Detroit's wealth of architectural talent!

[Patrick]

Wlliam Kuni designed the Alpena County Courthouse [[which still stands) in 1932.

[p69rrh51]

A few of the homes I have on Kuni, they are from Palmer Woods, Sherwood Forest, Grosse Pointe and the Hill Historic District-Huntington Woods.

[p69rrh51]

A few more Kuni designs there is one left out intentionally on West Boston Boulevard, I will post on another day when I am able to.

[p69rrh51]

Last but not least a scan of Kuni's signature from a Grosse Pointe Park building Permit.

[Neilr]

To add to your William Kuni list: these are a bit earlier than those pictured in your post just above. And again, they have a recurring theme.

The fist is on Atkinson, the second on Edison. They would be the low-end "Chevy models."




This one is on Chicago Blvd. and much bigger and more refined, perhaps the "Oldsmobile model.

[p69rrh51]

Very cool Thx Neilr

[southofbloor]

On the Gustave Steffans front, I believe that this Virginia Park house [[north side, ca 1914) is now demolished, but used to sit either one house east of the corner of Hamilton, or one west of the corner of Third. House was built for D. P. Turnbull. The northwest corner of VP and third was a house by Pottle for D.S. Zemon [[same year) also gone.

[Neilr]

Another house by Detroit architect Lyle F. Zisler:

This deco style house at 235 Holbrook was built for W. J. Roxborough in 1940.

When I look at a house like this, I look past the bad landscaping and cheap fencing. If you also would, you should notice the beautifully proportioned multi-paned windows with their keystones, the nice [[slightly sagging) front porch surmounted by a delicate deco railing, the recessed flat roof gable, the simple belt course and cornice, the slightly projecting center section set off by quoins which also bracket the corners. To me, this house is one of Detroit's [[many) hidden jewels.

Please refer to p69rrh51's post #134 on page 6 of this thread and art_deco_lover's post #657 on page 27 for more discussion and pictures of other work by Zisler in Detroit and Grosse Pointe.

[mccarch]

Mr. Kuni was an early example of an architect who advertised. For a while [[I don't know how long), he ran a 4" x 4" weekly ad in Detroit Saturday Night. Two typical ads are attached from 1925. He - or whoever was responsible in his office - was an enthusiastic if not highly skilled perspectivist.

[p69rrh51]

Another house by Detroit architect Lyle F. Zisler:

This deco style house at 235 Holbrook was built for W. J. Roxborough in 1940.

When I look at a house like this, I look past the bad landscaping and cheap fencing. If you also would, you should notice the beautifully proportioned multi-paned windows with their keystones, the nice [[slightly sagging) front porch surmounted by a delicate deco railing, the recessed flat roof gable, the simple belt course and cornice, the slightly projecting center section set off by quoins which also bracket the corners. To me, this house is one of Detroit's [[many) hidden jewels.

Please refer to p69rrh51's post #134 on page 6 of this thread and art_deco_lover's post #657 on page 27 for more discussion and pictures of other work by Zisler in Detroit and Grosse Pointe.

The cool factor for this house is way off the charts!! Very nice Neilr

[p69rrh51]

Mr. Kuni was an early example of an architect who advertised. For a while [[I don't know how long), he ran a 4" x 4" weekly ad in Detroit Saturday Night. Two typical ads are attached from 1925. He - or whoever was responsible in his office - was an enthusiastic if not highly skilled perspectivist.

Very cool mccarch due you have any more of his advertisements?

[Neilr]

Architect Theodor Rogvoy designed this Deco style house for Dr. J. Martin in 1951. It's nicely sited on the sw corner of 12th Street and Chicago Blvd. The house has a 4 car attached garage,

[p69rrh51]

A quick check of the 1925 Detroit City Directory listed L. Byron Ashley at 8162 La Salle Boulevard, and with a google map search its the home in the ad.

The 1930 census lists Roswell G. Curtis living on Orchard Ridge Road in Bloomfield Hills. A search using Bing 3D Maps shows a couple possibilities, looks like a field trip is in order.

[southofbloor]

I wondered whether 58 Farrand Park in Highland Park was a Kuni - has some of his moves. Ca 1927. Farrand, McLean and Colorado are still beautiful streets despite being in the middle of Highland Park. Some really good gardens. Would love a house tour or two [[hint?).

[southofbloor]

Pollmar and Ropes, 76 Colorado, Highland Park, 1913. For Lucy A. Mason.

[southofbloor]

Perhaps p69rrh51, SouthofBloor or Patrick know the architects of these two Detroit homes. I certainly don't; but I do think that whomever they were, they created two of the most beautiful scallop-shell porticos in the city. The first is on the southwest corner of Second and Taylor. Please look beyond the green and white paint at the detail of the carving of the portico and its brackets.
Attachment 17251
Attachment 17252


The second is on Virginia Park [[west of the Lodge) between Byron and Woodrow Wllson. On this house, please also notice the brackets that support the eaves and the beautiful dormers.

Here is another at 81 McLean in Highland Park. Same shell hood.

[southofbloor]

114 McLean St, Highland Park, by William H. Kuni, 1914.

[Neilr]

Here is another at 81 McLean in Highland Park. Same shell hood.

Thanks. I also like the dormer with its large brackets.

[pkbroch]

p69rrh51 - The Palmer Woods Kuni colonial the you showed in Post # 1077 burnt in September 2012.

http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...3_M46093-55320

It is listed for $ 40,000. I don't know the story behind the fire, it is really a shame.

[Neilr]

I wondered whether 58 Farrand Park in Highland Park was a Kuni - has some of his moves. Ca 1927. Farrand, McLean and Colorado are still beautiful streets despite being in the middle of Highland Park. Some really good gardens. Would love a house tour or two [[hint?).

I don't know if 58 Farrand Park is a Kuni; but it has to be by the same architect who did 2316 Longfellow in the Boston - Edison neighborhood. It's virtually the same house, just a different brick and a reverse image. What do you think?

[southofbloor]

I don't know if 58 Farrand Park is a Kuni; but it has to be by the same architect who did 2316 Longfellow in the Boston - Edison neighborhood. It's virtually the same house, just a different brick and a reverse image. What do you think?

Wow you're right. Seems like Kuni was an efficient builder who might reuse forms. Good eye - I don't know that part of B/E very well.

And just looking up the street, 2265 Longfellow [[1923) is a duplicate of 29 Colorado in Highland Park, but without the cobblestone. Not sure on the architect on that.

[southofbloor]

A design by H. E. Hallett. Hallet's office address is the same as builder Carl E. Reichle who built the home next door to this home and can be seen on this thread. I wonder if Hallett was his in-house architect.

1030 Nottingham built in 1924 Grosse Pointe Park, MI.

And similar to 44 Farrand Park, Highland Park. Different material, similar massing and double porch. Could also be pattern book however.

[Neilr]

Wow you're right. Seems like Kuni was an efficient builder who might reuse forms. Good eye - I don't know that part of B/E very well.

And just looking up the street, 2265 Longfellow [[1923) is a duplicate of 29 Colorado in Highland Park, but without the cobblestone. Not sure on the architect on that.

Here's another pretty much the same house; but IMO a bit more refined. At least it was before the window replacement and the enclosure of the front porch.

[southofbloor]

Nice! I like the thickness of the "hood" edge and the brackets. Cobblestone gets me every time though.

[p69rrh51]

On the Kunibuilt front if Neilr's homes are the Chevrolet model this home must be the Ford Fiesta model.


1151 Beaconsfield built in 1924 Cabbage Patch Grosse Pointe Park, MI.