September 2013

September 24, 2013 In News

People of Palmer Park Architectural Tour October 5th

Palmer Park Architectural Tour,
Saturday, October 5, 11 am – 3 pm
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Explore first-hand the architectural grandeur of the historic Palmer Park apartment district on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5. Witness the progression of this unique enclave’s dramatic revitalization on this annual guided walking tour.

Tours leave Detroit Unity Temple in Palmer Park (17505 2nd Avenue Detroit, MI 48203) every 15 minutes from 11AM to 3PM. Parking will be available near check-in. Proceeds will benefit the restoration of Palmer Park, a 296 acre city park located in northwest Detroit between McNichols and Seven Mile Road, and just west of Woodward Avenue.

People for Palmer Park’s guided walking tour will lead you through an area that showcases some of Detroit’s best architects at different stages of their careers and their interpretations of differing popular styles. You will find the only authenticated work of some architects in this district. Built between 1924 and 1964, the apartment buildings reflect exotic architecture in the Egyptian, Spanish, Venetian, Moorish, Tudor, Mediterranean, Art Moderne, and Georgian styles.Few neighborhoods boast this kind of magnificent diversity. This annual tour shares the undergoing dramatic revitalization of this area with newly renovated buildings being added to the tour each year.
This year’s tour-goers will experience structures built in the 20s, 40s, 50s, and 60s. Seven building interiors are included on the tour, including the newly renovated Palmer Lodge lobby. Our docents are encouraged to dress in period clothing reflecting the building’s era.

The park’s 1880’s Log Cabin, the only surviving log cabin in city, will be open for the tour. Before or after your tour visit the 1880s Log Cabin in Palmer Park, and enjoy Segway tours of the historic trails on a first-come, first-served basis from noon to 3PM (for tour-goers only) experience a Segway tour of the historic trails, enjoy some live music and a sampling of classic cars, and partake of some delicious local food by Food Lab vendors.

At the Cabin:
Noon – 5 PM: Tour the Log Cabin
Delicious local food from Food Lab by the Cabin
1 – 3 PM: Live music from Behind the Times
Noon – 3 PM by Cabin: Ride on Segways
Noon – 4 PM: Classic Cars on Display
BUY ADVANCED TOUR TICKETS to secure your departure time – $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Tour booklet is included in the ticket price, as well as a ticket to ride the Segway in Palmer Park.

September 23, 2013 In News

Yamasaki Legacy Lecture Series: Design at Herman Miller

Yamasaki Legacy Lecture Series : Design at Herman Miller

Thursday, October 17, 2013
7:00 – 8:00pm
DeRoy Auditorium
5203 Cass Ave.
Detroit, MI 48202

Featured Speaker:
Sam Grawe
Editorial Director, Herman Miller

Design at Herman Miller is many things. It is a means of asking questions and seeking answers. It is a process that touches all aspects of what Herman Miller does-from research, to production, to sales. It is a driving force for positive change. It is a point of differentiation from our competitors. It is a spirit of collaboration. It is, perhaps most importantly, Herman Miller’s point of connection to the world in which we live and the customers we serve. This is the story of how did a small and unremarkable West Michigan furniture producer became a world leader in design.

Sam Grawe began his role as editorial director at Herman Miller in 2012. He served as the editor-in-chief of Dwell magazine from 2006-2011. While at Dwell, he was part of the team that garnered a National Magazine Award in 2005, and in 2009 was a finalist in the National Design Awards. He began at Dwell shortly after its launch in 2000, after working in the studio of Herman Miller designer Bruce Burdick.

The Yamasaki Legacy project enhances and facilitates scholarship, public interest and restoration of the architectural heritage at Wayne State University that Minoru Yamasaki and his buildings have created. These buildings include the McGregor Memorial Conference Center, the Education Building, the Meyer and Anna Prentis Building, and the Helen L. DeRoy Auditorium.

There is no admission for this lecture, but registration is required.
CLICK HERE to register for this event.

September 20, 2013 In Events

Alden Dow's architectural legacy in Ann Arbor, October 13th, 2013

a2modern celebrates modern architecture and design on Sunday, October 13, 2013 with a discussion of Alden Dow’s architectural legacy in Michigan including his work in Ann Arbor. alden dow 1

Craig McDonald, Director of the Alden Dow Home and Studio in Midland, MI will provide an overview of Dow’s work including those in Ann Arbor as well as on the University of Michigan Campus. Following the presentation will be a tour of Dow’s Morris House (1965) on Regent Drive and a door prize give-away.

