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/stores/a-mid-century-shopping-centre-in-northern-sweden/ http://www.ultraswank.net/stores/a-mid-century-shopping-centre-in-northern-sweden/#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:30:42 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3631 Shopping is one of Europe’s first interior shopping centers ever built. This mid-century gem is hidden away in the cold northern parts of Sweden. It was designed by famous British-Swedish architect Ralph Erskine and built in 1955. Erskine wanted to create something that would be enjoyable for everyone all year round, not being dependent on [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/stores/a-mid-century-shopping-centre-in-northern-sweden/feed/ 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/roadtrip/a-visit-to-london-in-1957/ http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/a-visit-to-london-in-1957/#comments Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:38:42 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3185 A trip to yesteryear London in 1957, about a decade before the height of “Swinging London” with its youth oriented fashion, music, art and culture scenes. Places depicted are among others Cambridge Circus, Palace Pier and Trafalgar Square. What do you prefer, London in 1957 or 2011? Photos by Kai Krog Halse (Via)]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/a-visit-to-london-in-1957/feed/ 0 http://www.ultraswank.net/advertising/charles-schriddes-vision-of-the-future/ http://www.ultraswank.net/advertising/charles-schriddes-vision-of-the-future/#comments Thu, 17 Mar 2011 09:29:18 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3153 Charles Schridde’s illustrations from the early 1960s for Motorola is a great example of the future that never was. The ads were often featured in Life Magazine and depicted a lush, comfy and elegant future, conveniently centered around various Motorola products. I for one, wouldn’t mind living in a pad like the ones Mr. Schridde [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/advertising/charles-schriddes-vision-of-the-future/feed/ 3 http://www.ultraswank.net/event/montreal-expo-67/ http://www.ultraswank.net/event/montreal-expo-67/#comments Thu, 02 Dec 2010 06:08:42 +0000 Katharine Miller http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2868 Few events encapsulate the aura of the 1960s like Expo 67. Looking back at the photos and videos of the exhibition, one can get a good idea of the fashions, behaviors, and attitudes of the era. This World’s Fair, one of the most popular, was an overwhelming spectacle of delights for all in attendance. For [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/event/montreal-expo-67/feed/ 1 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/design/the-world-of-googie/ http://www.ultraswank.net/design/the-world-of-googie/#comments Mon, 03 May 2010 05:16:36 +0000 James Vaughan http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2325 It was with reluctance that I took on Ultra Swank’s assignment of a segment on Googie design. I am not an expert. Art historians and critics can be a vicious group. One false move and I could be forever condemned to an underworld of Louis the XIV basement rec. rooms accented with a million velvet [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/design/the-world-of-googie/feed/ 2 http://www.ultraswank.net/film/documentary-about-space-age-inspired-design/ http://www.ultraswank.net/film/documentary-about-space-age-inspired-design/#comments Tue, 30 Mar 2010 05:22:52 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2042 Atomic Lounge is a 90 minute documentary that looks back at the Space-Age inspired architecture, design, fashion, and lifestyle of post-WWII America. The film will explore the conditions that led to a unique time in history when Americans experienced a dual sense of optimism for the future and fear of impeding nuclear holocaust. This period [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/film/documentary-about-space-age-inspired-design/feed/ 7 http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/san-francisco-in-1958/ http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/san-francisco-in-1958/#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:34:03 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1996 For those of you who saw the posts about the Disneyland home movies taken in 1956, only a year after the park opened will most likely appreciate that the author of those videos have found another treasure from his grandparents home movie archive, San Francisco in 1958. The movie guides us around a few urban [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/san-francisco-in-1958/feed/ 5 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/film/visual-accoustics-celebrates-photographer-julius-schulman/ http://www.ultraswank.net/film/visual-accoustics-celebrates-photographer-julius-schulman/#comments Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:52:43 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1440 This documentary about the life of famed photographer Julius Schulman looks very appealing to me. If you have been reading my earlier