie” design can be traced back to the actual coffee shop designed by architect John Lautner and by the works of his contemporaries. Appearing first in commercial buildings and used primarily in designing restaurants, coffee shops, motels, gas stations and bowling alleys, as well as schools, churches, shopping centers and airline terminals, [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/cruisin%e2%80%99-to-the-wich-stand/feed/ 2 http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/memories-modernism-and-our-concepts-of-a-misremembered-future/ http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/memories-modernism-and-our-concepts-of-a-misremembered-future/#comments Wed, 03 Nov 2010 06:49:15 +0000 Amy Thyr http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2771 The recent exhibit of Deborah Aschheim’s drawings and architectural installations at Edward Cella A+A focused attention to the iconic modernist landmarks of Southern California that once represented the future. Aschheim’s works documented these structures, once the symbols of Southern California’s utopian dreams, which are now forlorn, crumbling commercial towers, buildings, and centers. Treated for the [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/memories-modernism-and-our-concepts-of-a-misremembered-future/feed/ 2 http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/swank-mid-century-desert-pad/ http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/swank-mid-century-desert-pad/#comments Wed, 14 Jul 2010 05:31:18 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2596 The Brick House have visited a couple who have done a fantastic job of redecorating and restoring their home back to its original style and feel. Located in the high desert of Southern California, they invites us to a house tour. Jill and T.K. have been DIYing the crap out of their mid century pad [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/swank-mid-century-desert-pad/feed/ 3 http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/eero-saarinens-jfk-terminal/ http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/eero-saarinens-jfk-terminal/#comments Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:14:56 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1846 The JFK Trans World Airlines (TWA) terminal was designed by the great Eero Saarinen. Built in a very modernist and expressionistic style it was finished in 1962 and set the standard for how modern jet travel was perceived back in its glory days. The Museum of the City of New York had a exhibition about [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/eero-saarinens-jfk-terminal/feed/ 6 http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/case-study-house-22/ http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/case-study-house-22/#comments Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:04:01 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1611 Wednesday inspiration. The Stahl House, also known as Case Study House #22 was finished in 1959 and is most likely the most famous house from the CSH program with help from famed photographer Julius Schulman. (Via)]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/case-study-house-22/feed/ 1 http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/1960s-whitney-smith-designed-modernism-home/ http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/1960s-whitney-smith-designed-modernism-home/#comments Tue, 08 Sep 2009 05:09:25 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1270 This lovely modernism designed home was built in the 1960s by architect Whitney Smith who was made famous through the Case Study Homes program in post WWII California. The house is located in Alhambra in the US and like many other Mid Century homes it was built in the typical ‘glass box’ theme with high [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/1960s-whitney-smith-designed-modernism-home/feed/ 6 http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/coast-modern-traces-the-modernism-origins/ http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/coast-modern-traces-the-modernism-origins/#comments Wed, 08 Jul 2009 06:24:38 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1056 Interesting trailer from the upcoming documentary entitled Coast Modern which takes you on a trip back in time to look for the origins of Modernism architecture and how its style and look became associated with the west coast of the US. The release date for the documentary is set for autumn this year, meanwhile you [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/coast-modern-traces-the-modernism-origins/feed/ 0 http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/a-mid-century-gem-exposed-in-los-angeles/ http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/a-mid-century-gem-exposed-in-los-angeles/#comments Tue, 02 Jun 2009 09:36:54 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=887 Located in Los Feliz, in the East Hollywood district of Los Angeles, this stylish 1953 house going under the name “The Chew House” was built by architect Eugene Kinn Choy and is now up for sale if you got a cool $1,850,000 to spend. What fascinates me about this property is that there are so [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/a-mid-century-gem-exposed-in-los-angeles/feed/ 3 http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/the-desert-house/ http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/the-desert-house/#comments Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:29:00 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/uncategorized/the-desert-house/ Here is another very swank and swizzle cool house for sale in California for those of you who are immune to the recession. Located in Desert Hot Springs and nick named The Desert House by architectural firm Marmol-Radziner & Associates. Built in 2005 with the use of prefabricated modules and environmentally consciousness using solar powered [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/the-desert-house/feed/ 7 http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/twin-palms-for-sale/ http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/twin-palms-for-sale/#comments Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:09:00 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/uncategorized/twin-palms-for-sale/ Frank Sinatra’s old desert hideaway, Twin Palms in Palm Springs, California is up for sale. In the late 1940s Frank had just made his first million and