Esoteric Survey

Fire Station No. 4 (1966) by Robert Venturi The design fees for the building were paid for by the Cummins Foundation Architectural Program . The program became a formal part of the Cummins Foundation in 1960. It began with schools, but later grew to encompass all public projects. All the buildings in this post, with the exception of the I.M. Pei library, were funded by the program. The Cummins Foundation did give the library $800,000 grant, but it wasn't part of the Architecture Program. A list of the program's projects can be found here . Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cummins, Irwin  Miller, summarized the program with this statement: American architecture has never had more creative, imaginative practitioners than it has today. Each of the best of today’s architects can contribute something of lasting value to Columbus. L. Frances Smith Elementary School (1969) by John M. Johansen The "gerbil  tube" school caused some controversy when...

First Baptist Church (1965) by  Harry Weese Another great modern church in Columbus, Indiana.  Weese was a friend of Irwin Miller and designed over a dozen buildings in Columbus. The back Source: Graham Foundation Bitchin' Camaro

North Christian Church (1964) by Eero Saarinen "On this site, with this kind of central plan, I think I would like to make the church really all one form: all the tower. There would be the gradual building up of the sheltering, hovering planes becoming the spire. The spire would not be put on a box or come up from the sides of the roof, as we did at Stephens College. The whole thing, all the planes, would grow up organically into the spire" — Eero Saarinen The gang from the  Miller House  all got back together for this one.  Dan Kiley (landscape architect) and Alexandar Girard worked with Eero on the design.  Irwin Miller, Columbus's #1 modern architecture fan, was on the building committee for the church. The "Living Cross" behind the pulpit was designed by Alexandar Girard and made by  Marilyn Neuhart Alexandar Girard-designed candelabra The pool Saarinen-designed seating Eames and Risom in the library. ...

First Christian Church (1942) by Eliel Saarinen This was the first "modern" building in Columbus. It was Irwin Miller who suggested to his aunt (the wife of the church's Pastor) that the church be designed by a modern architect. The Henry Moore sculpture came much later and is actually more related to the I.M. Pei library across the street. It sure makes for a nice photo. Charles Eames rendering of  Eliel Saarinen-designed church. Source: Courtesy Cranbrook Archives 1939 construction Source: Courtesy Cranbrook Archives Many of the interior details were designed by Eero Saarinen and Charles Eames. I didn't go inside, but my friend Darren did. He takes better photos than I do anyway.  Photo: Darren Bradley, via Modernist Architecture   This is the tapestry on the side of the alter, “Sermon on the Mount”. It was designed by Eleil Saarinen and woven by his wife Loja and two Finnish weavers at the Cran...

Commissioned by industrialist J. Irwin Miller and his wife Xenia Simons Miller in 1953, the Miller house was designed by Eero Saarinen and Kevin Roche, with interiors by Alexander Girard and landscape design by Daniel Urban Kiley. It's located in Columbus, Indiana and was completed in 1957. It was so great to see this in person. That's a custom low back Eames Sofa Compact. It's brass and was shortened because it blocked the view. This letter shows the Millers had issues with the sofa compact right from the get go. Girard solved the problem with the custom version. I wish it went into production.  I dig the height.  The letter is from the “Documenting Modern Living: Digitizing the Miller House and Garden Collection.”  The project created a digital archive of the correspondence, drawings and blueprints, textile samples, and photographs that document design, construction, and maintenance of the Miller House and Garden. It's a fun thing to dive into....