About two weeks ago, the Wall Street Journal published a letter to the editor that was written by architect Tom Lee of San Francisco entitled, Saarinen Influenced the Best of Design.
That opinion piece not only summed up the thesis being put forth by the Michigan Modern project, but also provides evidence supporting that thesis.
Mr. Lee states:
This second generation of Saarinen architects continued the Cranbrook/Saarinen design tradition, as lead designers and city planners, designing the Bank of America office tower in San Francisco, the Petronas Twin Towers, the Eames chair, the Whitney Museum, and guiding the redevelopment of Philadelphia in the 1960s and ’70s… Saarinen directly defined the decade of the 1950s, and indirectly defined the finer design sensibilities of many architects practicing in the 21st century.
Mr. Lee makes the point – Eero Saarinen’s influence is undeniable, as is Cranbrook’s. Yet, the strong tradition of good design in Michigan extended beyond both Saarinen and Cranbrook, and included institutions such as the University of Michigan, and companies like Herman Miller. What’s more, that tradition is alive and well today, even if it is somewhat unrecognized.
We encourage you to return to the MichiganModern.org web site often, as the new information is continually collected, and the story continues to unfold.
Come to know Saarinen to understand those who followed him.