Sunday, July 20, 2008, a show opened at the Museum of Modern Art that looks to be both interesting and thorough about the challenges architects have faced selling the idea of prefabricated houses. The show encompasses a timeline, beginning in the 1800’s with factory-produced buildings. It then spans the next 200 years, showing how the idea of prefabricated housing returned with each new architectural movement and yet, has continuously struggled to find solid footing.

The show not only encompasses historical stories, plans and pictures, but an array of models, including a walk-in model in the exhibition space. The finale is 5 fully built homes on the 54th street lot of MoMa. The pictures look completely surreal, with these 5 homes right in the middle of the skyscrapers of Manhattan.

Check out the MoMa site for a complete journal of the show, including pictures and a video of the installation process: www.momahomedelivery.org

The NY Times also has a good review of the show, including a slide show.

MOMA is talking color. According to curator Ann Temkin, somewhere mid-century, artist began seeing color in a new way. With the advent of commercial paint in a myriad of standardized colors the artists pallet became available at the local hardware store. Pop art in a can. Pantone geek heaven.

Of course if you happen to be in Raleigh, NC rather than NYC you can stop by Designbox and see what a local artist does with actual paint chips from Lowes. (see left side. Trademark style of Shaun Richards).