The Modern Phoenix Dictionary

[Mr. Natural]

SoSco

1) n. A term coined by a local magazine that refers to a region of Scottsdale gaining popularity for it's post-war housing. An area commonly referred to as 'South Scottsdale' by people living North of Shea.

NoSco

1) n. A terms coined by a local magazine that refers to a region of Scottsdale well known for its suburb lifestyle, golf, old money residents, stucco-clad homes and desert landscaping. Most would agree that NoSco is north of Shea.

I was inspired by these terms, so I came up with a couple more.

SoPho

'sO-fO

A region of Phoenix located south of VanBuren.

"We got a flat and were stranded in SoPho. We were lucky to get out of there alive."


NoPho

'nO-fO

A region of Phoenix located north of Northern Avenue.

"Some of those NoPho houses are right on the preserve."


MoPho

'mO-fO

A registered member of the ModernPhoenix.net message board.

"I think I saw that MoPho at DWR yesterday."

"Commercial-free, multidisciplinary, and community-driven, the ModernPhoenix Network has 449 MoPhoes and is steadily growing."

[nichefindyours]

That is the best one yet!

"I saw that MoPho Mr. Natural, last night @ the Duke."

Nice!

[PixelPixie]

I met that MoPho too but I had to GoPho Boy.

[PixelPixie]

MiniMod

Any remotely modern property 1945 - 1969 that measures under 1000 square feet.

"Did you tour that MiniMod FSBO in Brannandale yet?"


MicroMod

Any remotely modern property 1945 - 1969 that measures under 800 square feet.

"They must've dozed that MicroMod in Cactus Heights to make room for Xeros."

MoleculeMod

Any modern contemporary building not needing permits erected as a satellite structure.

"Those Cedar Street Pods are so MoleculeMod."

[PixelPixie]

As for Old School, I recall the very first ever conversation I had with Tiffany Danley about a year and a half ago from the phatio of my crackerbox in which we planned out the inklings of what would then become the First Annual ModPhx Home Tour. This was right as the market started to go haywire and we discussed that Matthew and I had been looking specifically for a Haver under $200,000 (which they were still actually going for in Northwood, Rancho Ventura, and apparently on the west side, too, yet Northwood or Starlite Vista were the only places that made sense for us, Starlite already popping over 200).

We both had a good laugh over that under-200 number, knowing that it would be a miracle.

Well, a milagro happened, 18 months later. Not under $200, but proportionally reasonable and more than amazing. And so I submit to you:

ModMilagro
ModMee-lah-gro

A virtual miracle or act of karma in finding your place to live.

"They were about to raze the place but the neighbors tipped us in, and by some modmilagro we were able to see what it was before they listed it."

[PixelPixie]

Crackerbox

A boxy, usually stuccoed dwelling. Often highly functional for the contemporarly lifestyle (pool, convenience store, coded gate, manicured landscaping, playground, concierge) but also often the main impetous to find a modern dwelling.

Some of you may live in 'em. Some of you may love 'em. They serve their purpose. They simply are.

Personally, I loved mine and I miss some of its amenities. And square footage. And second bathroom.

In my opinion crackerboxes are tasty to a point. And then, they simply run dry.

[JC]

Haver-Craver: Somebody who desires a Haver but is always 25K away from qualifying and cannot seem to catch the appreciation.

Haver-Saver: (Most of you) Those who hang on to their Haver home indefinately. Haver-Saver's usually taunt Haver-Craver's with silly dances and or facial expressions when the Haver-Craver looks to the side or away. (Even when there is no audience)

Haver- Raver's: Haver- Craver's turned owners. Usually this is when they find a significant other to help them qualify. Haver-raver's wield glow-sticks and dance all up in your face to the sound of techno jungle rave mixes until 4 A.M.

Haver-Graver's:Those who strip the purity from their Haver home. Sometimes this is by slapping a few coats of stucco onto the brick... -Other times by spending $72 on their "contemporary remodel"... Usually the Haver-Graver doesn't understand the difference between their home and the rest of the subdivision. Haver Graver's have no idea why they get such dirty looks on their walk to the mail box...

Haver-paver: The person or persons bold enough to purchase and remodel in a dirty, unsafe Haver subdivision. This usually (but not always) sparks an upwards trend in values and overall desire in the neighborhood.

[modernenthusiast]

So true! How funny......and very perceptive. That post was hilarious.

[hectoracuna]

haverdasher (n.)
1. A dealer in furnishings for Havers.
2. One who runs towards "Haver for sale" signs.[/b]

[hectoracuna]

i-Mod Nano

The most amount of modern into the smallest of spaces.

[nichefindyours]

Valian

Vale-ian

A lonesome Vale dweller that lays the ground work for the rest of the community and promotes why you should move there. Also a resident of a spaceship looking structure that coaxes others to reside in the mothership.

"I met this "Valian" MoPho at L.G.O. last weekend for coffee"

L.G.O. La Grande Orange

[Mr. Natural]

lol

[hectoracuna]

Wow PixelPixie. I, like Matthew, am impressed. Visual pun intended on the Haverhood logo, however...

I beg your pardon, but Bauhaus takes no second seat to Eras.

I’ve always* found Bauhaus to be cleverly modern and
apropos for Danish modern. I love the curves, they remind me of bent-wood furniture or perhaps curvy metal tube chairs. Find someplace the profile of an "armchair 41" by Alvar Aalto from the 1930s. Most characters are comprised of single continuous strokes. No waste, clean, no corners needed. Look at that “M”! It’s so comfy and soft yet practical and stylish like Copenhagen sofa. The “O” a perfect circle, as they should be! Look at that “n”, can you fit any less into a letter? Now THAT is style and confidence. It says, “I’m an n, I can be nothing else”. The characters are so practical, no decorative elements, all structural. Does a "d" have to loop back to the ascender before it becomes a proper "d"? hell no!



Copenhagen Furniture does use Bauhaus as a base for their logo, and although the commercial font is used by some store signs and in advertising to achieve the logo look, I do believe the official logo is a modified version with slight twists for some characters.

As far as I know Bauhaus was first introduced in the mid 1970s and has little to do with the Bauhaus School of design form earlier in the century. Perhaps someone knows of a more direct connection?

Maybe I should have started a whole new discussion on modern fonts instead of breaking up an otherwise cool mod lingo thread.

(*I use "always" loosely, my first connection between Bauhaus and Copenhagen Furniture was back in the late 80s while doing ads for the store in Tucson.)

[JC]

Oh my God Tiffaney or Shawn!
That was awesome!
How did you know? Was it my greenish skin when the make-up wears off or the "alien" accent?

[matthew]

*typography derail alert*

I always have associated the Bauhaus typeface with the 1920s and believed that it was created in the mid-20s. Checking in at http://store.adobe.com/type/browser/P/P_1036.html it says:

Typeface notes:
Herbert Bayer of the Bauhaus School in Dessau, Germany, designed the inspiration for ITC Bauhaus, known as the Universal typeface, while he was teaching there in 1925. Ed Benguiat and Vic Caruso redrew the typeface in 1975. ITC Bauhaus is a rounded sans serif design whose forms were developed from the straight edge and compass. ITC Bauhaus can be used in period pieces reminiscent of the 1920s and the Art Deco era; its simple, clean lines and not-quite-closed counterforms make it noticeable in display settings.

Designers:
Ed Benguiat
Vic Caruso

Which confirms both my perception of it's history as well as kind of confirming your perspective on it, with it being redrawn in '75 by Benguiat and Caruso...