Esoteric Survey

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 SaarinenThe 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.
"When I face St. Peter I am able to say that out of the building…

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 Cranbrook Academy. Here it is being worked on in the Saarinen home studio at Cranbrook…

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. Source: Archive at the IMA
Th…

To celebrate Charles Eames’ birthday today, the Miller House and Garden Collection posted some Eames-related items from their archive. The Millers purchased an Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman in 1977 for their Alexander Girard decorated Saarinen house (pic below). It looks like they got a deal too!Source:  Miller House and Garden Collection Source:  Miller House and Garden Collection
Source:  Miller House and Garden Collection
Source:  Miller House and Garden Collection
Too see all the Miller House Eames posts, click here.  There are some good ones.  If you aren't keeping up with their Documenting Modern Living project, you're blowing it!