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Other
winners
2010
Kane, an 1890s "Folk Victorian" house in
Old Sixth Ward
2337
Blue Bonnet, a 1937 International Style residence
2421
Brentwood, a 1929 Katharine Mott-designed home
201
Main, the former First National Bank Building
Spire
Realty Group for its commitment to preservation downtown
1600
Westheimer, the former Imperial Plumbing Supply Building
3842
N. Braeswood, a 1960 modern office building
4916
Main, the former Weldon Cafeteria
Keck
Hall (Chemistry Building), Rice University
Girl
Scout Troop 12357, San Jacinto Council, for research
and assistance at Glenwood Cemetery
John
L. Nau III for his leadership in preservation
AIA
25 year award: Mies van der Rohe additions to the
Museum of Fine Arts |
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of "modernization" were stripped away
to reveal the beautiful brickwork of the former
Imperial Plumbing Supply Building, a 1926 design
by the noted Houston architect Joseph Finger. (Photo
by Janice E. Ashton) More
photos from this project > |
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Andrew Kaldis continues to demonstrate his strong commitment
to the preservation of Houston's historic architecture.
This year, he is honored for rescuing an architectural
treasure that many Houstonians drove past daily, but few
noticed.
Kaldis, however, was aware that the building that has
stood at the corner of Westheimer and Mandell since 1926
was the work of the renowned Houston architect Joseph
Finger, and he believed it could be restored to viable
commercial use. This Good Brick recognizes Kaldis Development
Interests, Hugo's Restaurant and Colby Design for the
renovation and adaptive reuse of the Imperial Plumbing
Supply Building.
The building was originally the home of the Madding Drug
Store, but was best known to today's Houstonians as the
home of Imperial Plumbing Supply for almost 50 years.
During those years, the building was remodeled and "modernized,"
and much of the original elegance of Finger's design was
hidden by the alterations. Kaldis felt a personal connection
to the building on Westheimer at Mandell. Members of his
family were long-time customers of Imperial Plumbing Supply.
The project was attractive because of the building's architecture,
and its location assured commercial potential.
The painstaking restoration began with stripping away
the plaster and paint that had accumulated through the
years to expose the original brickwork. Indicative of
Kaldis' attention to historic detail, he installed wood-framed
windows in the location of the original storefront windows.
The drop ceiling installed during one of the "modernizations"
was removed, exposing the original tin ceiling.
The beautifully restored Joseph Finger building is now
the home of the popular Hugo's Restaurant. Hugo's
is the creation of Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught, whose
other ventures are the Backstreet Café and Prego
Italian Restaurant.
Kaldis has said that saving and restoring Houston's historic
buildings is critical to the city's sense of place. He
has made a significant contribution to that sense of place
by bringing the Imperial Plumbing building back as a lively
part of its neighborhood and our city.
See
more photos from this project >
Next
winner: 3842 N. Braeswood >
Text: Martha Peterson
Copyright 2003, Greater Houston Preservation Alliance
This
year's sponsors >
GHPA home >
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