Louis and Anita Rossetti House

People: Louis A. Rossetti

Date: 1940

City: Grosse Pointe Park

Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, photo by Rob Yallop.

The Louis and Anita Rossetti House is located on a quiet, tree-lined residential street in Grosse Pointe. The architecture of the neighborhood consists primarily of traditional Tudor and Colonial Revival-style residences. The houses are for the most part two stories in height with hip and gable roofs and are set back from the street with manicured lawns in front. The topography of the neighborhood is flat. Several medium and large trees shade the front of the residence. A concrete drive leads to a two-car garage attached to the north side of the house. Despite possessing an early modern aesthetic the Rossetti House does not stand out among its neighbors but blends well with the surrounding architecture. To someone standing directly in front of the house, the facade appears austere or fortress-like with its white stucco walls that contain only a few strategically placed bands of glass block and steel casement windows tucked up close to the eaves. It is not until the house is viewed from an angle that the relief of the overlapping and projecting volumes is perceptible. Terra cotta tile steps lead to the house’s front door which is recessed in a niche behind a stucco half-wall. An L-shaped extension of the first floor projects from the rear elevation. Adjoining this at an angle is a square, one-story, plywood-clad addition that appears to be of relatively recent construction.

The Rossetti House was designed by Louis Rossetti for himself and his family. Louis Rossetti was born in Paris, France, in 1895. He served in World War I as a captain and was wounded twice during the conflict. He received the silver medal of valor for his service. Rossetti graduated from Rome University and taught at the Royal Institute for Profession Training. In 1924 he won a scholarship to travel to America. He established himself as an architect in Detroit, partnering with Raymond Giffels in 1928. Rossetti designed the family home on Balfour Street in Grosse Pointe in the late 1930s. The family moved into the home in 1941, but only lived there for about five years as anti-Italian sentiments during World War II forced them to relocate. The house was designed with many innovative elements for its time, including a central ventilation system, load-bearing cinder block walls, and a multi-level, open floor plan free of hallways. The fresco in the living room of birds in flight was designed by Rossetti’s wife Anita (Castellucci) who was a well-recognized silversmith and artist.

Louis Rossetti died in 1983.