HoustonMod

The invaluable Swamplot linked to a Houston architecture site I had never seen before, HoustonMod. The style of site is itself sleek modern 60s-style design, and even its tone is slightly archaic. Unlike chatty, irony-filled sites like Swamplot (or this here blog you're reading), HoustonMod is minimal and matter-of-fact. They are clearly passionate about Houston's modernist architectural legacy, but they refuse to wear that passion on their sleeves. Like the buildings they love, they favor a cool, poker-faced exterior.

Yet the best part of the site is the moving triptych grouped under the heading of Houston's Modern Legacy. The three links are Moderns Still With Us, Mod-No-More, and Most Endangered Moderns. Under each heading are series of postage-stamp photos linking to info about each building.

As far as I can see, they take no political stance on preservation. But they encourage it by showing real estate listings for modern houses. Many of these modern houses that get sold are torn down and replaced by heinous McMansions. So making sure that folks interested in this architectural legacy know when one of these houses is on the market at least marginally increases the chances that it will be bought not by a McMansion developer, but by someone who would actually like to live in it.

HoustonMod has also published several exhibit catalogs dedicated to Houston modern architects.