he wanted to celebrate in style, so he commissioned architect E. Stewart Williams to design a lush weekend getaway house for throwing parties and lounging by the pool [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/twin-palms-for-sale/feed/ 14 http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/a-new-skyline/ http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/a-new-skyline/#comments Thu, 18 Sep 2008 10:18:00 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/uncategorized/chic-today-article-a-new-skyline/ Ultra Swank continues to collaborate with British lifestyle magazine Chic Today and today the second article from me was published in their magazine. It is called A New Skyline and focuses its attention on the architectural changes in the western harbor in Malmö, Sweden. Not more than 20 years ago it was a rural and [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/a-new-skyline/feed/ 6 http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/mid-century-desert-hidaways/ http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/mid-century-desert-hidaways/#comments Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:48:00 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/uncategorized/chic-today-article-mid-century-desert-hidaways/ The article I wrote for British lifestyle magazine Chic Today has finally been published! It’s called Mid Century Desert Hideaways and highlights two very impressive and stylish mid century hotels located in Palm Springs, California. You can read the full article and the rest of the magazine through the links below. Since this is the [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/mid-century-desert-hidaways/feed/ 5 http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/at-the-top-of-the-world/ http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/at-the-top-of-the-world/#comments Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:58:00 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/uncategorized/at-the-top-of-the-world/ This house, located in Santiago, Chile was designed by native architect Mathias Klotz Germain and was built for a family with eleven (yes eleven!) daughters. The first floor houses entertainment and social areas, the second floor all of the bedrooms and the top floor includes the kitchen, viewing area and the master bedroom. The base [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/at-the-top-of-the-world/feed/ 3 http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/mid-century-houses/ http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/mid-century-houses/#comments Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:40:00 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/uncategorized/mid-century-houses/ I have a passion about the mid century homes that was built in southern California by great visionaries such as Joseph Eichler and John Lautner. The Eichler homes are especially sought after today and the prices of them are getting higher and higher. Perhaps common people have finally realized how amazingly simple and beautiful the [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/mid-century-houses/feed/ 4 http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/arne-jacobsen/ http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/arne-jacobsen/#comments Sat, 08 Sep 2007 12:34:00 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/uncategorized/arne-jacobsen/ This is the third post in my series about my favorite architects from the golden days of architecture. We are going back to Scandinavian design again, allow me to introduce Arne Jacobsen, one of the forefathers of Danish Modernism and Functionalism. Born in Copenhagen 1902, educated at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/arne-jacobsen/feed/ 8 http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/eero-saarinen/ http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/eero-saarinen/#comments Tue, 05 Jun 2007 14:21:00 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/uncategorized/eero-saarinen/ This is a continuation of my posts about my favourite architects from the golden days of architecture (this one is for you janepeepshow). Second up is Eero Saarinen, originally born in Finland in 1910. Relocated to the United States when his family emigrated there in 1923, where he began to study sculpture and furniture design. [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/eero-saarinen/feed/ 3 http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/mies-van-der-rohe/ http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/mies-van-der-rohe/#comments Thu, 17 May 2007 13:30:00 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/uncategorized/mies-van-der-rohe/ I have a passion for amazing architecture and special types of buildings. Hard to describe the feeling you get when looking at something beautiful, it is like a gut feeling and it feels pleasant. I have been thinking for quite some time now of getting some posts up of favorite architects from the golden days [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/mies-van-der-rohe/feed/ 6 http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/the-crown-prince-of-malmo/ http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/the-crown-prince-of-malmo/#comments Sun, 30 Jul 2006 14:47:00 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/uncategorized/the-crown-prince-of-malmo/ Malmö’s first skyscraper (and one of Sweden’s earliest) was built in 1964 and namned Kronprinsen (The Crown Prince). It stands 27 floors tall and features 700 apartments which can house as many as 3 000 people. The cost of building it was a staggering 90 million SEK (approx. $12 000 000). Standing at the top [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/the-crown-prince-of-malmo/feed/ 8 http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/swedish-googie-architecture/ http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/swedish-googie-architecture/#comments Thu, 20 Apr 2006 21:37:00 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/uncategorized/swedish-googie-architecture/ I recently discovered a Swedish website that featured abandoned and disused places, buildings and what not. One of the locations was one of those old motel / restaurant / bar establishment thingies that was a common sight along the Swedish highways up to the 1980s. The interesting thing about this place is the design. It [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/swedish-googie-architecture/feed/ 0