Although we lost Kai almost two years ago, I didn’t learn of his death until last evening. I came across the bare fact while searching for the Mikami street address and/or telephone number. Saddened that the man whose warm smile and effortlessly gracious style I remembered so wellI was gone, I visited the obituary site. There I learned that the talented architect and designer (I still have one of the knock-down desk/tables that he designed and built for the O/L office in Seattle.) who was truly one of the better people on earth had shuffled off this mortal coil in September of 2009. I had planned to call him, chat him up, and perhaps make arrangements for linking up during an upcoming trip to Seattle.

I got together with you and Kai on two occasions after leaving Seattle in 1971. The first was a 1974 trip during which I combined a lecture with the defense of my doctoral dissertation. We were then living in Ithaca, New York, and I was a member of the City & Regional Planning faculty at Cornell (I recall your saying that your sister was a Cornell alumna.) You, Kai, Bob Corwin, and I got together at Bob’s home on Capitol Hill. It was an absolutely delightful evening.

The second link-up was in the early 1990s. I was on a grant-funded research trip to Vancouver, B.C. As an alternative to spending all of my time in a city in which I knew no one, I made Seattle my four-day operational base and took the fast boat from Seattle to Vancouver Island. After a long day that included the four-hour round-trip boat ride to Vancouver, I spent a relaxing evening visiting with you and Kai at your home. I had been going places and doing things at a frenetic pace since 5:00 a.m., and I was, quite frankly, a bit concerned about being a dull guest who would spend part of the evening struggling to keep his eyes open. But neither mental nor physical fatigue was a problem. I was alert and fully engaged during every second of the three hours that I spent in your home. I think that I was re-energized by the conversation and the congeniality of my hosts.

Kai was an unforgettable man who left us much too soon. And there is one thing of which I am certain: A significant part of the built environment is a better place because he became an architect and designer rather than a pharmacist.

With belated but very sincere condolence,

Grant Williams
16th July 2011
dfgwilliams@aol.com
Note: If you remember me at all, it will probably be by Darrell, the first of my three given names (Grant, the name I prefer, is the third). I only answer to that name when in the presence of very old friends and acquaintances.

Regarding the Victor Gruen comments, I am a fan of his work! I lived in SoCal for 25 years and am somewhat familiar with his work there. We had a high end ladies clothing store here in Tucson for several years that Gruen’s office helped design. The woman who owned the shop recently passed away at 100 or 101 and was in business for over 60 years. I think she actually met with Gruen’s people in person to work on the design.

Thanks for a great site, I hope I can help in some small way!

That’s a great idea, and something that is part of our long-term plan. We’re currently in the identification phase of the project, which includes the schools. If you, or anyone else, has a list of schools in Lansing (or in any other Michigan city), we’d love to have a copy of it.

Thanks,
The MichMod Team

I was looking for information regarding Karl O. Van Leuven, Jr. of Victor Gruen Associates, and I noticed Kris’ comment. I am currently preparing a book on the history of Randhurst Shopping Center in Mount Prospect, IL. Karl was the partner in charge of this project, and I would definitely be interested in material regarding his involvement with Randhurst or any of his work in the Detroit area. Any help I could get through this site, or better yet if this note could be forwarded to Kris, it would be very much appreciated!

GTP

Found this site by accident. Will love to keep tabs on its progress.