FLW Smith Hse._DSC9973_edited-1
The Melvyn Maxwell Smith and Sara Stein Smith House also known as Myhaven is a Frank Lloyd Wright designed Usonian home that was constructed in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan in 1949 and 1950. Both were public school teachers living on a tight budget. During the two year construction period, the Smith's combined income was $280.00 per month. The house was to be 1800 square feet and featured radiant heating through hot water pipes installed in the floor slab. Like other Wright home designs, the house relied on passive solar energy. They received a housewarming gift from their friend Irving Goldberg of a maple dining table with eight maple chairs, two coffee tables and six hassocks, all designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright called it "my little gem.”
The home is located near the Cranbrook Educational Community, and over the years, the Smiths built an extensive art collection, and the majority their works were by artists associated with Cranbrook. Among them are a massive chest by Paul R. Evans, a gazelle sculpture by Marshall Fredericks, and works by other artists including a sculpture by Sam Apple, exterior sculptures by Mike Calligan, weavings by Barbara Wittenburg, interior sculptures by Jim Messama, and a sculpted bust of Melvyn Smith by Robert Scheffman.[20] Cranbrook president Roy Slade praised the home as exemplifying "the integration of art, architecture and nature”. Architectural photographer Balthazar Korab produced a widely reproduced image of Calligan's "Natural Bridge" sculpture with the house as the backdrop.[11] Later, the Smiths collected works by Glenn Michaels, including an accordion screen, and a triptych mosaic installed above the fireplace. Sounding Sculpture by Harry Bertoia. At Wright's advice, Melvin Maxwell Smith decided to act as his own general contractor, so that he could save money and maintain the quality standards he expected. He recruited skilled workers who wanted to work on a home designed by Wright so much that they would accept lower pay than usual. Suppliers of building materials also provided goods such as 14,000 board feet of red tidewater cypress lumber at discounted prices because of their wish to be involved with a Wright project.[14] Shopping center developer A. Alfred Taubman provided all of the windows at a deep discount[15] because he considered the house a "fantastic structure”. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melvyn_Maxwell_and_Sara_Stein_Smith...
www.michiganmodern.org/buildings/melvyn-maxwell-and-sara-...
FLW Smith Hse._DSC9973_edited-1
The Melvyn Maxwell Smith and Sara Stein Smith House also known as Myhaven is a Frank Lloyd Wright designed Usonian home that was constructed in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan in 1949 and 1950. Both were public school teachers living on a tight budget. During the two year construction period, the Smith's combined income was $280.00 per month. The house was to be 1800 square feet and featured radiant heating through hot water pipes installed in the floor slab. Like other Wright home designs, the house relied on passive solar energy. They received a housewarming gift from their friend Irving Goldberg of a maple dining table with eight maple chairs, two coffee tables and six hassocks, all designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright called it "my little gem.”
The home is located near the Cranbrook Educational Community, and over the years, the Smiths built an extensive art collection, and the majority their works were by artists associated with Cranbrook. Among them are a massive chest by Paul R. Evans, a gazelle sculpture by Marshall Fredericks, and works by other artists including a sculpture by Sam Apple, exterior sculptures by Mike Calligan, weavings by Barbara Wittenburg, interior sculptures by Jim Messama, and a sculpted bust of Melvyn Smith by Robert Scheffman.[20] Cranbrook president Roy Slade praised the home as exemplifying "the integration of art, architecture and nature”. Architectural photographer Balthazar Korab produced a widely reproduced image of Calligan's "Natural Bridge" sculpture with the house as the backdrop.[11] Later, the Smiths collected works by Glenn Michaels, including an accordion screen, and a triptych mosaic installed above the fireplace. Sounding Sculpture by Harry Bertoia. At Wright's advice, Melvin Maxwell Smith decided to act as his own general contractor, so that he could save money and maintain the quality standards he expected. He recruited skilled workers who wanted to work on a home designed by Wright so much that they would accept lower pay than usual. Suppliers of building materials also provided goods such as 14,000 board feet of red tidewater cypress lumber at discounted prices because of their wish to be involved with a Wright project.[14] Shopping center developer A. Alfred Taubman provided all of the windows at a deep discount[15] because he considered the house a "fantastic structure”. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melvyn_Maxwell_and_Sara_Stein_Smith...
www.michiganmodern.org/buildings/melvyn-maxwell-and-sara-...