Smalls
Stuff
Tackett / Thursday
Double shot every 15 minutes till no pain is felt.
As prescribed by Dr. I.M. High
Wayne State University / Detroit
McGregor Memorial Conference Center (1958) by Minoru Yamasaki
This was the first building Yamasaki designed on the Wayne State campus.
The reflecting pool was restored in 2013. It had been empty since the 80's.
College of Education Building (1960) by Minoru Yamasaki
This was the second Yamasaki building on the campus.
Helen L. DeRoy Auditorium (1964) by Minoru Yamasaki
Hopefully a pool restoration project is in the works.
Source: Detroit Historical Society
Richard A. Cohn Building (1959) by Harley, Ellington, & Day
In the Abstract / OMA
In the Abstract at Oceanside Museum of Art
Curated by Dave Hampton
Jack Rogers Hopkins
Marj Hyde, Russell Baldwin, Malcolm Leland and Barney Reid.
John Dirks
Russell Forester
Jack Boyd
Toza Radakovich
Ellamarie & Jackson Woolley and Bob Matheny
As you can see, the exhibition is incredible.
In the Abstract
August 15 – November 1, 2015
Architecture / Detroit
Stanley Hong's Mannia Cafe (1968) in Detroit, Michigan
Source: Tiki Room
Southwest Detroit Hospital (1975) by Eberle M. Smith Assoc.
The 1980s architectural guidebook I used on my trip states, "The building's materials were selected for lightness due to low bearing capacity of the soil and to resist industrial fumes generated nearby" Seems like the perfect spot for a hospital.
I didn't even come close to going inside, but this article tells the story.
Source: Robert Johnson for Pixable
Reynolds Metal Regional Sales Office (1959) by Minoru Yamasaki in Southfield (Detroit suburb)
1959 photo. The Northland Shopping Center is in the background.
Packard Plant (1903) by Albert Kan
I wanted to get the expected bombed out Detroit posts out of the way first. It's no secret that Detroit has suffered from decades of disinvestment. Things are bad, but there is so much potential. The city has a rich history and so much great architecture. The good stuff is coming up.
Northland / Detroit
Northland Shopping Center (1954) by Victor Gruen
Located in Southfield, MI, a Detroit suburb, Northland was the largest shopping center in the country. Alvin Lustig collaborated with Gruen on the identity and signage.Source: Laboratoire Urbanisme Insurrectionnel
Source: LIFE, 1954
Source: LIFE, 1954
Giraffe family by Malcolm Moran
Source: Laboratoire Urbanisme Insurrectionnel
Alvin Lustig designed the logo and some environmental signage for Gruen.
Image: Born Modern: The Life and Design of Alvin Lustig
Lustig parking lot sign
Image: Born Modern: The Life and Design of Alvin Lustig
Source: Life Magazine, 1954
1956 photo of the Lustig-designed water tower located at the edge of the shopping center.
Photo: Mike Grobbel
Totem by Gwen Lux
Photo: Mike Grobbel
You can see part of this wayfinding sign in the photo above.
Source: LIFE - Aug 30, 1954
It's unclear to me if Lustig designed these interior signs. The main entrance monument, parking lot signage and the water tower are the things that are usually credited to Lustig. Though, you'll notice that his logo is on top of the sign.Photo: Mike Grobbel
This is so good!
Photo: Mike Grobbel
Water mobile sculpture by Richard Hall Jennings
Photo: Mike Grobbel
Northland was the beginning of a nationwide regional suburban shopping center trend. It was part of a greater shift of resources from the inner city to the suburbs. This was the beginning of Detroit's problems.
Alvin Lustig-designed entrance sign.
Image: Born Modern: The Life and Design of Alvin Lustig
Fast forward 61 years.
The center closed in March, 2015.
Source: 7 Action News
The only car in the lot was a security guard.
Gruen eventually regretted his involvement in the creation of the suburban shopping mall monster...
Victor Gruen- "I am often called the father of the shopping mall. I would like to take this opportunity to disclaim paternity once and for all. I refuse to pay alimony to those bastard developments. They destroyed our cities."
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