Alden Dow’s first Ann Arbor residential commission, in 1932, was designed for his sister Margaret and her husband, U-M physician Harry Towsley in Ann Arbor Hills. Over the next thirty-six years, Dow designed seventeen more Ann Arbor buildings; by the 1960s, the high regard for his work helped him land the administrative buildings contracts for both the city of Ann Arbor and the U-M: the Larcom Municipal Building (1961) and the Fleming Administration Building (1964) respectively.

Grace Shackman, a2modern Historian, interviewed the original owners (in 1998) of the private residence featured on the tour – the Morris House. In the early 1960s, Joe Morris, on the advice of Harry Towsley, wrote Dow to ask if he would be interested in designing a home for the Morris family. Dow responded by inviting Morris to Midland for lunch. The Morrises waited two years before Dow had time to work on their house.

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Morris (1965)

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Morris (1965)

“Joe Morris called the home ‘magnificent simplicity.’ This tour offers a rare inside look at an Ann Arbor Dow Home with many of its features still intact.” explained Shackman. “A home’s original features contribute to its authenticity and offers a fantastic opportunity to view a mid-century modern Dow gem right here in Ann Arbor,” she said.

Logistics:
Space is limited for this event on the architectural legacy of Alden Dow. Proceeds from ticket sales will be used for the development of new a2modern tours and programming for 2014.

Location: The event will be at the Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Morris residence designed by Alden Dow. The residence is located at 7 Regent Drive, Ann Arbor.

Cost: $25.00/person

Event time: 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The event will begin at 2:30 p.m. on October 13th and the lecture will start at approximately 3:15 p.m.

Parking: Parking is limited on Regent Drive, therefore, we ask that you park on adjacent streets and walk to the event.

REGISTER HERE

We will be serving light refreshments and there will be a door prize!

Questions about this event? E-mail modernists@a2modern.org

September 8, 2013 In News

Docomomo US TOUR DAY 2013

Do.co.mo.mo US Tour Day

The seventh annual Do.co.mo.mo US tour day is the weekend of October 5th and 6th. See all of the US tour day activities. Join in one of the great activities here in Michigan!

a2modern presents “A Sensitive Wrightscape”: Landscape Renovation at the Palmer House and Tour of the Home and Tea House, October 6th from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Details and registration.

City of Southfield Architectural Tour, Sunday, October 6th, 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
This tour will highlight Southfield’s distinctive buildings and homes and to promote Southfield as a place to live and do business. Guides will comment of the distinctive features of Mid-Century Modern architecture as well as architects of the day. Southfield has buildings designed by noted architects Victor Gruen, Minoru Yamasaki (World Trade Center), Gunnar Birkerts, Rosetti & Associates, Louis Redstone, among others.
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September 8, 2013 In Events

"A Sensitive Wrightscape": Landscape Renovation at the Palmer House and Tour of the Home and Tea House

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a2 modern presents, “A Sensitive Wrightscape”: Landscape Renovation at the Palmer House and Tour of the Landscape, Home and Tea House

Sunday, October 6th, 2013 (September 18, 2013: This event is SOLD OUT)

This event features a presentation about the Frank Lloyd Wright Palmer House landscape, a landscape tour and a tour of the home and tea house.

Noted as a masterwork in Wright’s canon, the Usonian style Palmer House (1952) was also noted for its impressive landscape designed by the late owners, William and Mary Palmer. Drawing on Wright’s philosophy, Japanese garden design, and the modernist milieu, the Palmers created a renowned
setting for their pristine home. Unfortunately, the inevitable effects of
natural growth and decay combined with new environmental pressures contributed to deterioration of the original design intent over time. Juliana Cerra, FLW Palmer House landscape manager, outlines the process of landscape renovation currently underway on the property. Utilizing principles of the Sustainable Sites Initiative, the Palmer House landscape represents a valuable case study for rehabilitation of a mid-century modern site that honors the original design intent while applying today’s best
management practices.

Tour of the William and Mary Palmer House
Tour participants will have an interior view of Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1952 Usonian built for the Palmer family. The house is a beautiful example of Wright’s usonian style and is in excellent condition. The home also retains it’s original furnishings. For details on the history of this house see: Grant Hildebrand with Ann and Leonard Eaton, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Palmer House, University of Washington Press, 2007.

Logistics
This event will start with a presentation by Juliana Cerra on the rehabilitation of the Palmer House landscape at the Gallup Park Livery meeting room (designed by David W. Osler) Gallup Park, 3000 Fuller Road. We will then carpool to the Frank Lloyd Wright Palmer House for a tour of the house, tea house and landscape.

Space is limited for this event and registration is required.
Cost $25
Time: 2:30-5:00 p.m.

REGISTER HERE

Questions about this event or a2modern contact: modernists@a2modern.org

Image source: Juliana Cerra