Modern Albuquerque, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting and preserving midcentury modernist architecture and art, recently launched a website about such historic sites.
Thea Haver, the co-founder of Modern Albuquerque, talked to the Albuquerque Journal about the website and the midcentury style:
Haver said modernist or midcentury architecture dates from 1945 to 1975, “from post-World War II to pre-‘Star Wars.’ ”
“Modernism is a set of (architectural) principles; it is form following function,” Haver said. “You drive by Loyola’s (Family Restaurant, 4500 Central SE), you look in the window and you want a happy meal.”
Loyola’s, which opened as Sherm’s in 1958, and the Whole Hog Café, 725 Central NE, built as a Denny’s diner in 1964, are examples of Googie architecture, named for a Hollywood coffee shop. Born in Southern California, Googie architecture often includes design elements such as upswept roofs; curvy, geometric shapes; and brazen use of glass, steel and neon.
Modern Albuquerque has documented more than 350 buildings erected in the modernist style.
Many examples of midcentury architecture have been lost, including numerous Route 66 motels after Interstate 40 was built, Haver said.
Other modernist examples on Route 66 are:
- Bank of America, 4401 Central Ave.
- Classic Century Square, 4616 Central Ave.
- Crossroads Motel, 1001 Central Ave.
- Downtown Inn, 1213 Central Ave.
- Express Inn, 1020 Central Ave.
- Firestone Tire Store, 4602 Central Ave.
- Kap’s Restaurant, 5801 Central Ave.
- Loyola’s Restaurant, 4500 Central Ave.
- Lam’s Chinese Restaurant, 2124 Central Ave.
- Office building, 125 Central Ave.
- State of New Mexico office building, 5301 Central Ave.
- University Lodge, 3711 Central Ave.
- Wash Tub Laundry, 1105 Central Ave.
- Wells Fargo Bank, 3022 Central Ave.
- UNM Center for Advanced Research Computing, 1601-1625 Central Ave.
In addition to a listing of current and defunct historic sites, the website contains coloring pages, a YouTube channel and an emailed newsletter.
(Screen-capture image of the home page of the Modern Albuquerque website)