Wright Chat

A Michigan Midcentury With Colorful ’60s Flair Lists for $319K


David

"While the architect of this particular property is unknown..."

Thanks for the correction.


David

Not Dow, maybe, but a cut above the average MCM Saltbox (?) in its bold clean forms and its spatial arrangement. If it weren't so self-assured I would suggest it as a very early J R McDonald. The open split level, the unusual masonry, and something about the proportions makes me think of him; the fairly conventional exterior materials and detailing is the "early" part . . .

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5209 ... ?mmlb=g,38

https://photos.zillowstatic.com/fp/53fc ... _1152.webp

S

Alden Dow's Bennet House for sale
https://www.arhouse.com/p/1015-W-Sugnet ... _139647936

https://midcenturymidland.org/listings/ ... residence/

Wow. The description doesn't do justice to the dining-room lighting feature . . .

It's amazing what moving the middle rail of the sash off-center can do to distinguish a house like this from its neighbors. Of course there's much more to like about this gem.

S

The interiors are brilliant. The one thing I find questionable about the exterior in image #1 is the gable window on the upper floor that looks like it's about to slide down the back slope of the garage roof. WBG designed a house with a monitored roof with a similar window, but it straddled the lower gable and became part of the overall geometry of the house. This one seems to be riding side-saddle, without any connection anything else on the exterior.

Indeed---that caught my eye too. It would be great to see Dow's drawings for this house.

We see the exterior in two different color schemes, among the various photos. I wonder how the house appeared originally.

Those brick floors are most impressive . . .

S