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Monday, June 06, 2005

Another Endangered Brownsville Treasure

Today's Brownsville Herald front page news was on the City's recent execution of plans to renovate the famed yet deeply neglected George Kraigher House. The house, built in 1937, was designed by internationally reknowned architect Richard J. Neutra, and its modern style is one of few examples of Neutra's work known outside of California. The house was named to be one of America's 11 most endangered historic places of 2004 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.


Kraigher House in its current state of neglect


Kraigher House at its former glory

Within 30 days, the City of Brownsville should be receiving renovation bids for the house. Currently, the City is not sure what the house should be used for after its renovation, but as the Herald article states, the city plans to use it for the benefit of the community. I think since the house it largely being celebrated for it's modern, International Style architecture, then it's use must remain within that context. With it's clean lines and open spaces, the house would be greatly suited for a contemporary and modern art gallery. An even better idea would be for the Kraigher House to be used as a City architectural center, where Brownsville's architectural sites can be put on photographic display to educate the public and to house a center or group that will dedicate its sevices to the protection and preservation of Brownsville's architectural history.

I also find it refreshing that the city's architectural focus has shifted to this modern styled house. Lovely as it is, I am getting tired of the Spanish mission styled architecture that has been popping up around town. Must everything, even the gasoline station across the street, look like the Alamo? I am not saying that we should go back to drab commercial design...but there are so many more design options to make a city more aesthetically appealing. About 20 different and historical design examples exist in our downtown center alone, so why not take from there as well?

2 comments:

Mz. Gydnew said...

How wonderful something is going to be done with that. I'd seen it a number of times when in Brownsville and had always wondered what it was originally.

The Art of Brownsville said...

Yes, I am pretty happy about this as well. I need to get out there and take some pictures of my own.

Art by Rosendo Sandoval - Title:"La que bailo con el diablo " contact: galloblanco03@yahoo.com

Art by Rosendo Sandoval - Title:"La que bailo con el diablo " contact: galloblanco03@yahoo.com

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