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Detroit Area Art Deco Society Events

The Detroit Area Art Deco Society invites you to the International Coalition of Art Deco Societies’ World Congress on Art Deco – and the Pre-Congress stop in Detroit from May 10 through May 13!

This bi-annual World Congress is coming to Detroit prior to its Cleveland Congress. The Detroit Area Art Deco Society is thrilled to be able to be a part of this event.

In Detroit we have a program of three days of tours including stops at Cranbrook, The Henry Ford, the Guardian Building, the Fisher Building and the Penobscot Building.

Find out more and register at our website:  www.daads.org

For details on the World Congress on Art Deco visit:http://artdecoworldcongress.org/

Robert C. Metcalf Obituary

We were deeply saddened to learn that Robert C. Metcalf passed away on January 3, 2017 at the age of 93.

It is impossible for us to overstate Bob’s contributions to Ann Arbor’s rich heritage and collection of mid-century modern architecture and to A2Modern. In addition to his private practice consisting of around 150 projects, Bob was a professor at the Taubman College of Architecture at the University of Michigan and its long-serving Dean.

Along with his contemporary David Osler and George B. Brigham, with whom he apprenticed, his work forms the core of that Ann Arbor’s modern design legacy. We were thrilled when their work received recognition in the University of Michigan Art Museum’s “Three Architects” exhibit in 2014

A2 Modern is indebted to Bob for the many times he opened up the home that he and his wife Bettie built in the early 1950s and which is featured on the cover of our Ann Arbor Hills map. He was always gracious in hosting tours of his house and talks about his work. He helped us as we were identifying mid-century modern houses and their architects for our survey. We were honored whenever he could attend one of our house tours. We also know that many of those who own his homes have experienced that same honor in having the chance to talk with him.

On a personal note, my wife Nancy and I had the pleasure of being Bob’s client from 2007 through 2009. Nancy asked if he would redesign the previously remodeled entryway to our Brigham designed house. We were unsure whether he would take the project. He told us that he prepared the drawings for the house when he was an apprentice for Brigham and had not been inside it since 1951. Yet, he remembered specific details of how Brigham’s design developed as they spent more time with the client. We were thrilled when after walking through the house and listening to our goals Bob said that he would take the job because “George [Brigham] would want me to do it.”

During our project we learned many things about Bob and his work, which we greatly appreciated. He had a deep memory and liked to talk with us about his projects. Each one posed the challenges to him of balancing his client’s interests and needs with his ideas for the design and function of the home. We learned how his work was influenced by things such as a trip he took to Japan, his observation of the work of his contemporaries in Ann Arbor, and how each project could be a learning experience for him.

We also learned about how he immersed himself into his projects. He was extremely detailed, including with respect to other functional issues with the house. We were surprised when he told us the first order of business was to redesign our roof to address certain drainage problems he had noted. Only when that was completed could we talk about the design of our entrance.

He told us that the first order of business each day was to go to the job site and check on its progress. Even at the age of 84 he made sure he did the same with our project. When our roof was being reconstructed he climbed ladders to take a look. When concrete walls were being formed he was there observing. He continued to come to our house every day until our project was completely finished.

A2 Modern is grateful for the legacy that Bob and his contemporaries have left to Ann Arbor.   We are dedicated to maintaining the legacy and enhancing the appreciation of the extensive collection of mid-century modern architecture in Ann Arbor, and we plan to have continued tours of other Metcalf designed houses in Ann Arbor.

We also encourage homeowners and anyone who is interested in his work to read about him here on our website or delve into his archives located at the University of Michigan’s Bentley Historical Library.

The Taubman College of Architecture at the University of Michigan has also issued a memorial tribute.

Dave Deromedi

A2 Modern

Martin Schwartz Shines in Gunnar Birkerts Talk

More than twenty brave souls made it to Martin Schwartz’s talk on Gunnar Birkerts, in spite of the dangerous driving conditions of the last big snow of the season.   Schwartz spoke on Birkerts’ unique methods of bringing light into his buildings.  We learned not only about specific Birkerts’ buildings, some not well-known, but also gained a great appreciation of the challenges of bringing in light with which all architects wrestle.

Docomomo US National Symposium 2015: Modernism on the Prairie

Docomo will sponsor the third annual National Symposium on Modernism in Minneapolis from Thursday, June 04, 2015 8:00 AM to Sunday, June 07, 2015 9:00 PM (Central Time).

