modern Stl
Our tale
In 2010, a group of preservationists and MCM property owners established Modern STL as a membership-based non-profit organization with the goal of preserving and fostering a greater appreciation for the mid-century modern history of the St. Louis area. The organization, which is run by local fans of mid-century modern architecture, carries out this aim through hosting events, tours, and talks that appeal to a broad audience. The Board of Directors for Modern STL is chosen by our membership. We take pride in having a membership that cuts across St. Louis’ urban-suburban divide.
Our allies
The nation's top non-profit organization devoted to the documenting and preservation of structures, locations, and neighborhoods associated with the modern movement for nearly 25 years, DOCOMOMO US, has recognized Modern STL as a "Friend" affiliate.
Our Situation
In September 2010, Modern STL became a Missouri non-profit company. Although it is in the works, Modern STL is not yet a 501(c)3 non-profit that has received federal recognition.
Supporters
We are grateful for the financial assistance provided by our corporate members. Even those that do survive aren’t always maintained well: the significant, nationally renowned Magic Chef Building designed by Harris Armstrong in St. Louis is suffocating under unsightly metal sheeting and serving as a U-Haul storage facility. Lesser works have a chance to decline and go unrecorded.
We have our work cut out for us, without a doubt.
However, those who favor maintaining the mid-century modern buildings in St. Louis are entering a heyday of support from the general public. We never lost respect for the famous landmarks, so that is something working in our favor. The years of identification and advocacy work done by local historians and preservationists have been another source of support. Though it’s a small number, there are already dozens of contemporary structures on the National Register of Historic Places. Recent interest from developers has been sparked by tax credits, which is fantastic.
However, time itself is the biggest advantage we now have. You see, trends in architecture come and go in cycles. Many people believed that rows of Victorian homes were unattractive and out of date when they were torn down in cities in the 1950s for urban renewal. They became standard for fashionable city dwellers within a decade, and today no one would dare disparage the architectural art of the 19th century.
The time will come when modern architecture will be accepted because everything old will become new again. The zigzags, streamlines, poured slabs, and square tiles of the modern era have already captured the hearts of new eyes with plenty to love. Changing societal views that ranch houses are outdated and "too small" or that a mid-century motel can't be converted to a new use is a difficulty. Since St. Louis's builders of the contemporary age typically built things as robustly as they did when Soulard was expanded out, many of the reasons against preservation are actually focused on taste and style.
However, time itself is the biggest advantage we now have. You see, trends in architecture come and go in cycles. Many people believed that rows of Victorian homes were unattractive and out of date when they were torn down in cities in the 1950s for urban renewal. They became standard for fashionable city dwellers within a decade, and today no one would dare disparage the architectural art of the 19th century.
Time will change things, but the challenge is ensuring that the structures endure as a distinctive and beloved architectural layer alongside the Second Empire and Craftsman styles that we are all familiar with. A fresh generation of St. Louis residents will one day search this area for traces of earlier historical eras. What are we going to let them find out? We can only hope that the 20th century saw the great blooming of modern architecture. For us now, preservation is not a burden, but rather a gift to future generations.