Michigan Modern is a collaborative effort to share the state’s unique role in the Modernism movement.

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General Motors Technical Center
Eero Saarinen and Associates, Warren. National
Historic Landmark designation: 2014
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Northland Gardens Historic District
Southfield. National Register of Historic Places listed: 2020
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Alden B. Dow Home
Personal residence and studio of Michigan's Architect Laureate
Alden B. Dow, Midland. National Historic Landmark designation: 1989
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Flint Municipal Center
H. E. Beyster & Associates, Flint. National
Register of Historic Places listed: 2019
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Mount Clemens Federal Savings and Loan
William Kessler, Mount Clemens. Built: 1961.
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Plumbrooke Estates Historic District
Southfield. National Register of Historic Places listed: 2019
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Lafayette Park
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Detroit. National
Historic Landmark designated: 2015
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Flint Modernism Survey
Residence identified as part of the Modernism
in Flint Survey, undertaken in 2018-2019.
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“Our architecture is too humble. It should be prouder, more aggressive, much richer and larger than we see today.”

– Eero Saarinen

Modernism: Roots in Michigan

Michigan architects Eero Saarinen and Minoru Yamasaki designed buildings that defined an era. Michigan’s industry, prosperity, and educational institutions combined to create a synergy that produced some of the world’s best design talent.

This is the story of Michigan’s outstanding contributions to Modern design.

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Featured Building

Leibermann’s

The former Liebermann’s store is located on Washington Square in Lansing’s downtown commercial core. The fully glazed modernist storefront stands out among the adjacent traditional red brick facades of the late-nineteenth century buildings that make up the commercial district. The store is a two-story structure supported by wood framing that spans between the masonry party walls of the adjacent buildings.

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Available at your local book store and online.

Michigan Modern in Print

“Great historical review of the much under- appreciated Detroit/ Midland area Architects and designers. Written by extremely knowledgeable writers.”

The Great Lakes State has always been known for its contributions to twentieth-century manufacturing, but it’s only beginning to receive wide attention for its contributions to Modern design and architecture.