On this page our inventory of Mid-Century Modern buildings in Michigan has been sorted by county.
Please note the this list is not definitive, as we are constantly discovering more Mid-Century Modern architects and buildings in Michigan. We invite you to join us by leaving any information you have via comment below, or by contacting us through any of the methods on the Contact Us page.
Alcona – Alger – Allegan – Alpena – Antrim
Arenac – Baraga – Barry – Bay – Benzie
Berrien – Branch – Calhoun – Cass – Charlevoix
Cheboygan – Chippewa – Clare – Clinton – Crawford
Delta – Dickinson – Eaton – Emmet – Genesee
Gladwin – Gogebic – Grand Traverse – Gratiot – Hillsdale
Houghton – Huron – Ingham – Ionia – Iosco
Iron – Isabella – Jackson – Kalamazoo – Kalkaska
Kent – Keweenaw – Lake – Lapeer – Leelanau
Lenawee – Livingston – Luce – Mackinac – Macomb
Manistee – Marquette – Mason – Mecosta – Menominee
Midland – Missaukee – Monroe – Montcalm – Montmorency
Muskegon – Newaygo – Oakland – Oceana – Ogemaw
Ontonagon – Osceola – Oscoda – Otsego – Ottawa
Presque Isle – Roscommon – Saginaw – Sanilac – Schoolcraft
Shiawassee – St. Clair – St. Joseph – Tuscola – Van Buren
Is there any compilation of the less celebrated architects in Michigan? James Conn, who worked with Eero Saarinen comes to mind!
Hi Eric,
We do not have anything like that – yet. One of the goals of the Michigan Modern project is to identify and document the work of individuals like Mr. Conn.
I would also add that it is important to the project that people, such as yourself, help us identify architects (and their work) who may be underappreciated, or even unknown.
We really want this to be a collaborative effort between the SHPO and you!
If you have any information on Mr. Conn, will you send us copies/scans/information/etc? Even if it is just an address or a date, it will be most helpful.
Thanks,
Todd
I am so delighted to hear of this project. Ann Arbor has some amazing pockets of modern residential designs by William Muschenheim and others. I look forward to seeing more of your findings! Best wishes.
Hi Laura,
You may be interested to know that a survey of the residential work of architect George Brigham in Ann Arbor will be documented by graudate students in Eastern Michigan University’s Historic Preservation program’s Research and Documentation course. Brigham joined the faculty of the University of Michigan architecture school in the 1930s and designed over thirty-six houses in Ann Arbor before he retired in 1959.
The residential work of architect Robert Metcalf in Ann Arbor is being surveyed by an Eastern Michigan University Historic Preservation graduate student, MaryAnn Huk as her final project. The information will serve as the basis for a home tour being developed by the Michigan Historic Preservation Network in conjunction with their annual conferece which will be held in Ann Arbor in May 2010. Metcalf, former dean of the College of Architecture and Design at University of Michigan, was with the University from 1956 until 1991. He designed over sixty-six homes in Ann Arbor.
1605 Harbal Drive was one of Metcalf’s early Ann Arbor single family residences, designed by Bob and Tiv in 1957-58. This design won an Honorable Mention in a Life Magazine architectural feature in 1960. The Patterson’s have long since left Ann Arbor but the house remains an original Metcalf Gem.
Temple Israel in Bay City is a gem that needs to be known more widely and this may be just the ticket to increasing recognition. Alden Dow designed this Jewish synagogue in 1958, and it is completely intact as originally designed, with respectful upgrades but most of its original finishes. I completed a conditions assessment in 2006 and now they want to be placed on the National Register.
I know there’s a notable Frank Lloyd Wright house in Grand Rapids that I can’t believe is not on the list. Nuetra has a house in the Grand Rapids area. Also, Richard Meier has a house in Harbor Springs that is well worth mentioning.
Hi YLab,
You’re probably referring to the Meyer-May House in GR. Don’t worry, it’s on our list, we just haven’t written the entry yet. What we’ve done so far is in no way complete.
Thanks for the tips on the Neutra and Meier houses.
Can you send us info? Addresses, pics, whatever?
Richard Neutra
List House, 1961
Grand Rapids, MI
679 Manhatten Rd. S.E.
That address could be completely wrong, but somewhere in Grand Rapids there’s a Neutra house.
The Douglas house by R.Meier was finished in 1973. So, I don’t know if it fits the scope of your project, but it’s a well documented house if need be.
There are others as well, but we’re talking the past ten, fifteen years.
I lived in the Don Rutledge House. by:William Muschenheim in Ann Arbor, for a brief time a couple yrs. ago. It was a privileged to live there amongst most of the original furnishings. And the current owner is the sweetest lady in the world.
Thanks Fran…….
Does anyone know who designed the house at 3175 Bay Shore Dr. Orchard Lake? I’ve been trying to find out who the architect is for months, please help!
Hi, I’m interested to spend more time exploring this site. I too came looking for information on James Conn – I now live in one of his houses (built 1954) in Bloomfield Hills. I’ll keep looking around…please let me know if you find more information first. Thanks.
I’m looking for the person who designed a beautiful example of an aesthetic, arts & crafts or prairie style home in Ypsilanti at 120 N. Adams Street. Builder unknown but it was built in the 1920s.