Saarinen House

Saarinen House. Located on the campus of the Cranbrook Educational Community in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, this residence was the home and studio of Finnish-American architect Eliel Saarinen and his family from 1930. Designed as an integral part of the Cranbrook Academy of Art, it exemplifies the synthesis of Art Deco ornamentation with emerging Modernism, serving as a laboratory for the family's design philosophy. The house is celebrated as a masterwork of total design, where architecture, interior decoration, landscape, and furnishings were conceived as a unified artistic statement.

History

The house was commissioned by George Gough Booth, the founder of the Cranbrook Educational Community, as part of his vision to create an American Bauhaus. Construction took place between 1928 and 1930, with Eliel Saarinen serving as both architect and first resident. Upon its completion, Saarinen moved in with his wife, textile artist Loja Saarinen, and their children, including future architect Eero Saarinen. The residence immediately became a social and intellectual hub for the Cranbrook Academy of Art, hosting influential figures like Charles Eames and Florence Knoll. It remained the family home until Loja's death in 1968, after which it was preserved by the Cranbrook Educational Community. In 1994, the United States Department of the Interior designated it a National Historic Landmark for its exceptional architectural significance.

Architecture and design

The architecture synthesizes Eliel Saarinen's European training with American ideals, presenting a symmetrical, gabled brick structure that references Neoclassicism while incorporating streamlined Art Deco details. The facade is characterized by its elegant proportions, a central arched entrance, and decorative brickwork that showcases the craftsmanship promoted at Cranbrook. The plan is organized around a central Great Hall, which functions as both a living space and a gallery, flanked by more private family quarters and Eliel Saarinen's studio. The design philosophy emphasized harmony between building and site, with careful attention to axial relationships with the broader Cranbrook campus and the adjacent Cranbrook Art Museum. This approach influenced a generation of architects at the academy, including Harry Bertoia and Ralph Rapson.

Interior and furnishings

The interiors represent a collaborative masterpiece, with nearly every element custom-designed by the Saarinen family. Loja Saarinen created the textiles and rugs through her studio, Studio Loja Saarinen, while Eliel Saarinen designed the furniture and light fixtures. Their son, Eero Saarinen, contributed early furniture designs, including pieces that prefigured his later work for Knoll. The Great Hall features a monumental fireplace, built-in cabinetry, and walls adorned with fabrics from Studio Loja Saarinen. Key furnishings include the iconic "Saarinen chair" and a dining table surrounded by chairs designed for the Kingswood School Cranbrook. The color palette and decorative motifs, such as stylized flora and geometric patterns, create a cohesive Gesamtkunstwerk that blurs the line between fine and applied arts.

Cranbrook Academy of Art context

Saarinen House was conceived as the spiritual and physical heart of the Cranbrook Academy of Art, where Eliel Saarinen served as president and lead designer. Its location adjacent to other campus landmarks like the Cranbrook Art Museum and the Cranbrook Institute of Science reinforced its role as a pedagogical tool. The house demonstrated the integrated design principles taught at the academy, influencing students like Charles Eames and Ray Eames, who later pioneered American modernism. The residence also hosted the Cranbrook Academy of Art's Board of Governors and visiting critics, cementing its status within the institution. This environment fostered a distinctive design legacy that impacted major movements including the Case Study Houses program and post-war corporate architecture.

Preservation and current use

Following a meticulous restoration completed in 1994, led by the Cranbrook Educational Community and supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the house was returned to its 1930s appearance. The project involved extensive archival research, including photographs from Ezra Stoller and records from the Cranbrook Archives. Today, it operates as a historic house museum, open for public tours administered by Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research. It also serves as a venue for special events, lectures, and donor functions for the Cranbrook Educational Community. The preservation ensures that the collaborative vision of Eliel Saarinen, Loja Saarinen, and Eero Saarinen remains an accessible testament to a pivotal moment in 20th-century art and design.

Category:Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Michigan Category:Houses completed in 1930 Category:National Historic Landmarks in Michigan