architecture posts you will immediately know who I am referring to. [Thanks Cam] Narrated by Dustin Hoffman, VISUAL ACOUSTICS celebrates the life and career of Julius Shulman, the world’s greatest architectural photographer, whose [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/film/visual-accoustics-celebrates-photographer-julius-schulman/feed/ 3 http://www.ultraswank.net/travel/welcome-to-fabulous-los-angeles-jetport/ http://www.ultraswank.net/travel/welcome-to-fabulous-los-angeles-jetport/#comments Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:10:16 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1343 This is Los Angeles International Airport (Jetport), it was built in the late 1950s and was at the time one of the biggest airports in America. They first envisioned it to be even bigger in the anticipation of the “jet age” with lots of terminals and buildings connected through a huge steel-and-glass dome building but [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/travel/welcome-to-fabulous-los-angeles-jetport/feed/ 9 http://www.ultraswank.net/interior/time-travel-with-a-ddr-designed-hostel-in-berlin/ http://www.ultraswank.net/interior/time-travel-with-a-ddr-designed-hostel-in-berlin/#comments Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:46:17 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1292 If you ever wondered how it was like living in the old communist eastern Europe but were unable to do so before the wall fell? Here is your chance. In the heart of the former eastern side of Berlin lies a quite ordinary looking concrete apartment building that once was home to dozens of people, [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/interior/time-travel-with-a-ddr-designed-hostel-in-berlin/feed/ 0 http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/the-disneyland-hotel-in-anaheim/ http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/the-disneyland-hotel-in-anaheim/#comments Thu, 27 Aug 2009 05:55:15 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1215 I am strangely fascinated by the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California. Built in 1955 along with the park it was actually not operated by the Walt Disney Company until 1988 due to the building of the park had tapped Walt Disney for most of his financial resources. The Hotel has obviously been rebuilt, added to [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/the-disneyland-hotel-in-anaheim/feed/ 12 http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/postcards-of-googie-architecture-in-california/ http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/postcards-of-googie-architecture-in-california/#comments Tue, 07 Jul 2009 05:59:58 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1043 Since we all love kitschy postcards, I thought this would be a great way to start off the week. Below are a small sample of postcards from Synthetrix postcard collection of yesteryear California. Including motels, restaurants, diners, bowling alleys and everything between that all shares the Googie styled design and architecture that became popular on [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/roadtrip/postcards-of-googie-architecture-in-california/feed/ 5 http://www.ultraswank.net/event/koenigs-case-study-house-22-home-tours/ http://www.ultraswank.net/event/koenigs-case-study-house-22-home-tours/#comments Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:00:21 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1036 The Stahl house, designed by architect Pierre Koening in 1960 will be open to visitors for a limited time. The house was built part of the Case Study House experiments for residential housing sponsored by Arts & Architecture magazine, which hired major architects including Charles and Ray Eames, Pierre Koenig and Eero Saarinen, to design [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/event/koenigs-case-study-house-22-home-tours/feed/ 8 http://www.ultraswank.net/science/disneys-house-of-the-future/ http://www.ultraswank.net/science/disneys-house-of-the-future/#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:33:37 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1026 This is the House of the Future (or Plastic House of the Future) at Disneyland, California circa 1957 – where you could get a glimpse of what the future held in technology and comfort in the year 1986. Look at all those fancy buttons all over the place, I crave more buttons in my apartment [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/science/disneys-house-of-the-future/feed/ 5 http://www.ultraswank.net/design/eichler-numbers-marks-the-spot/ http://www.ultraswank.net/design/eichler-numbers-marks-the-spot/#comments Thu, 14 May 2009 06:41:59 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=835 If you are a lucky owner of one of the 11 000 mid-century Eichler homes located in northern and southern California, chances are you are also a design and architecture savvy person who appreciates fine details. Proud Eichler home owner Carmen realized this and are therefore offering authentic Eichler house numbers for sale through her [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/design/eichler-numbers-marks-the-spot/feed/ 0