Meyer May House
Encyclopedia
The Meyer May House is a Frank Lloyd Wright
-designed house in the Heritage Hill Historic District of Grand Rapids, Michigan
. It was built in 1908-09, and is located at 450 Madison Avenue SE. It is considered a fine example of Wright's Prairie School
era, and "Michigan's Prairie masterpiece".
and Neoclassical
houses typical of the period and neighborhood, the Heritage Hill neighborhood east of downtown Grand Rapids.
Meyer May House is stylistically typical of Wright's Prairie houses, a two story, T-plan constructed of pale roman brick
, with hip roof
s and long broad eaves
, art glass
windows and skylights. The first floor windows are tucked under the eaves and raised from ground level, providing both privacy and providing light to the staircase and second floor gallery.
Wright carefully sited the house to allow maximum southern exposure for the living room windows and skylights and to create a spacious yard for the perennial gardens. Each terrace and each section of art glass was artfully designed and placed to enhance the interior and to draw nature into the house. Doors open out to the terraces and gardens with garden walls and planters all incorporated into the design to intermingle the interior and exterior.
Inside, wood grills hide the radiators, iridescent strips of gold art glass were placed in the horizontal grout lines of both brick fireplaces, and a pastel mural of hollyhock
s wraps around a dividing wall between the living room and dining room. The mural, painted over during years of alterations, was rediscovered during the restoration and has now been restored. The interior was finished in 1910 by George Niedeken, Wright's Milwaukee based associate, who was also a talented decorative painter and executed the mural in the dining room.
1922 saw a major alteration of the house, two bedrooms were added upstairs, as were servants' quarters
on the ground floor. May died in 1936 and the house remained empty for six years, not selling until 1942. Sold again in 1945 carports and additional entrances were added, and the bedroom additions were rented out.
The Meyer May House was placed on the Michigan State Register of Historic Sites in 1986. and is a contributing building to the Heritage Hill Historic District. The district was listed in 1971 on both the National Register of Historic Places
and the Michigan State Register of Historic Sites, and was protected by the City of Grand Rapids' historic preservation ordinance in 1973.
, an international office furniture company founded and headquartered in Grand Rapids, purchased the house in 1985.
Before restoration began, extensive research was conducted to determine the original building design. Interviews were held with relatives, neighbors and friends of the May family, Wright scholars, past building occupants, historians, and local residents. Documents about Frank Lloyd Wright were also studied to pinpoint information on the Meyer May House and Wright's Prairie style of architecture. Historic photos, drawings, and documents were found in public institutions and private collections. These proved to be the most valuable tools in reconstructing the history of the actual structure and its contents.
Restoration began in 1986 and was completed, and the house opened for visitor tours, in 1987. The house is one of the most completely restored of Wright's Prairie residences.
Rooms in the restored house are furnished with a mixture of original pieces, reproductions of original pieces, and compatible Arts and Crafts
style items from the period. One piece original to the home is the living room sofa, which was still in the home at the time of restoration, though it was heavily upholstered over and almost discarded. The dining room chairs, also original, were purchased from a descendant of the family living in the Grand Rapids area.
, the wife of Wright's client and neighbor Edwin Cheney
. The Amberg house was finished under the supervision of Wright associates Marion Mahony Griffin
and her husband Walter Burley Griffin
.
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
-designed house in the Heritage Hill Historic District of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
. It was built in 1908-09, and is located at 450 Madison Avenue SE. It is considered a fine example of Wright's Prairie School
Prairie School
Prairie School was a late 19th and early 20th century architectural style, most common to the Midwestern United States.The works of the Prairie School architects are usually marked by horizontal lines, flat or hipped roofs with broad overhanging eaves, windows grouped in horizontal bands,...
era, and "Michigan's Prairie masterpiece".
History
Commissioned in 1908 by Meyer S. May, a prominent Grand Rapids clothier, and his wife Sophie Amberg, the house stands in contrast to the VictorianVictorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
and Neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
houses typical of the period and neighborhood, the Heritage Hill neighborhood east of downtown Grand Rapids.
Meyer May House is stylistically typical of Wright's Prairie houses, a two story, T-plan constructed of pale roman brick
Roman brick
Roman brick can refer either to a type of brick originating in Ancient Rome and spread by the Romans to the lands they conquered; or to a modern type of brick, inspired by the ancient prototypes...
, with hip roof
Hip roof
A hip roof, or hipped roof, is a type of roof where all sides slope downwards to the walls, usually with a fairly gentle slope. Thus it is a house with no gables or other vertical sides to the roof. A square hip roof is shaped like a pyramid. Hip roofs on the houses could have two triangular side...
s and long broad eaves
Eaves
The eaves of a roof are its lower edges. They usually project beyond the walls of the building to carry rain water away.-Etymology:"Eaves" is derived from Old English and is both the singular and plural form of the word.- Function :...
