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Spring Speaker Event – The History of Homes


Spring Speaker Event – The History of Homes
Tuesday, June 10, 2014 at 7:15 pm
Old Oakhurst School Auditorium, 163 Monmouth Road, Oakhurst, NJ 07755

This 1971 Deal home was designed by Paul Rudolph, dean of the Yale School of Architecture from 1958 to 1965 and a leading mid-century American architect known for his use of concrete and complex floor plans.
On Tuesday, June 10 at 7:15, in the old Oakhurst School Auditorium at 163 Monmouth Road, architect Frank Tomaino hosts a virtual tour of the some of the area's most fascinating houses. His talk, "An Architectural History of Homes," draws on rich examples from nearby communities.

The examples span the centuries and the range of architectural styles--from the earliest colonial, to Levittown-inspired tract homes, to the boldly modern. Along the way, Frank talks about the building techniques, materials, and aesthetic trends that shaped the shore's built environment. He highlights houses designed by some of the world's best architects, and shares his personal stories.

One such tells of the time Frank was called in by Leon Avakian, a prominent local civil engineer, to review plans for a Deal home drawn up by Paul Rudolph. Rudolph was internationally renown architect acclaimed for his striking buildings of the 1960's-70's Brutalist period that pre-dated Postmodernism. Rudolph's work included the Yale School of Architecture Building, the Orange County New York Government Center, and a great glass tower in Hong Kong.

"Leon did not think Rudolph's structure worked and asked me to look at it with him," Frank recalls. "He asked Rudolph's office to beef up some of the cantilevers that you see in the picture. After some 20 years, some did sag and were repaired. Leon was right!"

Frank Tomaino is a Deal native who now lives in Oakhurst. In his distinguished 45 year practice, he has designed homes, schools, and public buildings throughout the country. His awards include the NJ Society of Architects "Architect of the Year (2001)."

The talk, part of the Township of Ocean Historical Museum Speakers' Series, is open to the public, free of charge. Donations are always appreciated. Refreshments are served. Please bring a non-perishable item for the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

The Township of Ocean Historical Museum, founded in 1984, is a member-supported, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Its headquarters, the Eden Woolley House, is one of the few 18th century structures still in existence in the Township and is open to the public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (1 p.m. to 4 p.m.), Thursday Evenings (7 p.m. to 9 p.m.) and the first and second Sundays of each month (1p.m. to 4 p.m.). For more information, please call 732-531-2136.