Modern Phoenix:
Questions with Alison King
Construction Around Arizona
Katie Mayer
Y
ou might call her the “maven of
midcentury modern.” Founder of the
Web site Modern Phoenix, archivist, artist,
preservationist, and gatherer of people,
Alison King is a true champion for Arizona’s
midcentury modern architecture. She
recently sat down with us and shared what
sparked her love for midcentury modern
architecture, what makes it so special, and
why we should all care about preserving
these jewels of our past.
What is the essence of Modern Phoenix?
To me, it’s the network. It’s people coming
together to learn about and support
midcentury modern and contemporary
modern architecture. It’s the virtual
archive and the flat archive…kind of a
reference library.
What was the moment you realized your
passion for midcentury Phoenix?
I fell in love with midcentury in high school
from watching old movies. When I went to
design school and learned about the
architects, I fell in love with modernism so
deeply before I even fell in love with
Arizona modernism. In the mid-90s, my
husband and I were living in New York and
went to a workshop at Arcosanti. It was
there where we had a crash course in
Arizona modernism and that’s when I
really learned we have world-class modern
architects right in Arizona. As I continued
learning more in school, every time I came
back to Phoenix my eyes opened more.
Why should the typical resident care
about midcentury architecture in the
Valley?
It represents a really optimistic time in our
city’s history and if you pay attention, you
can feel it oozing out of the buildings. It’s
appropriately scaled and it challenges us
to adapt. It also activates my imagination
and I like to be swept back into time.
In your opinion, what has been the
greatest midcentury loss in the Valley?
The Washburn Piano Company building in
Phoenix at 20th Street and Camelback
Road and the Valley National Bank building
on the ASU campus. Both were lost around
the same time in 2007 because they were
round buildings seen as obsolete. That was
a turning point in my life where midcentury
preservation really became important to
me.
What’s your most cherished preservation
victory?
The David and Gladys Wright House in
Arcadia. It was a massive group effort, but
I’m very proud of it.
Who is your favorite midcentury architect?
Ralph Haver. I wrote his biography and I
live in a Haver home. I like his work
because it’s accessible and easy to
understand. His homes were at a price
point people could afford on a mass scale.
What is the most rewarding experience
you’ve had while researching midcentury
architecture?
When homeowners see that I have an
interest, invite me in, and they show me
their house. Complete strangers can be so
gracious! Sometimes they are not aware
of how significant their home is. Sharing
stories and figuring it out together is very
rewarding.
Image courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community
What should the Arizona contracting
community know about midcentury
architecture and its preservation?
They are our best boots on the ground in
understanding what’s going on with
development. They can convey the
importance of preservation and if they see
a vulnerable property, they can let us
know. In the case of the David and Gladys
Wright House, the man driving the demo
equipment is the one who called the city
and said, “I don’t think we are supposed to
do this.” They are on the front lines.
Left: Tempe