I was in Grand Rapids, MI over Christmas and had an opportunity to see this wonderful house and Wright’s only work in that city. It was my first FLW house.

The house was built in 1909 for Meyer May, who made his money in the clothing industry. The house was purchased by Steelcase in the 80’s and refurbished according to wrights drawings. The tour guide said that the house originally cost $32,000 at a time when the average American home cost about $2500. Wright of course designed everything from the furniture to the fixtures.

Exterior 2

Another Exterior

You can see the main entry on the left side of this photo. It is almost hidden.

Main entry. Feels small and dark (compressed) then opens into the beautiful living area.

Ext. Window Detail, fabbed in copper.

Main living area.

And another. The skylights also have light bulbs in them for those dreary Michigan winters. (like the day I visited)

Opposite those windows is the fireplace. Morter joints are inset with glass, beautiful effect.

Old Frank designed everthing!

Looking out from the sitting area to the patio. You can see brick columns on the patio. Those were not in Wrights desigh for the house. That whole roof was supposed to cantilever, but Frank was seeing the world with his mistress at the time the house was built, and the builder chickened out. (maybe for the best) You can see this patio in the first image.

Mural between the dining room and sitting area. Absolutely beautiful.

Dining room. This table had lights at the four corners. I hated it, but it was a different time.

Loved this china FLW designed for his hotel in Tokyo, I believe. ( I can't recall the name, feel free to fill in the blanks for me, you Wright fans)

Top of the stairs.

Master bedroom windows.

For more pictures and information, check out Peter Beers site (http://www.peterbeers.net/interests/flw_rt/Michigan/May_House/may_house.htm). He shoots many of the rooms with a wide angle, which helps a lot to inform you about the space.

One does not realize the genius of Wright until you see a house like this in its setting. Surrounding this house are many Victorians that are such a stark contrast to this home. It was just wonderful to get to experience Wright.

Well, those are all of my better pics. I would have done more but the tour went rather quickly and there were people standing around everywhere. I wished that I had taken more photos to stitch together like I did the first image. It is impossible to get the feel for some of the smaller spaces without a wide angle.

Hope you enjoyed the post!

Thanks for this imasayer! Here is some links with tour info. Apparentely there is another Wright's house in the neighbourhood too.

http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/1469/flw_mi.html

, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1909
This modest-sized but ornate and meticulously restored Prairie house is open to the public for free tours (see the Frank Lloyd Wright Tourist Guide for more information). It was recently restored (from 1985 to 1987), and is maintained and made available to the public for tours (and special events) by the Steelcase corporation. Please also see the "Heritage Hill Tour Page" for information about touring the neighborhood this house is located in, which includes another Wright house and other homes from the Victorian era.

Meyer May House Page maintained on the Steelcase site. Contains many photographs, text, history timeline.
Frank Lloyd Wright's Meyer May [Dave's Home Page]

J. H. Amberg House, Grand Rapids, Michigan 1909
This home is located very near to the Meyer May house, in the historic Heritage Hill neighborhood. The design was started by Wright and finished by Marion Mahony.

simply amazing. One day i will go to the usa just to see FLW work.
Do you know if there is any map with the location of all his works?

Thanks for these pics. Very interesting. I know the house only from what I have read before and hope to get to see it sometime. It is amazing how the architecture has held up over what is practically 100 years. And I mean held up both from a design stand point but also from a construction standpoint. That house looks like it will be there for a long time to come. For me the interior seems more dated now than the exterior. Perhaps because it is more ornate and mannered?

:cheers:

Here it is!
450 Madison Avenue SE,
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

and of course, the hi-res kmz...

sorry for no image, still not available in the GE mac version!

This is the other one:

David M. Amberg House
573 College Avenue, Grand Rapids

Thanks for these pics. Very interesting. I know the house only from what I have read before and hope to get to see it sometime. It is amazing how the architecture has held up over what is practically 100 years. And I mean held up both from a design stand point but also from a construction standpoint. That house looks like it will be there for a long time to come. For me the interior seems more dated now than the exterior. Perhaps because it is more ornate and mannered?

:cheers:

Actaully it didn't holdup. There was a very lengthty restoration of this house. That mural was actually retored after they "found" it under multiple layers of paint. There was a documenary film produced that followed the process of restoring the home. There was a an addition put on to it that had to be torn down. The Steelcase furniture company actully footed a significant portion of the project. Is footed a word?

footed: "informal for paying a bill specially when it is large or unreasonable"

Yea, this is a beauty. I was there shortly after the renovation was completed.

The table area is cool imayaser. The lights and posts help to establish Frank's 'Room in a Room' philosophy for his dining areas. He also keep the ceilings in his entries lower as a start to the "pathway of discovery'. Changes in ceiling heights established different areas of function and usually progressed upwards as you entered the center of the house from the edges or entries. Subliminal theater.

Frank is also noted for his cozy inglenooks!

simply amazing. One day i will go to the usa just to see FLW work.
Do you know if there is any map with the location of all his works?
I purchased a pamphet while traveling last year in of all places Eureka CA, just north of the Redwood Forest that has every FLW house.. and a map from the nearest major highway. It is amazing. Its in a box for two weeks but I will post the ISBN when it is unpacked..

Yea, this is a beauty. I was there shortly after the renovation was completed.

The table area is cool imayaser. The lights and posts help to establish Frank's 'Room in a Room' philosophy for his dining areas. He also keep the ceilings in his entries lower as a start to the "pathway of discovery'. Changes in ceiling heights established different areas of function and usually progressed upwards as you entered the center of the house from the edges or entries. Subliminal theater.

Frank is also noted for his cozy inglenooks!

Maybe the philosophy is "cool" but I didn't think that the table was. I am not familiar with the room within a room idea, maybe you and share your knowledge Jake?

Maybe the philosophy is "cool" but I didn't think that the table was. I am not familiar with the room within a room idea, maybe you and share your knowledge Jake?

Well, I don't know that much about it. I do know he used highback chairs and the corners post on the table to create a more intimate dining space – 'a room within a room'. The idea was to focus attention inward toward the table and the dinner guests.

http://www.artsmia.org/unified-vision/collection/object-detail.cfm?start=1&art_id=10028&artist_id=258

Here back in a PC, I can upload the GE picture with the location of both houses.
It works as a good location map too.

Here a close up of Madison Ave.

...this design has no time...FLW philosophy of detail could seem to someone proper of a certain historical period...well,everytime I look to his work I'm amazed ,time stop and the beauty hit senses...

thanks Ima...

I missed this the first time so thx imasayer. Like others im too shocked 1909! seems like pre - history. This project oozes quality the architectureal style continues in the detailing. I particulary like the stained glass it reminds me of Charles Renne Macintosh . This makes Gehry look like a 2/10 Has anyone ever made a stain glass panel ? I seem to remember making one at uni. I think it is a very good experience in hands on "arts & crafts". After all to alter the colour of light is an often overlooked opportunity ?


a C.R.Macintosh panel:

I purchased a pamphet while traveling last year in of all places Eureka CA, just north of the Redwood Forest that has every FLW house.. and a map from the nearest major highway. It is amazing. Its in a box for two weeks but I will post the ISBN when it is unpacked..
it will be much apreciated =)