I made it out to Arizona one last time before Summer. I was able to tour a special house by Robert Swaim.
Dr. Edward Gelardin, a psychiatrist, interviewed a number of architects when he moved to Tucson and decided to build a house in what is still a relatively remote part of the desert near Saguaro National Park East.
Robert J Swaim was selected and the house was completed in 1972.
The 1,778 SqFt single store residence sits on 3+ acres.
Dr, Gelardin has been the sole owner of the house and has taken amazing care of it.
I don't even hate the purple carpet.
The kitchen is usually the first thing to get altered and this one is still in original condition.
I really hope whoever buys this house has enough sense to leave it that way.
If you want the opportunity to own this special house and promise not to change a thing, you should reach out to Darci Hazelbaker.
The torch cut sculpture and light fixtures are by Wanda Corrine Hill, a Tucson transplant from California.
Robert Swaim moved to Tucson in 1958. He worked for a number of architectural firms including Nicholas Sakellar, Friedman & Jobusch, and William Wilde . Then in 1961 he went into partnership with William H. Cook and the firm of Cook and Swaim Architects was born.
In 1964 Cook and Swaim designed a showroom for Scot Van Wyk Motors, Volkswagen and Porsche dealership (seen above). They built a lot of projects in Tucson, including housing developments, commercial buildings, churches and work for ASU.
Source: Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation
Swaim House on North Harrison Road, 1968In February of 1968 Cook and Swaim merged with Cain, Nelson and Ware. In December of 1969 Swaim resigned and went out on his own.
Source: Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation
Swain presenting his plan for a civic project called El Rio Center.
Source: Tucson Citizen, 1971
The house was built around the same time Swaim worked on the 136-unit Orchard River "quadro-minium" townhome development.
Source: Orchard River
In 1974 the Swaim-designed Berkshire Place units went up for sale.
He was part of number of civic, commercial and residential developments over the years.
Source: Arizona Daily Star, 1985
Swaim's firm is still around, in the form of Swaim Associates Architects.
Source: Swaim Associates Ltd.
More about Swaim and Tucson Modernism can be found at the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation.