Members Only Event! Mid Mod Marvel: Lustron! Saturday, October 3, 2026; Noon-2pm. Minneapolis.
Photos courtesy Spacecrafting
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Join Docomomo US/MN to tour a rare surviving Lustron Westchester Deluxe, a porcelain-enameled steel “house of the future” produced during America’s ambitious postwar experiment in prefabricated housing. A rare surviving example of postwar American design, this Lustron “Westchester Deluxe” reflects the ambitious vision of factory-built housing that emerged after World War II. Conceived as a postwar “house of the future,” Lustron homes were factory-built using porcelain-enameled steel and components. Industrialist Carl Strandlund adapted wartime manufacturing methods to address the severe housing shortage, envisioning homes produced with the efficiency of automobiles. About 2,500 were built between 1948 and 1950. Though the houses proved exceptionally durable, the company did not: high production costs, logistical challenges, and an inability to reach the necessary scale brought the ambitious experiment to an early end. Clad in its original Desert Tan panels, this home retains signature Lustron details including integrated built-ins, steel interior elements, and its distinctive modular construction.Thoughtful updates, including a renovated kitchen and new Marmoleum flooring, complement the original architecture while preserving the character of the home. The property also includes its rare matching porcelain-enameled steel garage, creating an especially complete example of the Lustron system just steps from Lake Nokomis and Minnehaha Creek. The Lustron Westchester Deluxe is located on Cedar Avenue South in Minneapolis, near Lake Nokomis and Minnehaha Creek. In-Person (self-guided) Tour: Saturday, October 3; 12:00pm-2:00pm Guests must choose an entry time upon registration: 12:00pm 12:40pm 1:20pm Street parking is available on Cedar Avenue and nearby residential streets. There is no onsite parking at the house. Docomomo US/MN members: FREE (registration is required). To access free member tickets: please enter your member email address in the 'Promo Code' field of the Eventbrite ticket window. Members may add up to four tickets per registered email address. |
About Docomomo US/MN Series of Mid Mod Marvel Tours:
Docomomo US/MN seeks to highlight Mid-Century Modern properties across Minnesota that have been sensitively preserved or adapted for contemporary use.
The Mid Mod Marvel series of tours are pop-up events that showcase the stewards of Modernism in the present day – the efforts of homeowners, architects, designers and builders to shepherd modern design into our new century.
The Mid Mod Marvel series of tours are pop-up events that showcase the stewards of Modernism in the present day – the efforts of homeowners, architects, designers and builders to shepherd modern design into our new century.
