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Mad for Mid-Century Modern

Mid-Century Modern

Mid-Century Modern architecture: According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, these buildings are “among the most underappreciated and vulnerable aspects of our nation’s heritage.” And Spokane is home to some of the region’s most significant examples. So, with a grant from the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, the City-County of Spokane Historic Preservation Office (HPO) commissioned a survey of the city’s Mid-Century Modern homes, churches, and commercial buildings – and asked helveticka to help out. Working with the HPO and with architectural historian Diana Painter, PhD of Painter Preservation, helveticka is underway with identifying 52 representative properties that demonstrate both a wide range of uses and important trends in post-war Spokane. One of the goals of the project is public education; though the survey work is ongoing, helveticka has already created and launched an informational website, Mid-Century Spokane, for the featured properties; new ones will be added on a weekly basis throughout 2017.

photo: Dr. Frederick Fischer residence | Richard Neutra | 1951