The three-and-a-half-day symposium seeks to celebrate and bring national attention to the unique cultural heritage, preservation, and advocacy of significant modern architecture and landscape architecture throughout the state of Minnesota. The symposium will include a multifaceted schedule of events featuring: peer reviewed presentations, panel discussions, exclusive tours , and networking events.

As the only national event working to explore and build consensus on the preservation of Modernism, the symposium will bring together world renowned designers, scholars, students, and professionals from the state of Minnesota and from around the country.

For more information go to http://www.docomomo-us-symposium.com/

2015 Michigan Modernism Exposition

It’s part of a ten day to salute Michigan’s contributions to the Modern Movement which takes place April 16 – 25, 2015. For more information check out

Nancy Marie Deromedi

We are deeply saddened to post that Nancy Deromedi, one of the founders of a2Modern, passed away at home on Oct 13 at age 52 after saying her good-byes to her loving family and close friends.  She had bravely waged a year-long fight with esophageal cancer.  She made her mark on those who worked with her and who shared her passion for Ann Arbor’s rich legacy of mid-century modernism architecture, and she will be deeply missed.

Nancy was born in Wyandotte, Michigan on November 9, 1961, the daughter of Jerry Allen and Gaye Kathleen Skinner.   She earned a business management degree at Ferris State in 1983 and pursued a career in retail clothing, arriving in Ann Arbor in 1986 to open a Laura Ashley store.   On November 17, 1990 she married David Deromedi and decided to make another change in her life by returning to school to study history at the University of Michigan.  Her future career was decided when she took a seminar in Michigan history from Francis Blouin, then Director of the Bentley Historical Library, which led to her great interest in using archival evidence of the past.

Nancy earned a B.A. from the School of Literature, Science and the Arts, and a Masters Degree from the School of Information.  She started working at the Bentley as an assistant archivist in 1997, rising through the ranks and was recently appointed Associate Director for Curation.  She was an expert curator of digital archives, designing a series of new and consequential best practices for preserving complex digital collections including the curation of digital archives from Governor Jennifer Granholm and University of Michigan President James J. Duderstadt, as well as the secure preservation of the University’s essential administrative records from its executive offices.

Her innovative ideas for solving some of the profession’s most complicated challenges were awarded support by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the National Historic Records and Publications Commission, and the University of Michigan Information and Technology Services.  Her work inspired a new publication series of the Society of American Archivists, entitled Campus Case Studies, and her reputation led to invitations to present at professional conferences as far away as Beijing, Copenhagen, Paris, Vienna, and throughout the U.S.  She was also a regular guest lecturer with the School of Information, the Society of American Archivists, Midwest Archives Conference, and others.

Her interest in mid-century modern architecture led to her contributions to the cultivation of important design collections for the Bentley from architects Robert Metcalf and David Osler, whose works, along with those of George Brigham, an earlier architect who was instrumental in introducing modern architecture to Ann Arbor, were recently featured at the University of Michigan Museum of Art in the exhibition series and symposium Three Michigan Architects:  Osler, Metcalf, and Brigham.

Nancy was a person of wide interests who sought to incorporate what she learned into how she lived, including with respect to her appreciation of history, art, architecture, design, gardening, and landscape. She loved spending time at her family’s restored 1830’s log house on the natural beauty of Pelee Island, Ontario.  While residing in an Old West Side arts and craft house, she researched the many aspects of this architectural and design style, collected furniture and pottery of the era, created a period correct landscape, and used her many travels as an opportunity to further her knowledge.

Nancy’s deep interest in Ann Arbor’s contributions to modernism took hold when, while browsing in the Bentley’s stacks during breaks, she learned about George Brigham.  Nancy and David purchased the Brigham designed “Leslie and Mary White” home in 2005 and then worked with Robert Metcalf, who had assisted Brigham when the home was originally built in 1950, to make restorations.  This project evolved into her ongoing research and discovery of the amazing stock of mid-century houses in her neighborhood and throughout Ann Arbor, and the architects who designed them, and her development of a deep passion for mid-century design throughout the world.

In 2010 Nancy, along with other interested homeowners and local historians, founded a2Modern, with the goal of raising the awareness and preservation of Ann Arbor’s legacy of modern architecture and design.  Recruiting others with like interests, in a short time she helped make the organization the magnet for everyone interested in this style, publishing a map of mid-century modern houses in Ann Arbor, organizing walks, field trips, house tours, and lectures, developing this website, as well as working with Eastern  Michigan University historic preservation students.  She was pleased last fall when she was able to get non-profit status for the organization.

