Modern Charlotte

Last Sunday J. and I took a quick half mile walk along S. Tryon in downtown Charlotte, NC. It turned out to be a fruitful modernn architecture excursion for all of an hour!

Christmas this year was spent in Charlotte, NC with J.’s kids, mostly family time in the suburbs. Since it was my first time in the city, I wanted to spend a little time downtown. I hadn’t done any research ahead of Sunday. Prior to leaving the house, a quick google search for “modern Charlotte architecture” yielded an article on the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. So that’s what I popped into my map app and off we went.

Bechtler Museum of Modern Art

The Bechtler Musueum of Modern Art, which opened in 2010, was designed by Swiss Architect Mario Botta. It is only the second museum in this country designed by the architect; the other is the postmodern section of SFMOMA that opened in 1995. More about the striking architecture of the Bechtler can be found HERE.

The musuem was closed the day we were there; no interior views to share. However we were able to view the outdoor 17-foot whimsical sculpture Firebird created in 1991 by Nikki de Saint Phalle.

Mint Museum

The Mint Museum comprises two museums, located in Charlotte, NC. Adjacent to the Bechtler, stands The Mint Musuem Uptown designed by Machado and Silvetti Associates of Boston. This museum focuses on contemporary craft and opened at this location in 2010.

The Mint Museum Randolph, which opened in 1936, is located in Charlotte’s Eastover neighborhood in what was the original branch of the United States Mint.

We only had time to visit the museum gift store, so another visit is warranted to view the collection. Still, I left with a uniquely crafted bracelet :-)

400 S Tryon Road

400 South Tryon (formerly called the Wachovia Center) by LIttle and Associates, was completed in 1974. This skyscraper is the 15th tallest building in Charlotte and a modern architecture surprise along our walk to the Bechtler. When I posted these images on Instagram, someone remarked they had a “Yamasaki moment”.

Home Federal Savings and Loan/The Trust Condominium

Another modern gem, architectural notes for the former Home Federal Savings and Loan built in 1967, designed by Freeman-White Architects, can be found HERE. Amidst the surrounding glass and steel buildings, this building reasonated with me due to it’s scale and use of material.