Esoteric Survey

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. ...

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....