Comments for M I C H I G A N M O D E R N

Comment on Tivadar Balogh by MI SHPO

MI SHPO — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:39:30 +0000

Thank you for sharing your story with us, Ms. Goggin.

Comment on Tivadar Balogh by Mary-Margaret Goggin

Mary-Margaret Goggin — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:03:56 +0000

I was so sorry to hear about Tivador’s death. I hadn’t been in touch for years. He designed the carport for my mother’s house on West Grixdale in Detroit in 1955. I remember viisting his and Dot’s house; I’d never seen anything quite like it and loved it. A friend and I visited on a short trip home from Bryn Mawr College, PA; she was very impressed. He and Dot attended my wedding in 1962. He and my mother became acquainted quite by chance through my great-aunt in Farmington, MI. My mother’s parents had come from Hungary, as well, so we had that in common, in addition to our interest in modern architecture. I ended up receiving a Ph.D. in Art History from Stanford University in 1985, and so learned much about architecture during those years of study.

Comment on AIA 2012 Spring Conference: Defining Architectural Design Excellence by Cecily Wood

Cecily Wood — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:52:37 +0000

I’m 72, and have always lived in older houses (price alone is the primary cause). My father was a U Mich Architecture grad, and we always had the latest periodicals which I absorbed. We lived in a town which has a large number of Danes, and though there was nothing architectural, there was a heightened sense of what Danish Modern really was. We lived outside of Grand Rapids, MI, and any time we drove to GR, I made certain we drove by the 2 FLW houses and yearned to see the insides (thank you Steelcase, for the May house).

I have a thing for domestic architecture, have yearned to see the insides of many domiciles, old and new, and gratefully have managed quite a number. We were on the Cranbrook tour of the Smith House in Bloomfield Hills, and I decided then and there that should anyone ever want to contact me after I’m dead, they should do so there. We have driven through Columbus (25 years ago?) and were mightily impressed. The Baltimore region where we now live has only a handful of homes deserving the word architecture, with an FLW that NOBODY has ever been in, and a wonderful Breuer house featured in “Dwell”.

Am I hung up on mid century modern? Not especially, though much of the homes going beyond that – especially of the Italian style (interiors) or minimalist, seem so antiseptic and barren, and it looks like the furniture would hurt! Nor could I live surrounded by cement, although brick, I could. I go for eclectic, and, had I the money, could see having a home like that.

I’m saddened to hear that no new homes worthy of the word architecture have been built in Columbus. Even when we went there (specifically to see the town’s architecture), we discussed why that town in particular would have had such a wonderful cluster of architecture, and our thoughts were the confluence of design minded people (early auto, primarily) and Miller and the Cummins Foundation. We concluded that Cummins employment policies seemed to bring in people with heightened design sense, and offered salaries that were commensurate with their tastes.

Comment on Michigan Modern Real Estate by Charles Breed

Charles Breed — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:34:10 +0000

Yes, I taught at Delta for 30 years. Thank you so much for your comments, things like this mean a lot to me at this point in my life. I’m pleased you are still interested in architecture. Since retiring I’ve been involved in the creation of a dahlia garden in Midland – Dahlia Hill – http://www.dahliahill.org. We still have Two Moon, the building now has a “moon room” – it’s for sale – you can see a photo on the website, under GALLERIES – there’s a slideshow called Charles Breed Art. I’d like to hear from you – my email is dahlia.hill.society@gmail.com.

Comment on J. Robert F. Swanson by Cranbrook Archives

Cranbrook Archives — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:40:12 +0000

Contact the Cranbrook Archives – we have a lot of information, photos, manuscripts, drawings….to start, you can look at the finding aid for the Swanson Papers, and search our digital image database for Swanson-related project photos

Comment on Michigan Modern Real Estate by joy wujek

joy wujek — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:08:39 +0000

Is this the Charles Breed of Delta College! If so, I still think of your moon roof that you used to describe to us in class- that was many moons ago!:) I miss the Alden B. Dow homes in Michigan. I just thought about you earlier today when I was reading about the organic nature of his work. You taught me about organic and geometric in 2 D. It was my favorite class.

Comment on Ralph S. Gerganoff by MI SHPO

MI SHPO — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:17:48 +0000

Thanks for letting us use the article, Peg, and for your work on bringing more awareness to Mr. Gerganoff. It fits perfectly with the intent of this project.

Comment on Ralph S. Gerganoff by Margaret E. Porter

Margaret E. Porter — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:18:56 +0000

I am the author of the Gerganoff article originally published in the Ypsilanti Historical Society’s Gleanings. I knew Ralph through my father Don Porter, Business Manager of the Ypsilanti Public Schools. It seemed to me that the Gerganoff architectual legacy was not known or protected. I wrote the article in part to raise awareness and also because I believed that he deserved recognition in Ypsilanti’s history. I am pleased to report that there is increased interest and appreciation. Several graduate students in Eastern Michigan University’s Historic Preservation Program documented many of the changes to the Gerganoff home. Restoration of the home and gardens is a project worth doing.

Margaret E. (Peg) Porter

Comment on B’nai David Synagogue by MI SHPO

MI SHPO — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 15:05:56 +0000

Hi Zieman,

Unfortunately we don’t have any information on the windows at this time. Hopefully one or some of our readers will have some input on this.

Comment on Mecosta County Courthouse by Gordon Telfer

Gordon Telfer — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 22:29:15 +0000

Who was the chairperson of the Mecosta county board of commissioners when the new Mecosta County Court house was constructed?