Everybody will know their favorite house that was omitted and I’ll identify mine. It’s Alden Dow’s elegant home and studio in Midland, MI. He was an admirer of Frank Lloyd Wright’s style, if not his personality, but his work is not mere imitation. His house is a very personal, effective, and handsome living space.
Dow was the son of the founder of Dow Chemical Co. and resisted the opportunity to enter the family business. He stayed in Midland anyway, gracing that town and surrounding communities with clean, modern houses and commercial structures.
I’ve seen a lot of cool houses, but Dow’s home is just stunning. The public living spaces are large and attractive. The private spaces–bedrooms, bathrooms–are smaller than we are accustomed to seeing in homes of the wealthy. It sems to have been his notion that the inhabitants should be engaging with others instead of retreating into solitude. Dow liked color and the house has a lot of bright primary colors. The chimney was designed to his kids could climb it. The home and studio were a work in progress, built from the 1930s into the 1970s.
The Dow House is maintained by a foundation and is open for tours. It’s well worth the time, if you want to see some original and interesting ideas about living spaces. It’s worthy of inclusion in a 25-best list.