Modern, Again (The Benda House & Garden in Chicagoland)

Modern, Again: The Benda House & Garden in Chicagoland is equal parts a history of modern residential architecture in America and a rewarding journey of preservation and stewardship.

Ambrose and Sabatino—co-authors of this book and co-owners of the Winston Elting designed Benda house—summarize their in-depth archival research and hands-on work undertaken for the restoration of their 1939 International Style house in Riverside, a historic village designed by Olmsted & Vaux in Chicago’s western suburbs. The Benda House was commissioned during a time when excitement for modern architecture, art, and design was very much alive amongst the public in America, partly due to the enthusiasm created by Chicago’s Century of Progress International Exposition held between 1933 and 1934 and culminated with the New York World’s Fair of 1939.

This book features archival materials ranging from architectural drawings to historic building product catalogues alongside contemporary photographs taken before and after the restoration process. Finally, the co-authors discuss their addition of a new landscaped garden that re-establishes the relationship between nature and this modern house while extending Olmsted’s vision of idealized suburban living in America.