Architectural Corner – Art Moderne
Art Moderne, also known as Streamline moderne, is a combination of the popular Art Deco-style of the 1920s and and the austere times of the Great Depression, producing a Deco-like appearance but with much less flair and ornamentation. Also influenced by the modern, no-nonsense Bauhaus architecture of Europe, Art Moderne did away with “excessive” flair like Zigzags and chevrons. The design was highlighted in the 1933 World Fair in Chicago, and although the nation was mired in a depression, reflected the spirit of technological advancements and innovative construction techniques. Common to these properties were: rounded corners, aluminum or chrome hardware, nautical themes like porthole windows, glass brick walls, flat roofing, smooth, white walls, and open floor plans. Moderne buildings were typically very tall and white, as opposed to the brightly colored styles of Art Deco. Aerodynamic curves and lines replaced sharp angles, and exotic wood and stone was replaced with cement, glass and stucco.
There are a few Moderne houses in Dallas, but they were mostly found in California and Palm Springs.
Architectural Corner – Gothic Revival
(Think Addam’s Family – not the unwatchable Addam’s Family Values – and you have the idea.)
Also referred to as Neo-Gothic or Victorian Gothic, this style of architecture began in mid-1700’s England, and grew in popularity through the 1800’s. It stood for many things, from religious nonconformity anti-industrialization, and has played an important part in buildings from houses to churches to office buildings.
Usually exceptionally ornate, Gothic revival properties featured asymmetrical floor plans, Oriel windows (projecting from exterior walls), leaded glass, pinnacles, grouped chimneys, and pointed windows with ornate decoration. Earlier buildings featured tall, buttressed buildings with interior columns, but technological innovations such as steel framing, the incandescent light bulb and elevators rendered them obsolete. Oddly and disappointingly enough, there were very few gargoyles in the residences I viewed online…
Examples of Gothic Revival include the Cologne Cathedral, the Palace of Westminster, and the Washington National Cathedral (begun in 1906 and completed in 1990).
Vague Specifics – June 2021
As June comes to a close, the wild sellers market continues. Median sales prices have skyrocketed 26% for single-family houses in DFW since May 2020, averaging just 24 days to sell. Condos are even higher at 29%. Look for the month-over hyper-appreciation to level off for the rest of the year because spring markets always see the biggest sale price bump, although it’s not unimaginable to see sales prices go up another 5 or so percentage points. I’ve stated this before, but I keep hearing people proclaim they’re going to wait “for the market to correct” before buying. It’s not going to “correct”. These prices are here to stay. There are too many buyers, too little inventory, and money is too cheap for this to slow down anytime soon.
I shot a bird with a BB gun when I was 12 and have never forgiven myself. I’d claim peer pressure, but I could have said no. I now feel even worse since Kacie and I had the opportunity to witness a mockingbird nest and the fledglings that grew up in it right outside our den window. We noticed something was odd when a pair of adults began divebombing our cats, eventually I found one of the fledglings in our fir bush. Turns out there were three. One of them didn’t make it through the massive rainstorm a few weeks ago, but eventually we saw the two remaining grow stronger and more coordinated. My favorite pic is the far right, where the late bloomer of the two finally made it on top of the fence. His mom approached and he instinctively opened his mouth for a free meal. She declined and flew to a nearby tree. After a lot of self-doubt and stumbling, the followed her. Their next stop was a tree about 100′ away. I think I’ve seen them the last week or so, and my mind keeps going back to the mid-80s when I shot that poor bird. The stupid things we do during childhood…
MLS Statistics – June 2021
Architectural Corner – Greek Revival
Thomas Jefferson was a man of many talents. A statesman, a scholar, an inventor, and an architect. He designed the University of Virginia. Although he never practiced Greek architecture, he was instrumental in introducing the Greek Revival to the United States.
During his presidency, Jefferson appointed Benjamin Henry Latrobe as surveyor of public buildings. Latrobe went on to design many important public structures in DC and Philadelphia, including work on the United States Capitol and the Bank of Pennsylvania.
Latrobe’s Capitol design was an imaginative one, incorporating both American motifs such as corncobs and tobacco leaves with traditional Greek. Although his original plan did not survive, many of his interiors do to this day, including the US Supreme Court interior. Consisting of bold yet simple moldings, symmetrical shapes, pedimented (low-pitched, triangular) gables, heavy pillar cornices, and decorative piasters, the Greek Revival captured the beauty of ancient Greece with the practical styles of the mid 1800’s. While it was not isolated to the United States, Greek Revival building was heavy in buildings, both public and private.
Independence Day Fun Facts
We all know July 4th is the celebration of American independence, when the Founders shed the control of the British Monarchy and declared the forming of a new nation. But here are some fun facts you may not know:
July 2nd was Actually “Independence Day” – Thomas Jefferson presented the Declaration to the 2nd Continental Congress on July 2nd,1776. In fact, “July II MDCCLXXVI” is written on the tablet of the Statue of Liberty. The 4th was the day Congress accepted it.
