So Much Potential, So Little Will

A 21st Century Farm as imagined by Davis Meltzer. First appeared in National Geographic Magazine February 1970.

Fields stretch like fairways, cattle fatten in high-rise pens, threshed grain flows through pneumatic tubes into storage elevators, and a control tower oversees all.

National Geographic, No. 4, October 1998

Unlike a lot of the futuristic visions from the 20th Century, there’s still time for this idyll image to be realized. When looked at and contemplated for a bit some logistical questions do arise. But the allure is in the essence of the plan – a clean, well organized, efficient farming scheme where each city is provided fresh foods from just outside of town. It seems that whether or not this type of food production will ever be realized depends on factors that are not currently present in our time.

Illustration via impactdixon | Flickr

Loewy House By Albert Frey — 1946 Classic Desert Modern Home

Perhaps more than anyone else, Raymond Lowey was the man whose designs define mid-century America. From planes, trains, and automobiles, to the iconic corporate logos that resonate to this day – Lowey’s creations shaped the American cultural identity in the 20th century. Coronare Modestus Faust at Faustian urGe blog published the post below in 2011. While a lot of attention is given to the classic 1946 Albert Frey designed Loewy House in Palm Springs, CA, the last part of the post presents some of the industrial and graphic designs that will probably be very familiar – yet this is the first time you’ll hear the name of the man who dreamed them up. Great trivia to throw out at the next gathering of friends and family.