Visual Diary: A Visit to Saarinen House at Cranbrook Academy of Art
- Jun 18
- 4 min read
It's a unique experience to visit a space that completely embodies the vision of an artist or group of artists. Last year I wrote about my visit to Charleston, home to the Bloomsbury Group of artists and writers in southern England, and today I'm glad to share my pictures of the similarly inspiring home of Eliel Saarinen-- an exceptional, singular place, much closer to home. When much of today's architecture and design seems, sadly, to lean towards blandness and sameness, a visit to a house like this is particularly exhilarating. Just imagine: every detail, from the bricks and windows to the rugs, curtains, art objects and furnishings, all designed and crafted with masterful intention-- a Gesamtkunstwerk, truly fabulous.
The house's exterior, with fabulous brickwork and leaded glass windows.
Saarrinen House is the family home designed by the great Finnish architect, Eliel Saarinen, located on the campus of the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, just north of Detroit. He designed the house in the late 1920s and lived there for about 20 years with his wife, the renowned weaver, Loja Saarinen, and their children, Pipsan and Eero. I won't go too much into the history of the house & the Academy here (much better to visit the link to the Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research and other resources listed below), but instead I thought I'd share photos of some of the exquisite details that I have found so inspirational over the years. I was lucky enough to do my graduate work (in metalsmithing) at CAA, and Saarinen's work continues to be a touchstone for me. The photos don't do justice to the warmth, human scale, textures and overall splendor of the house, but I hope you'll enjoy them as an introduction to a most special place.
A couple of views into the octagonal dining room, with the most amazing stepped niches. The center of the ceiling is finished in gold leaf, and the kitchen is just beyond. I can only imagine the conversations had here, with Bertoia, the Eameses, Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Gropius-- so many luminaries of American modernism, a movement with deep roots on this campus.
Two more views of the studio alcove, where students would have gathered for critiques and discussions. I once heard the brilliant and pioneering textile designer, Ruth Adler Schnee describe sitting here, with her colleagues at the feet of Saarinen as he held forth on architecture and design during her time as a student in the mid 1940s. Can you imagine?? Saarinen's office is just beyond.
Details of the leaded glass in the studio alcove. A bronze bust of Saarinen sits on the ledge.
The most subtle fluting and painted details on the columns separating the studio alcove from the main office. Perfection.
Details from the office: desk objects, a rendering of Saarinen's influential stepped skyscraper design for the Chicago Tribune, and wonderful door design elements, even for this humble storage closet.
Vestibule details, with the most beautiful crackled paint- I hope this will stay as is for as long as possible.
More charming details of the upstairs landing. On the wall is a traditional Finnish Rya wedding rug dated 1798 (!), and at right, a view of one of the bedroom doors with a lovely and simple hand-painted detail by Pipsan Saarinen Swanson.
There are so many more beautiful spaces and details in this house, but I think I'll stop here. Since it's so close to my home, I've visited this house countless times over the years, and not surprisingly, something new catches my eye each time. If you're ever in Detroit, I recommend a visit to Cranbrook-- you won't be disappointed.
Resources:
Best for last-- this fascinating video tour of the house with the brilliant Kevin Adkisson-- with so much more erudition and detail than I could hope to provide:
