Charles M. Wickett – Eames Era “Berkeley West Building” Model – 1960’s

I saw this amazing mid-century modern model of the Berkeley West Building by architect Charles M. Wickett on Ebay.

Operation Disneyland #2 – Secret Pet Cemetery at “The Haunted Mansion”

Attention Operatives:

Operative 12 gained access to the Disneyland secret pet cemetery at target Haunted Mansion. File NR62AD left for retrieval.

Location of secret pet cemetery at Disneyland's Haunted Mansion

Atomic Street Sign in Los Angeles

I almost fell over when I saw this! I love everything from the angled edges to the spike on top!

Raymond Loewy House – Palm Springs

Raymond Loewy had an amazing house in Palm Springs.  Check it out below.

Loewy in the pool with his family

The swimming pool goes right into the living space!

Loewy's bathroom

Raymond Loewy relaxing at home

Loewy at work in the living room

Loewy entertaining guests at the bar

The house was equipped with a custom Studebaker Avanti painted brown to match the house and parked in the driveway

Rooster Door Knocker in Paris

The Invisible Agent Files #6 – Code From The Agent – Shutters in Amsterdam

Alert to all Associate Operatives:

Operatives from the Office of the Director have been following me.  They are seeking information regarding my resignation.  The shutters in Amsterdam below are a code which will pin point my future whereabouts.  I have been able to breach this channel to alert you.  Please proceed to rendezvous point X27 after deciphering code:

Purple Shutters (flickr)

Apricot shutters (flickr)

Red shutters (the invisible agent)

(the invisible agent)

Indigo shutters (flickr)

X shutter (the invisible agent)

- The Invisible Agent

Great Door Knocker in Amsterdam

Mon Oncle – 1958 – The Most Modern Movie Ever?

Mon Oncle is a French comedic film from 1958 by director Jacques Tati.  The film deals with France’s post war obesession with modern architecture.  The main character, Monsuier Hulot is a charming gentleman who gets himself into some interesting situations and is terribly awkward in the modern space.  The sets, landscaping, and furniture is unbelieveable!  There is a great running gag throughout the film involving a fish fountain that is only turned on when important guests arrive.  Larry Weinberg has a great article on the interior design of this film on Interior Design.net.

The Arpel's Home

The Plastac Factory office

Jouve vase on the table

Staircase and malm fireplace

Awesome rocking chair and great landscaping with colored gravel

Amazing Harper sofa

Motel Signs of the Space Age

I love all of these old motel and hotel signs from the space age.  I found these on Flickr.

Fallout Shelters – All the Rage in the Space Age

I found these great old fallout shelter photographs, drawings, and brochures. The fallout shelters were popularized during the Cold War era. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy and the Federal Government started the Community Fallout Shelter Program. Below are some images from the LIFE archive and Flickr.  The images from the “Fallout Shelter Handbook” were borrowed from Ward-o-Matic, he’s got some more great scans from the book here.

Cover of LIFE magazine - January 12, 1962

A mock up bomb shelter from LIFE Magazine

Presentation of items to bring along to your very own fallout shelter

Do it yourself and build your own shelter with this brochure!

Another "Build-it-Yourself" fallout shelter book

Shelter circa 1955

Business Executive, Keith S. McHugh, arguing the advantages of fallot shelters for every home with Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller - LIFE archive 1960

Bomb Shelter circa 1963

Fall out shelter circa 1961

A "do-it-yourself" shelter sketch

Advertisement for fall out shelter and a nuclear survival guide

An advertisement for shelter beds