Today’s time capsule voyeurism – an Alcoa Aluminum showcase – found by Keith – in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Thanks, Keith! If I had a contemporary home, I’d for sure have a Mondrian kitchen like this:
Pam, I found an interesting house listing at Sotheby’s website .. a 1958 prefab built by Alcoa. Cool.
-Keith
Located in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, the property is listed for $440,000 by Southeby’s, who says in their online materials:
A Mid-century contemporary marvel for modern living. Designed by Charles M. Goodman and constructed in 1958 as a project for the Alcoa Aluminum Company to showcase the wonders of Aluminum.
Built with post & beam construction and combines decorative and structural aluminum with beautiful woods such as oak, redwood and cypress.
Much of the original detail and design elements remain including the deep purple exterior panels and bright blue window panels. Walls of floor to ceiling glass are used on each end of the home. A California Style is featured by the use of an open courtyard between the home and car park.
The home is set on a fantastic double lot, and has three bedrooms, three baths and a full basement featuring two egress windows and ready for finishing. The outstanding open floor plan and vaulted ceilings are unique to this property.
For a few more photos —
Updating the second bathroom in a 1957 Alcoa Aluminum House 
Rochester Steven’s 1957 Alcoa Aluminum house 
Steven & Michael create the Mondrian bathroom originally intended for their Alcoa Aluminum house – stunning! 
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This same house was just panned on Apartment Therapy. I don’t always share their values, so I read their critique with a lot of skepticism. One of their writers went to view the house as a prospective buyer (legitimately, it seemed). They loved the living area, but reported that every other space was in bad repair or had suffered unfortunate updates.
Photos and link here:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/real-estate/prefab-fifty-years-later-057169
It doesn’t look that bad to me. The kitchen and bathroom do look 70s or 80s (though I never get those right), and I realize correcting that sinks a lot of money. But everything else looks pretty minor, like a hole in a hollow core door. That would never dissuade me from snatching up a house like this, but it does seem really careless not to replace cheap doors before showing the house. They also hated the purple exterior (well, I LOVE it!) and scowled at the finished basement, which to me (with a little bit of vision) looks like heaven underground.
It’s a little bruised and lonesome. I hope someone good buys it.
(Not sure if that link will travel. If not and you want to see the pictures, you can just search Charles M Goodman on the AT site.)
I am loving the coloured cabinets and the glass by the front door
I live in one of these houses that is in Rochester, NY. I can’t say enough good things about it!!!! Here is a link to some pictures along with the original national sales brochure.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22021175@N02/sets/72157603542788454/
OK, after alot of blog traffic about this house, its time that you actually hear the facts from the listing agent represrnting the sale of the property.
It is listed by Todd Shipman at Lakes Sotheby’s International Realty. The current list price is $315,000. as of today 2/2/09. The property needs someone to RESTORE it. Yes it needs work, and it has suffered abuse and some bad updating over the years, but it is a rare opportunity to own and restore a property of this magnitude in Minnesota. It is a rare California style Mid Century in a cold climate. The neighborhood could hold a finished value of $450,000 – $600,000 when finished.
OK, it is liveable, but it needs window work, some additional insulation, restoration of the doors and panels, a updated kitchen, updating of the two main floor bathrooms, the basement needs to be gutted and finished, landscaping and some garage/ carport work.
The sale is subject to lender approval and any offer would need to be non-contingent on the sale of any property. This project is not for the faint at heart, but would produce an astounding Mid Century Masterpiece.
Call or e mail for additional and correct information!
952-230-3117
Thanks, Todd! We hope we can find you a great, appreciative buyer for this wonderful property!
I live down the street from this gem. I always peek in the windows when I walk by and wonder “if”. I just need to convince my wife that we need to by it
I grew up in one of these Alcoa Houses constructed in New Canaan CT. Alcoa took over the house for 2 weeks to film an advertisement about it. Four others were built around the east coast and one in Colorado, the exterior of which was featured on the weekly TV show “Sky King”. It was a wild house to live in. My parents immediately painted the purple siding white. Our house had linoleum floors and plaster ceilings instead of wood featured in this one. The floor plan, cabinets , wall finishes were the same. Our house had really wonderful brick work as outer layer to glass wall bedrooms. Unfortunately when I visited it a few years ago it had been remodeled beyond recognition.
Hi Wendy – My husband and I sold our antique house in New Canaan about a year ago. At that time I was a guide at the Philip Johnson Glass Housse Did you live on Wellsley Drive? I’m going to go look at that house next time I visit NC. I have looked at photos, and yes, it has been remodeled beyond recognition. When did you live there?
Sally H.
We are in the process of purchasing this amazing home. In fact, today is our inspection day! One of the last steps before our closing, which is less than 30 days away. We’re excited to bring this home back to its former glory – we will be sure to keep you informed at our blog (www.ourcarefreehome.com) as we do so!
Thanks for everyone’s great commentary – it was incredibly helpful as we’ve been longing for (and researching) this home for about six months. We’ve come back to Retro Renovation time and time again!
congratulations and good luck with the closing!