The Last Surviving Founders Died on July 4th – John Adams(2nd President) and Thomas Jefferson (3rd President) died on the 50thanniversary of the signing of the Declaration (July 4th, 1826), James Monroe (5th President) died 5 years later (1831).
“Sacred and Undeniable” – Thomas Jefferson’s original draft of the Declaration of Independence read, “We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable that all men are created equal…”. It was at the objection of Dr. Benjamin Franklin that the Lockean term “self- evident”, as “sacred and undeniable” seemed too theologically rooted.
The Declaration as a Beacon – The United States is one of the younger nations on Earth, but has the oldest government. Since the Declaration, countries such as France, Greece, Poland, and even Russia have cited the Declaration as an icon for human liberty and equality.
The Tune of the National Anthem was Originally an English Drinking Song – Not hard to believe if you know anything about music of the era. Many tunes were used again and again with different songs and lyrics.
Selling in a Covid World
In case you didn’t know, there is a virus spanning the globe. Experts have issued guidelines that were taken up by Metrotex Realtors, and together they introduced safety protocols designed to protect buyers, sellers & real estate professionals. It’s not a whole new way of doing things, but there have been some adjustments.
Real estate saw some rough times from April, May, and into June. Sales were down considerably, but more affected was inventory. Fortunately, basic laws of supply-and-demand have kept sales prices moving upward, and interest rates have motivated buyers into stepping out of quarantine and buying a home.
Technology has never been more important in real estate. Along with great photography, 360 walkthrough technology, like Matterport photography, ensures even quarantined buyers can virtually tour a home. Protocol dictates that all real estate professionals wear masks and self-quarantine if they feel unwell. Personally, I leave masks at the front door of my listings along with hand sanitizer and a request that everyone disinfect when they’re entering and leaving.
Besides having very little to choose from, buyers are not as affected as you’d expect. Virtual showings – agents previewing a home while FaceTiming their buyers – are a lot more common.
Closings – normally my favorite part of the transaction – are now done remotely or in people’s cars… which stinks. Also, closings are often being delayed because virtually all the cogs in the real estate machine are operating below maximum efficiency. It’s an emotional market in 2020, and these delays do nothing to help, but with a little patience and perseverance, people are still moving down the road and realizing the American dream.
Architectural Corner – Ranch
Few people look at ranch-style homes and are taken aback by their bold lines and curves, but they are nonetheless a staple of American residential architecture.
Most ranches, unless converted, are typically single story, with a low-pitched gable roof, rectangular design, large windows, attached or detached garages, and an emphasis on openness with as few interior walls as possible. Aside from decorative shutters, ranch homes are some-what lacking in unnecessary elaborate features.
Ranch homes are the result of a fusion of prairie-style houses and informal bungalows of the early 20th century. Architect Cliff Mays was credited with building the first ranch home in San Diego in 1932. Following World War II, ranch homes exploded in number because of their simple, economical de-signs to meet the needs of veteran’s families.
Ranch-style homes are often thought of when one imagines a “cookie-cutter” neighborhood, but their affordability and versatility have made them numerous and an important fixture in America.
The Virtues of a Cold Shower
The modern world is all about convenience and comfort, and a nice hot shower is no exception. It loosens the muscles, soothes the skin, and leaves you relaxed. Unfortunately – like many modern comforts – it prevents us from benefits our ancestors enjoyed without even knowing they enjoyed them.
A shower below 70 degrees can be considered “cold”, although the colder the water the more the benefits. It can improve:
Circulation/Inflammation – Just like an ice pack on an injured area, a cold shower enables blood to reach your cells, aiding in recovery, decreasing post-workout muscle soreness, and facilitating recovery all over your body. It also aids in clearing of your lymphatic system and improving your immune system.
Healthy Hair & Skin – Not sold solely on the anti-inflammatory properties? Cold water both facilitates hair and skin regeneration. It also prevents us from losing too many of our natural skin oils as we shower.
Elevated Mood & Reduced Stress – Cold showers lower uric acid and boost glutathione in the blood, helping reduce stress.
Weight Loss Stimulation – There are 2 types of fat in the body: white and brown fat. White fat is made up of lipids, and is the fat we don’t want. Brown fat (also called adipose tissue) contains far more mitochondria than white fat, and is activated when you get cold. It maintains our body temperature and burns calories to produce heat.
Instant Alertness – There are physiological reasons for this, but consider taking a cold shower and not being 100% awake afterwards. This to me goes hand-in-hand with improved mood. Prior to cold showers, I typically practiced meditation at the beginning of the day to center myself. I haven’t had to do that at all since I started cold showers.
I began taking cold showers in February, starting at 30 seconds and ultimately reaching the goal of 2:30 after increasing my time :15 each week. While the initial shock of cold water doesn’t subside, within 20 seconds the shock becomes both invigorating and therapeutic.