In addition to her husband David and parents, she is survived by her siblings Jeffrey Allen Skinner (and wife Mio) of Osaka, Japan and Patricia Skinner- Smudz, (and husband Alan) of Monroe, MI,  parents in-law, Herb and Marilyn Deromedi of Mt. Pleasant, MI, sister-in-law Lori Deromedi  of Ann Arbor,  brother and sister-in-law Thomas and Lyndia Deromedi , of Linden, MI, and loving nieces and nephews Matthew, Anne, and Jessica Smudz , Noah and Ian Deromedi, and Kai and Riki Haiden-Skinner.

A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, Ann Arbor on November 7, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. with a reception at the Ann Arbor City Club immediately following.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested memorial contributions to the Matthaei Botanical Gardens (www.lsa.umich.edu/mbg) or Arbor Hospice (www.arborhospice.org).

David W. Osler obituary

David Osler, David William 1/9/1921 – 9/8/2014 David W.Osler of Ann Arbor MI, a prominent architect, died peacefully at 1:00 pm, September 8, surrounded by his family. Born and raise in Ann Arbor, he spent most of his childhood at the family home on Glazier Way. He graduated from University High School in 1938 where he met Connie Lorch, the young lady who would become his wife, for sixty-eight years this July. He attended the University of Michigan, studying design and illustration, graduating in 1942, with the goal of becoming a commercial artist. He was a three time letter-winner in golf and was part of a Big Ten championship golf team. Following his time at Michigan, Osler enlisted in the Navy and served on the USS Thomas Jefferson, an assault transport ship. He commanded 5 landing craft, transporting troops of the 116th regiment, 29th division during the first wave of the assault on Omaha Beach, D-Day 70 years ago. After returning from WWII, he decided a career in architecture could fulfill his need for creative and artistic expression. He founded David W. Osler Associates in 1958, housing the firm in the historic Washtenaw Light & Power sub-station (1902) at 916 Fuller Rd., Ann Arbor, after an extensive renovation.

Over the course of a 50 year career Osler compiled a diverse portfolio of building types including domestic, institutional, commercial, and civic commissions. The firm won 22 honor awards and in 2005, won the architectural Firm Award from the American Institute of Architects, (AIA) Michigan. He was a finalist out of 1,420 entries in the design competition for the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C. In 1996 Osler was awarded the Michigan Gold Medal, the highest honor of the AIA. He was elevated to the College of Fellows of the AIA in 1981, a lifetime honor bestowed for design excellence and contributions to the profession. He served as a juror and adjunct professor for the Taubman College of Architecture & Urban Planning at the University of Michigan. He also served the American Institute of Architects as president of the Huron Valley chapter, secretary to the state organization and for three years, as a member of the National Committee on Design in Washington D.C. Additionally, he was a board member of the Washtenaw Historical Commission and spent nine years as a board member of the Washtenaw Metropolitan Planning Commission.

From December of 2013 through March of 2014, Osler’s work was featured in an exhibit at the University of Michigan Museum of Art, entitled, “Three Michigan Architects: Part 1 – David Osler,” co-curated by Joe Rosa, Director, UMMA, and Nancy Bartlett, Head of the University Archives. Affiliations include the Ann Arbor Rotary Club as president in 1989, the graduate letter-winners “M” Club, as president in 1968, Ann Arbor Golf & Outing Club, the Vice President’s Club (VP’s) of Ann Arbor. Osler retired in 2010. The Bentley Historical Library wrote in its biography of David Osler, “He leaves a legacy of design elegance and simplicity that has inspired his followers with his commitment to a high quality of community life through architecture.” Osler and his wife Connie have three children, Molly, Robin, and Peter, all of whom have chosen careers in design. He is survived by his wife Connie (Constance), daughters Molly Osler of Ann Arbor, Robin Osler (Bruce Matthews) of New York, NY, Peter (Betsy Williams), of Ann Arbor, grandchildren Zane and Wren, sister Priscilla O. Cook (Mrs. William) of Bellevue, WA and two nieces, Tandy & Carrie and nephew Wyatt. Burial will be private at Botsford Cemetery. A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, October 18, at 1 pm, First Presbyterian Church, Ann Arbor. Photo credited to the Detroit News
– See more at: http://obits.mlive.com/obituaries/annarbor/obituary.aspx?n=david-william-osler&pid=172493057#sthash.cfmuHjxB.dpuf

The family has asked that memorial gifts go to Hospice of Michigan or a2modern. To make a donation in David Osler’s memory to a2modern, please send a check to a2modern, p.o. 7631, ann arbor, michigan 48107. The mission of a2modern is to raise the awareness and appreciation of modern architecture and design. Questions about a2modern, email modernists@a2modern.org.