MICHIGAN MODERN: AN ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY
Photographs by James Haefner
Michigan’s architecture is broad in style and rich in significance. Michigan’s twentieth-century architecture includes masterworks of modern architects based in Michigan such as Eliel Saarinen, Eero Saarinen, Minoru Yamasaki, Alden B. Dow, William Kessler, Alexander Girard, and Gunnar Birkerts, as well as noted architects with offices outside the state such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe, Richard Meier and Zaha Hadid. These and other masters are represented here in photographs by James Haefner.
This series of photographs was produced for and featured in the book Michigan Modern: An Architectural Legacy by Brian D. Conway. That book was part of the Michigan Modern Project initiated by Conway at the State Historic Preservation Office. The project revealed and documented the significant role Michigan played in the development of modern design documented in Conway’s first book, cowritten with Amy Arnold, Michigan Modern: Design That Shaped America.
The confluence of industry, design education, and architecture in the early twentieth century put Michigan at the center of the development of Modernism. Detroit automakers styled the cars that became part of the American dream; West Michigan furniture companies produced furniture that transformed America’s homes and offices; creative and influential Michigan architects drew talented designers to work in their offices; Michigan’s architecture and design schools were among the first to teach Modern theory; and savvy clients engaged well-known architects. This intertwining of industry, education and architecture is reflected in the selection of photographs for this exhibition.
James Haefner, whose career in photography spans the last four decades, is an accomplished automotive advertising photographer. Jim’s love of modern design drew him into architectural photography close to twenty years ago. With a fine arts degree, his ability to capture the designer’s intentions is paramount to his success.
Brian D. Conway was Michigan’s State Historic Preservation Officer from 1977 until his retirement in 2020. With a degree in architecture, Brian’s work in historic preservation and promoting Michigan’s unique and significant contribution to modern design through books and lectures has received national attention and awards.
This series of photographs was produced for and featured in the book Michigan Modern: An Architectural Legacy by Brian D. Conway. That book was part of the Michigan Modern Project initiated by Conway at the State Historic Preservation Office. The project revealed and documented the significant role Michigan played in the development of modern design documented in Conway’s first book, cowritten with Amy Arnold, Michigan Modern: Design That Shaped America.
The confluence of industry, design education, and architecture in the early twentieth century put Michigan at the center of the development of Modernism. Detroit automakers styled the cars that became part of the American dream; West Michigan furniture companies produced furniture that transformed America’s homes and offices; creative and influential Michigan architects drew talented designers to work in their offices; Michigan’s architecture and design schools were among the first to teach Modern theory; and savvy clients engaged well-known architects. This intertwining of industry, education and architecture is reflected in the selection of photographs for this exhibition.
James Haefner, whose career in photography spans the last four decades, is an accomplished automotive advertising photographer. Jim’s love of modern design drew him into architectural photography close to twenty years ago. With a fine arts degree, his ability to capture the designer’s intentions is paramount to his success.
Brian D. Conway was Michigan’s State Historic Preservation Officer from 1977 until his retirement in 2020. With a degree in architecture, Brian’s work in historic preservation and promoting Michigan’s unique and significant contribution to modern design through books and lectures has received national attention and awards.
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