“Built The Right Way” is a bi-monthly interview series sponsored by Marvin Windows and Doors, featuring interviews with experts involving in home building, development, construction, architecture and everything in between! Join 97.9 The Hill in each iteration to learn something new about what it takes — and what it means— to build the right way!
In the first episode of “Built The Right Way,” join 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck for a conversation with David Fitch, of Fitch Lumber and Hardware, as well as George Smart — also known as Mr. Modernism!
Smart is the executive director of NC Modernist, and is extensively involved in the execution of the annual George Matsumoto Prize, North Carolina’s highest honor for Modernist architecture!
“NC Modernist is a nonprofit educational archive to preserve the cool modernist architecture,” said Smart. “People love the Frank Lloyd Wright style of houses that were very popular between the mid forties and about 1970 that are dotted all around Chapel Hill, particularly in the Morgan Creek area and in the Lake Shore Drive area, and through Coker Hills. You can just see house after house of this style. Unfortunately, in recent years, a number of these built in that period and even a little bit later are getting torn down, because people don’t know where they are or why they’re important. So our group works to help get these houses into the hands of new, loving, caring owners.”
With support from local businesses and organizations, such as Fitch Lumber and Hardware, homes built in the Modernist style are seeing something of a renaissance — especially as new construction is increasingly focused on ethics and efficiency.
“What [NC Modernist does] is amazing, honestly, for the building industry. Not just to preserve these homes that he was just describing, but also new homes and, and the transition between an old mid-century modern and kind of what people are building now,” said Fitch. “We’ve been a, a supporter of them throughout some of their events. It’s great architects, great builders, you know? Great cause it is just a very interesting and intuitive group that we like to be a part of and help them.”
Click below to listen to the full conversation about Modernist architecture in North Carolina, the George Matsumoto Prize, where home building is headed in the United States, and more!
Aaron Keck, David Fitch and George Smart