, art glass
Leadlight
Leadlights or leaded lights are decorative windows made of small sections of glass supported in lead cames. The technique of creating windows using glass and lead came is discussed at lead came and copper foil glasswork...
windows and skylights. The first floor windows are tucked under the eaves and raised from ground level, providing both privacy and providing light to the staircase and second floor gallery.
Wright carefully sited the house to allow maximum southern exposure for the living room windows and skylights and to create a spacious yard for the perennial gardens. Each terrace and each section of art glass was artfully designed and placed to enhance the interior and to draw nature into the house. Doors open out to the terraces and gardens with garden walls and planters all incorporated into the design to intermingle the interior and exterior.
Inside, wood grills hide the radiators, iridescent strips of gold art glass were placed in the horizontal grout lines of both brick fireplaces, and a pastel mural of hollyhock
Hollyhock
Alcea , commonly known as hollyhocks, is a genus of about 60 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae. Most species are native to southwest and central Asia, although a few are native to southeast Europe or Egypt...
s wraps around a dividing wall between the living room and dining room. The mural, painted over during years of alterations, was rediscovered during the restoration and has now been restored. The interior was finished in 1910 by George Niedeken, Wright's Milwaukee based associate, who was also a talented decorative painter and executed the mural in the dining room.
1922 saw a major alteration of the house, two bedrooms were added upstairs, as were servants' quarters
Servants' quarters
Servants' quarters are those parts of a building, traditionally in a private house, which contain the domestic offices and staff accommodation. From the late 17th century until the early 20th century they were a common feature in all large houses...
on the ground floor. May died in 1936 and the house remained empty for six years, not selling until 1942. Sold again in 1945 carports and additional entrances were added, and the bedroom additions were rented out.
The Meyer May House was placed on the Michigan State Register of Historic Sites in 1986. and is a contributing building to the Heritage Hill Historic District. The district was listed in 1971 on both the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
and the Michigan State Register of Historic Sites, and was protected by the City of Grand Rapids' historic preservation ordinance in 1973.
Restoration
SteelcaseSteelcase
Steelcase is an international office furniture company founded in 1912 in Grand Rapids, Michigan — as The Metal Office Furniture Company. The company at the time specialized in file cabinets and safes. Today, the company sells products related to interior architecture, furniture and technology...
, an international office furniture company founded and headquartered in Grand Rapids, purchased the house in 1985.
Before restoration began, extensive research was conducted to determine the original building design. Interviews were held with relatives, neighbors and friends of the May family, Wright scholars, past building occupants, historians, and local residents. Documents about Frank Lloyd Wright were also studied to pinpoint information on the Meyer May House and Wright's Prairie style of architecture. Historic photos, drawings, and documents were found in public institutions and private collections. These proved to be the most valuable tools in reconstructing the history of the actual structure and its contents.
Restoration began in 1986 and was completed, and the house opened for visitor tours, in 1987. The house is one of the most completely restored of Wright's Prairie residences.
Rooms in the restored house are furnished with a mixture of original pieces, reproductions of original pieces, and compatible Arts and Crafts
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
style items from the period. One piece original to the home is the living room sofa, which was still in the home at the time of restoration, though it was heavily upholstered over and almost discarded. The dining room chairs, also original, were purchased from a descendant of the family living in the Grand Rapids area.
Public tours
Meyer May House opened to the public in 1987. Tours are offered Tuesdays & Thursdays from 10 to 2 and on Sundays from 1 to 4. Admission is free.Wright's other Grand Rapids work
The David M. Amberg House, near the Meyer May House at 505 College Avenue SE, was commissioned by the parents of May's wife Sophie in 1910. The house is not a complete Wright design as he left the country during its construction following his scandalous affair with Mamah Borthwick CheneyMamah Borthwick
Martha "Mamah" Borthwick is primarily noted for her relationship with Frank Lloyd Wright, which ended when she was murdered....
, the wife of Wright's client and neighbor Edwin Cheney
Edwin Cheney
Edwin Henry Cheney was an electrical engineer from Oak Park, Illinois, USA. Edwin has a goofy personality... but very loving and intelligent at the same time....
. The Amberg house was finished under the supervision of Wright associates Marion Mahony Griffin
Marion Mahony Griffin
Marion Griffin was an American architect and artist. She was one of the first licenced female architects in the world, and is considered an original member of the Prairie School.-Biography:...
and her husband Walter Burley Griffin
Walter Burley Griffin
Walter Burley Griffin was an American architect and landscape architect, who is best known for his role in designing Canberra, Australia's capital city...
.