  Milwaukee Member Username: Milwaukee Post Number: 318 Registered: 08-2006 |
What is your favorite Detroit building? Skyscraper, factory, house, and why is it your favorite building. For me it's a tie between the Guardian and David Stott. Both have great orange brick and great art deco details. | ||
6nois Member Username: 6nois Post Number: 2 Registered: 11-2006 |
Its a really hard choice there are so many. The city of Detroit is an architectural gem. I would have to say my favorites are the Guardian and the old Michigan Central Station. Although I will say generally when I go out and about I always find my self seeing at least one building I really like. | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 928 Registered: 01-2005 |
I always admired Richard Kuhn's home on Warwick in North Rosedale. Except for the small lot, it's remindful of the homes in Newport, RI. | ||
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner Post Number: 369 Registered: 04-2006 |
My house | ||
Cman710 Member Username: Cman710 Post Number: 22 Registered: 07-2006 |
I'd have to go with the Michigan Central RR station for a building. For a house, I might go with what I think was called the Frost house, a now-demolished old mansion from Brush Park, but there are some other old beautiful mansions, too. | ||
Deandub11 Member Username: Deandub11 Post Number: 74 Registered: 05-2006 |
I think the decor inside the guardian is as beautiful as any building in the country. | ||
Bussey Member Username: Bussey Post Number: 348 Registered: 12-2003 |
Buhl Building - Skyscraper  Charles Lang Freer House  (Message edited by bussey on November 17, 2006) | ||
Jjw Member Username: Jjw Post Number: 197 Registered: 10-2005 |
Guardian---a national treasure...... | ||
Burnsie Member Username: Burnsie Post Number: 748 Registered: 11-2003 |
My favorite building was Hudson's. It was such an impressive mountain of red brick, whose various additions only made it more interesting. It lent a real New York or Chicago "canyon" atmosphere to the streets around it. It's hard to choose because there are so many, but the GM Building-- such an air of power and authority (I can't get used to calling it "Cadillac Place") and the Maccabees (those gorgeous tile murals!) are current favorites. | ||
Burnsie Member Username: Burnsie Post Number: 749 Registered: 11-2003 |
Oops, I should have called those murals "mosaics." | ||
Polaar Member Username: Polaar Post Number: 12 Registered: 10-2006 |
Hudson's - Its decline and destruction can never be forgiven. | ||
1953 Member Username: 1953 Post Number: 1137 Registered: 12-2004 |
There use to be a really great building on Bethune at Beaubian (or was it John R). It must have been five or six stories, with porches all the way up its front. It was in disrepair and became demolished a year or two back. What a great building that was. | ||
Jasoncw Member Username: Jasoncw Post Number: 289 Registered: 07-2005 |
The three Wirt C. Rowland skyscrapers are my favorites: the Guardian, Penobscot, and Buhl. But really, I think Detroit generally has very good architecture. Other than a few buildings, every thing's very nice. | ||
Royce Member Username: Royce Post Number: 1897 Registered: 07-2004 |
The Penobscot Building. I love the setbacks and how it narrows at the top. Before the Rencen, the Penobscot was the focal point of downtown's skyline. Also, the red beacon adds to the beauty of this building. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 3094 Registered: 08-2004 |
My favorites are a tie between Wirt Rowlands masterpiece Guardian Building, and C. Howard Cranes masterpiece Fox Theatre Building. My favorite house is right next to Charles Lang Freer's house.... the Hecker-Smiley mansion on the corner of Woodward and Kirby... fit for the Kings of France. And I also have a kinda unusual favorite... my favorite grand staircase.... the "Double Imperial" Staircase of the Detroit Public Library. There are very few double imperial staircases, even in Europe. (Neither the Palace of Versailles nor the Paris Garnier Opera House have one.) | ||
Chub Member Username: Chub Post Number: 428 Registered: 11-2003 |
I've worked in and explored both the Fisher and Guardian building and both are really spectacular in so many ways. I'll have to go with the Guardian as my #1 fave though. | ||
Spiritofdetroit Member Username: Spiritofdetroit Post Number: 67 Registered: 11-2006 |
