Monday 27 October 2008

Luxe, calme et volupté












Images from Menil House, article by Bruce C . Webb for Texas Architect.


The 1950s modernist house in Houston that Philip Johnson designed for art collectors John and Dominique de Menil was one of the first houses built in the International Style in the United States. Even more intriguing are its atypical interiors done by the couturier Charles James. As a foil to the modernist structure, Mrs. de Menil said at the time, they wanted something more voluptuous.

Restored in 2004 by Stern and Bucek Architects, not simply as Johnson designed it, but as the Menils lived in it.



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9 comments:

Unknown said...

absolutely-freakin-gorgeous!

An Aesthete's Lament said...

The best parts are the details not often seen (but I was able to recently): bedroom doors sheathed in faded red-silk velvet; satin-padded headboards; a bright-pink hidden bar; and teeny, tiny bookshelves overhead in the bathrooms, all packed with French novels and such. It is a wonderful house.

Pigtown*Design said...

everything i am not. but the house is stunning!

HOBAC said...

PD - don't know about that, your'e pretty luxe in my book.

HOBAC said...

AL - do you remember seeing it published in the mid 80s, either in AD or HG? Those were great shots, the bedroom was very striking.

HOBAC said...

M21 - thought you might like it.

Fifi Flowers said...

That first sofa is shaped like the driveway!
Love the green one!

katiedid said...

Amazing. Especially the shot with the ornate sofa and (as my husband would say) the "large art". Haha.

cotedetexas said...

omg! Houston!!! AWWWWW, gotta love my town. :) thanks!!! I'm taking this very personally, W.

(ok, I know I sound like a teenager here, but what a pleasant surprise to click to this!)