Eino Kainlauri
Eino Kainlauri (1922-2006)
Eino Kainlauri, a Finnish architect who moved to Ann Arbor in 1947, designed an array of modern buildings -homes, churches, offices, and schools, both locally and in nearby states.
Born in Lahti, Finland in 1922, he enlisted in the Finnish army in 1939 and served as an officer in WWII. After the war he spent two years studying engineering and architecture at Helsinki University of Technology before being awarded a University of Michigan Regents Scholarship, which made it possible for him to move to Ann Arbor. He finished his architectural degree in 1949.
Kainlauri had planned to study for his master’s degree at Cranbrook with Eliel Saarinen, his friend and fellow country man. However, Saarinen died before Kainlauri could enroll, so he stayed at U-M for his masters, which he received in 1959.
Kainlauari’s first Ann Arbor job was working for architect Paul Kasurin, another Finnish native. In 1956, Kainlauri formed an architectural partnership with William Davis. Three years later he formed the one that would last the rest of his time in Ann Arbor with Richard George Millman and Donald MacMullan. Kainlauri was president, MacMullan was vice president and treasurer, while Millman was secretary.
According to Kainlauri’s obituary, they designed more than 73 schools, 45 churches, in addition to numerous commercial buildings, houses, and housing projects. Some of these jobs were in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, which had a large ethnic Finnish population due to all the Finns who emigrated in the 19th century to work in the copper mines.
After earning his PhD in 1975 at U-M in Natural Resources, Kainlauri accepted a job at Iowa State University and moved to Ames, Iowa, where he stayed the rest of his life. He died in 2006 at age 83.
Ann Arbor Projects
Member of planning committee for State Street Research Park, 1961.
Free Methodist Church, 1951 Newport Rd, 1961. An award-winning church design, very Scandinavian-looking with high slanted roof. Built in the shape of a diamond, every point leads straight to one of the earth’s four directions. Inside, the focal point of the sanctuary is a decorative wood and glass wall that creates multi-colored light around the altar screen. Built on a hill, the lower story is partially out of the ground, so the fellowship hall and Sunday school has more light than if it was totally underground.
The congregation left in 2016 due to dwindling membership. It is now used by the Ann Arbor University Village Church, an Asian congregation that is connected to the Southern Baptists.
Abbott School, 2670 Sequoia Parkway, 1961.
Kainlauri’s family home, 2255 Blueberry Lane, 1962. The first house on the not yet paved street, it was designed in an L-shape for viewing of wildlife, seasonal color changes, and variations of light during the seasons. The bedrooms view sunrise, the family room receives full afternoon winter sun, while the street facing side has sunset views. The floor above the basement is solid concrete so that the basement could be used as a bomb shelter, in an age when nuclear attack was a worry. Later owners turned it into a pleasant recreation area with a half bath.
Pittsfield School, alterations and addition, 1964
Outside Ann Arbor
Ski chalet and motel, Sault Ste. Marie.
High school and elementary school, Jackson, Michigan.