Guardian (interior) and Penobscot (exterior). | ||
Detroitej72 Member Username: Detroitej72 Post Number: 410 Registered: 05-2006 |
I'll say a tie between the Fisher and Penobscot. Easily two of the most recognisible building in the city. Detroitej72 | ||
Neilr Member Username: Neilr Post Number: 387 Registered: 06-2005 |
In life, Col. Hecker built and lived in one of the finest houses in the city. In death, he lies in repose in one of the finest family mausoleums in Woodlawn Cemetery. It was designed by Stanford White in white marble in the Greek Temple Revival style. It is prominently sited on a low knoll at the head of the main entrance drive of Woodlawn. Hecker was the President of the Board of Directors of Woodlawn. | ||
Nem Member Username: Nem Post Number: 30 Registered: 08-2004 |
The Book Tower for me...I would argue that there are few buildings in Detroit with more character than this gem, even with its dirty exterior. By far the most unique building (with exception to that ugly hulk that is the Ren Cen) of Detroit's skyline | ||
Hit24sqft Member Username: Hit24sqft Post Number: 50 Registered: 11-2006 |
The Penobscot Building. I love the setbacks and how it narrows at the top. Before the Rencen, the Penobscot was the focal point of downtown's skyline. Also, the red beacon adds to the beauty of this building. >>> I couldn't agree more - i have always loved this bldg since I first saw it when I was 6 yrs old | ||
Viziondetroit Member Username: Viziondetroit Post Number: 930 Registered: 11-2003 |
My Fav is the Penobscot :-D http://img.photobucket.com/alb ums/v378/goatrider357/penobsco t_matte_web.jpg MAB | ||
Harmonie Member Username: Harmonie Post Number: 641 Registered: 08-2004 |
Favorite skyscraper: the Book Tower - 1926 Louis Kamper...even before I knew s*** about it...it intrigued me. The reviews of the time said...Obviously Kamper doesn't understand that the beauty of a skyscraper comes from its lack of ornamentation and its use of straight lines...I think that's why I like it...it's beautiful and different. My favorite non-skyscraper building is Albert Kahn's 1911 National Theater with all of its lightbulb sockets and detailed facade...combined with its past and current prominent location it is severly under appreciated and to me the epitome of what people miss when they have they're eyes on teh cement instead of their surroundings. | ||
Motownman Member Username: Motownman Post Number: 44 Registered: 09-2006 |
I prety much like all of them with the exception of the David Scot. | ||
Pam Member Username: Pam Post Number: 667 Registered: 11-2005 |
I found a pic: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi- bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=hecker &GSfn=frank+&GSbyrel=all&GSdyr el=all&GSst=24&GSob=n&GRid=115 78755& | ||
Hysteria Member Username: Hysteria Post Number: 1669 Registered: 02-2006 |
Book Tower and/or Fisher Building | ||
Kilgore_south Member Username: Kilgore_south Post Number: 206 Registered: 05-2005 |
David Whitney! Of course I also love all the skyscrapers mentioned above but the Whitney has always had a weird emotional resonance for me. Just a really elegant building. | ||
Southen Member Username: Southen Post Number: 25 Registered: 08-2006 |
For me personally, my favorite downtown building has always been the Penobscot. I love the deco design with the setbacks, and at night the building becomes the focal point of the entire skyline. http://www.flickr.com/photos/s outhen/156265325/ Right behind the Penobscot for me would be the Guardian, fantastic lobby, and the Fisher Building, which is likely the most beautiful building the city has. Second tier favorites for me, buildings which I think are very underrated, are the Buhl and Dime buildings. Both are fantastic. Something thats architecturally amazing and something few people get to see these days is the lobby of the David Whitney Building. For me its just as impressive as the Guardian's lobby or the interior of MCS. http://www.flickr.com/photos/s outhen/159041299/ | ||
Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm Post Number: 707 Registered: 10-2003 |
The Fisher Building, followed closely by (what was) The General Motors Building. The GM Building has an industrial magesty to it. Not glamerous, but powerful in the same way some of the post WW II Russian government buildings used to look..... | ||
Quinn Member Username: Quinn Post Number: 1038 Registered: 01-2005 |
