Louise Gilleo designed homes in Grand Rapids in the 1920’s when woman architects were rare.

READ ABOUT Julie Wolfert’s restored 1956 Alexander McColl-designed house,  a rare example of the architect’s ranch style homes. 

MODERN COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS RESTORED.  Photo of Cull Group Building at 1432 Wealthy Street SE  by Cathy Seaver, Cull Group, Inc.

Coming soon! The story of the Hermitage (the old Third Reformed Church is being saved from “demolition by neglect.”

Read about the mid-century modern Post-Joldersma house in the popular Grand Rapids Maryland Estates neighborhood.

The Furniture Exhibition Buildings provided display space for the growing Grand Rapids Furniture Market.  Photo of the Waters Building by Pam VanderPloeg 2017.

All that remains of the glorious Grand Rapids Civic Auditorium is the impressive facade and art deco lobby.  This building was built on the banks of the Grand River on Lyon Street despite the economic challenges of the Great Depression.

SIDNEY J. OSGOOD WAS ONE OF THE EARLIEST GRAND RAPIDS ARCHITECTS. Read about the historic civic, commercial and church buildings he designed himself and with son Eugene S. Osgood.

READ THE STORY OF THE ROZEMA HOUSE IN OTTAWA HILLS HERE

MATHIAS ALTEN HOME.  This is where the renowned Grand Rapids painter lived and worked.

The  first houses in the popular and gracious Ottawa Hills neighborhood were constructed in 1922 on land that was once an orchard and a nine-hole golf club...

About E John Knapp AIA, 1916-2017, mid-century modern architect who lived to be 101.  Varsity Grill Photo by Pam VanderPloeg copyright 2017.

In 1952 Harris Ver Shure designed stylish modern home for his family on Grand Rapids northwest side. The rest of the story is coming soon.

ENJOY A  VIRTUAL TOUR OF DOWNTOWN GRAND RAPIDS STREETS.  Photo of the Flat Iron Building by Pam VanderPloeg copyright 2017.

THE MANY STYLES OF ALEXANDER MCCOLL.  McColl, meticulously researched the various styles his clients requested from historic revival styles like English Tudor to Mid-century Modern.  

FULTON STREET ENCOMPASSES NEARLY 200 YEARS OF GRAND RAPIDS ARCHITECTURE .  Did you know that Albert Kahn designed the first Grand Rapids Press Building or that the Grand Rapids Art Museum was first located in the 1848 Greek Revival home of Abram Pike?   Read more...

GALLERY OF MODERN HOME STORIES FOUND ON WM MODERN.

These iconic modern buildings were designed by Chicago firm SOM.  Punctuated by the iconic Calder sculpture, there is also a Calder painting covering the roof of one of them.

Temple Emanuel was designed by modern expressionist architect Erich Mendelsohn. Completed in 1955, the Temple is one of Grand Rapids most beautiful modern buildings.  

GRAND RAPIDS PARK-SCHOOLS REPRESENT A GROUP OF ICONIC MID-CENTURY SCHOOLS BUILT FORM 1951--1960.   These schools have met a variety of fates and some are still vital community schools.  Read more.