Town & Country – Haver and Woodworth Create a Study in Mid-Century Modern That Remains Part of Southern Scottsdale’s Unique Identity
Developed in 1959 by Fred Woodworth in conjunction with prominent Phoenix architect Ralph Haver, the Town & Country Neighborhood* earned the designation of City of Scottsdale Historic District in the early part of this millennium when the city Historic Preservation Commission developed a set of guidelines to preserve the essence of the neighborhood. Since then, Town & Country has earned prestige as a mid-century modern neighborhood, with renovations and preservation in the forefront of property owner’s minds.
Town and Country illustrates a departure from the standard Ranch style homes offered post-war, instead highlighting contemporary (modern) styling for the era. There are several different models of Haver Homes in the area, and all share similar characteristics. Clean rectangular forms with horizontal emphasis, exposed masonry walls (known as “clinker”), single-story design, and large expanses of glass in the living rooms are among a few of the distinctive style elements employed by Haver.
Today, these homes are highly desired by investors and home-owners wanting to bring the original charm of the area back, while embracing new technology, building materials, and techniques. These renovations fall within the City’s Historic Preservation Guidelines, designed to assure that this unique and important area in Scottsdale maintains its character.
Neighborhoods like Town and Country are all over Southern Scottsdale. At the time of their creation, they were considered “modern.” Because of the time frame, and the highly stylized features employed during that period, we now refer to the style as “Mid-Century Modern.” Southern Scottsdale has more of this type of development in small concentration than nearly any other part of the valley, and it remains a steadfast element of the area’s identity.
Throughout the Scottsdale Gateway alliance “RE-Imagining Southern Scottsdale” identity building exercise, participants have expressed overwhelming support and favorability to modern and Mid-Century Modern architecture in single family and multi-family residential development, as well as commercial development. Sky Sons is an excellent example fo modern architecture in a commercial project.
The embracement of this style of architecture is a key element in establishing and promoting the emerging identity of Southern Scottsdale.
*Town & Country is southeast of Scottsdale Road and Oak Street, bounded by 72nd Place on the North and Monte Vista on the South.