Six Portland area homes designed by Pietro Belluschi will be open during Restore Oregon’s annual Mid-Century Modern Home Tour on May 10th. Curated by Belluschi’s son, Anthony, who is himself an accomplished architect, the tour presents the first opportunity for Belluschi fans to step inside such a collection of his residential work. Homes on tour span several decades and include the Burkes House where Pietro lived until his passing in 1994.
Known internationally as a key innovator in the development of an elegant modernism often referred to as the International style, Belluschi’s residences were particularly suited to the materials and climate of the Pacific Northwest. Belluschi’s work was widely admired and resulted in his appointment as dean of the School of Architecture and Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Over his long career Belluschi designed or collaborated on over 1,000 buildings. Notable commercial work includes the Portland Art Museum and the Equitable (Commonwealth) Building in Portland, the Julliard School of Music and Pan American Building in New York, St. Mary’s Cathedral and the Bank of American Building in San Francisco, and scores of churches from Oregon to Rhode Island. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts by the National Endowment for the Arts in 1991 for his lifetime achievements.
“In addition to celebrating the work of a master, the goal for our tour is to draw attention to the need for thoughtful preservation of Modern architecture,” says Restore Oregon’s Executive Director, Peggy Moretti. “Many of the homes on our tour have been lovingly restored, but there are so many more Modern buildings whose historic significance remains unrecognized, and are very much in need of stewardship.”
Advance tickets went on sale through the Restore Oregon website in March and are expected to sell out. All proceeds benefit the programs of Restore Oregon, a non-profit devoted to saving Oregon’s endangered historic places, from the pioneer through modern eras.
Mid-Century
Modern Home Tour Celebrating
Pietro Belluschi
Saturday, May 10, 2014
10am – 4pm, Portland
Tickets: $45/general; $35/members
www.RestoreOregon.org
503 243-1923
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