History Lessons: Renovations That Rethink the Past

History Lessons: Renovations That Rethink the Past
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Editor’s Letter: America Today
Editor’s Letter: America Today
Renovations rethink the past, new architecture helps people in the present, and progressive planning plots a better future: It’s all in our annual issue about the state of...
By William Hanley - a year ago
These Modern American Design Icons Pay Homage to the Old—and Make It New
Contemporary design takes its cues from the past and reinterprets the classics, from Shaker furniture to quilts to Tiffany glass.
Carpet’s Many Comebacks
American floors weren’t always hewn in hardwood. From shag to low-pile options, here are the trends that have dominated over the decades.
Who Owns Frank Lloyd Wright’s Legacy? It’s Complicated
The estate of arguably America’s most famous architect is tied up in a convoluted web of foundations, conservancies, and a trust—one that outlines the state of preservation today.
The Tide Turns for a Trio of Prefab Pod Houses in the San Juan Islands
The founder of the Living Building Challenge and his family join hands to restore a quirky off-grid outpost.
He Only Built One Home—So They Gave It a Singular Renovation
A thoughtful restoration celebrates the only house ever built by architect and activist Kazuo Umemoto.
They’d Already Renovated an Iconic Midcentury. What’s One More?
After expertly updating Louis Kahn’s historic Esherick house, a Pennsylvania couple discover their forever home in a surprising place.
A Canary Yellow ADU Brings a Sense of Community to a Saint Paul, Minnesota, Backyard
Partly designed by a son for his mother, the structure let a family come together during the worst months of the pandemic.
A Bibliophile Couple’s Brooklyn Apartment Finds a Smart Storage Solution for More Than 1,000 Books
Design-build firm Spot Lab reimagine an old 980-square-foot corner unit with birch-plywood built-ins for the family’s home library and a U-shaped banquette for entertaining.
A Nonprofit Development in Arizona Offers a Model for Affordable Home Ownership
Part of a community land trust, the Tempe Micro Estates offer buyers an alternative to an overheated housing market.
A Forgotten Philip Johnson Home Gets a New Lease on Life
For friends Jiminie Ha and Jeremy Parker, renovating and restoring a forgotten home by the controversial architect was a complicated labor of love.
This Housing Center Provides Sanctuary for Starting Over
The Ben Smith Welcome Center in New Orleans is a safe haven for formerly incarcerated men to get back on their feet.
This Ohio Midcentury Had Charms—They Just Needed to Be Turned On
Ashley Sargent Price, a creative director in fashion, envisioned a three-part renovation for her family’s home that ended with a show-stopping kitchen.
Construction Diary: A Maine Designer Builds His Family’s Home Completely by Hand
Andrew Frederick worked with healthy, locally sourced materials to DIY a woodsy compound for his wife and two kids.
Why Architect Melissa Shin Adds Drawings of Smurfs to Her Project Plans
Never one to take things too seriously, the cofounder of Los Angeles firm Shin Shin turns her childhood toys into watermarks.
Miniature Marvel
A micro addition in Seattle makes a mighty impact with just 30 square feet.
Something Old, Something New
Diaz + Alexander Studio gives the classic French Château style a modern twist by combining clean, geometric forms with rich materials.
In a New Light
Visual Comfort & Co.’s new Modern Collection infuses a high-tech aesthetic with contemporary glamour.