I agree wholeheartedly with Bussey...the Freer Mansion is one of the most amazing homes I've ever seen, and mostly unknown and, in my opinion, underrated. I had to scrape, but here are some more pictures:    My favorite commercial building would have to be the Book Building...it's pretty fabulous.  | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 3097 Registered: 08-2004 |
Nice pics Quinn. That barrel vaulted gallery is used as a conference room today (it no longer looks so empty). Preservation Wayne used to have monthly meetings in that room from 1999-2003. I remember it well... That pic from the front of the Freer house shows the 2 mansions to the east of it that were torn down to build the Merrill-Palmer Institute. Although the 50's era institute building is not ugly, it really sticks out like a sore thumb today, what with the rest of the street being restored and infilled. And as most people know, the Freer House is used by the Merrill-Palmer folks as offices and conference space. The Freer House was built to be an art gallery for Charles Lang Freers enormous Asian art collection (which as we all know went to Washington DC). The greatest loss to the Freer House was James MacNeil Whistlers Peacock Room, which was installed at the back of the house, on the 2nd floor of what used to be the carriage house (before it was connected to the main house via the gallery, above the arch in Quinn's first pic). What a shame that the Freer Gallery wasn't retained in that house (instead of on the Mall in D.C.). A true loss for Detroit. | ||
Milwaukee Member Username: Milwaukee Post Number: 319 Registered: 08-2006 |
Thanks for all the great photos everyone. "I prety much like all of them with the exception of the David Scot" What?••••••••••• The houses were interesting to see too. | ||
Bussey Member Username: Bussey Post Number: 352 Registered: 12-2003 |
Stott... David Stott Who is this Scot guy? | ||
Apbest Member Username: Apbest Post Number: 279 Registered: 03-2006 |
speaking of book tower whats the deal its new owners i hope they release a timeline or info surrounding its restoration | ||
Bob_cosgrove Member Username: Bob_cosgrove Post Number: 420 Registered: 03-2005 |
The Charles Lang Freer home was built as a residence. The Art Gallery was later. The carriage house was modified to house Whistler's Peacock Room, now in the Smithsonian Institutions Freer Gallery of Art.  Here's a photo of the Colonel Frank Hecker mansion on Woodward at Ferry that Neilr mentions. Designhed by Louis Kamper in 1890, it is to the immediate west of the Freer home. Hecker and Freer were partners in the Penisular Car Company. Bob Cosgrove | ||
Ramcharger Member Username: Ramcharger Post Number: 134 Registered: 05-2006 |
 Hecker Mansion  Freer Mansion  Freer Mansion Courtyard Both houses are beautiful. The Freer House could lose the window air conditioner, however. Picking one single favorite Detroit building is pretty tough, especially if you include all the magnificent churches in Detroit. One of my long time favorites is the Players club theater on E. Jefferson Ave. I’ve only been in it once and I don’t know much about it, but I’ve always been intrigued by its’ mystery. | ||
Mcwalbucksnfitch Member Username: Mcwalbucksnfitch Post Number: 13 Registered: 10-2006 |
This is a hard one The Book-Cadillac is what inspired me to pursue an architecture education The David Whitney and Statler both have/had BRILLIANT floor plans. The A-Shaped design is one of the most efficient out there..so I appreciate them in that aspect. The MCS by far has the greatest detail work/use of creative architecture. But, I will have to agree...Hudson's was definitely my favorite. So much so..that I am working on a **concept** for it's block right now as the north headquarters for Macys. It highly resembles Hudson's...it's even 25 stories. JL Hudson would be rolling in his grave.... | ||
Michmeister Member Username: Michmeister Post Number: 11 Registered: 10-2006 |
The MCS is certainly a favorite but the entire skyline is truly a sight to behold with the RenCen as a "conversation piece on the coffee table" and for its own special atmosphere inside, Tiger Stadium, being rather bland and nondescript on the outside. | ||
Docmo Member Username: Docmo Post Number: 160 Registered: 10-2005 |
The DAC--my view right out my windows. Man, I have get those dirty windows cleaned. |
