Is this house by R. Joseph Fabris?
Is it the Eckert House?
What year was it built?
What city?
Was he an apprentice? (My list shows a Joseph Fabris in 1948)
R. Joseph Fabris
R. Joseph Fabris
Is this house by R. Joseph Fabris?
Is it the Eckert House?
What year was it built?
What city?
Was he an apprentice? (My list shows a Joseph Fabris in 1948)
I believe I remember this house from the 2006 Conservancy Conference in Detroit. We toured it the same day as Goetsch-Winkler, Brauner, Edwards, and Washburn (Alden Dow), but I don't know its exact location. This is the house history provided by the Conservancy:
Harry and Betty Eckert visited Taliesin and met with Wes Peters to pursue the design for their new home. They worked with Joe Fabris of Taliesin Associated Architects on the design. Secluded and situated well back from the street for the privacy they requested and oriented to the points of the compass, this spectacular residence creates a moving space. The 1970 design is in a cross form with circular end terminations and constructed of random layered Michigan sandstone. The roof system is formed from site bent timbers with metal lath between and sprayed with Gunite concrete to create a shallow sloping form which is painted a soft red color. The circular dentil detail continues from the outside to the inside and circles the two story round tower bedroom. Due to inadequate ventilation, the indoor pool was floored over and converted to a unique living room and office. The Douglas fir plywood interior has been carefully restored and maintained by second and current owners, Robert and Judy Hollingsworth.
The conference agenda lists it as "the stunning Eckert House designed by Taliesin Fellow R. Joseph Fabris in 1971."
I can't match this view with any of my photos (rooflines are confusing), but I think it's safe to assume it's the same house. Quite distinctive.
Harry and Betty Eckert visited Taliesin and met with Wes Peters to pursue the design for their new home. They worked with Joe Fabris of Taliesin Associated Architects on the design. Secluded and situated well back from the street for the privacy they requested and oriented to the points of the compass, this spectacular residence creates a moving space. The 1970 design is in a cross form with circular end terminations and constructed of random layered Michigan sandstone. The roof system is formed from site bent timbers with metal lath between and sprayed with Gunite concrete to create a shallow sloping form which is painted a soft red color. The circular dentil detail continues from the outside to the inside and circles the two story round tower bedroom. Due to inadequate ventilation, the indoor pool was floored over and converted to a unique living room and office. The Douglas fir plywood interior has been carefully restored and maintained by second and current owners, Robert and Judy Hollingsworth.
The conference agenda lists it as "the stunning Eckert House designed by Taliesin Fellow R. Joseph Fabris in 1971."
I can't match this view with any of my photos (rooflines are confusing), but I think it's safe to assume it's the same house. Quite distinctive.
The conical roof form in the background of the pic brings to mind Wes Peters' St. Mary's Church in Alma MI, from about the same period:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rpmayer/4013853320/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rpmayer/4013853320/
Detroit Conference / Grand Rapids Conference
I also recall this house from the Detroit conference. The interior was quite inventive spatially. It was an unexpected treat in a very packed conference. We are hoping this years conference centered in Grand Rapids ( Oct. 16-20) is just as packed.
Eckert House Google Earth Image
I found Joe Fabris' Eckert house on GoogleEarth...I sent a screen capture to SDR for posting.
Seeing the roof plan does help to interpret the photo posted earlier.
Seeing the roof plan does help to interpret the photo posted earlier.
Last edited by DRN on Thu Dec 02, 2021 9:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: R. Joseph Fabris
The Google Earth image:
