Meyer May House; Frank Lloyd Wright — Grand Rapids, MI
“Michigan’s Prairie Masterpiece”
Welcome to one of the most unusual and celebrated houses in the United States. This is the Meyer May House. It was designed and built in 1908–09 by legendary and amazing American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
The Meyer May House is an example of Prairie School Architecture. Which through much of his career, Wright was a leader in the Prairie School Architecture Movement and developed the concept of the Meyer May House. After being commissioned in 1908 by Meyer S. May, President of May’s clothing store in Grand Rapids, MI.
The Meyer May House is typical in style and design of Wright’s Prairie houses. T-plan lighter brick construction, two stories with long broad eaves, art glass windows and skylights. The house’s appearance contrasts the Victorian houses in the Heritage Hill neighborhood, typical of the time-period.
A Historical Landmark
As Frank Lloyd Wright’s career progressed, plans for “Prairie Homes” were custom made to integrate with the existing landscape on their lots, as opposed to trying to change the land to suit the dwelling. The interior of the Meyer May House is the first examples of the “open plan,” which developed out of necessity at the turn of the 20th century when servants began to disappear from most American households.
Unusual and Celebrated
The Meyer May house is a great example of Wright’s early Prairie work. The diversity of Wright’s work in Michigan shows not only his talent and versatility, but also the progression and growth of Wright as an architect.
As Wright’s career progressed, so did the mechanization of the glass industry. Wright fully embraced glass in his designs and found that it fit well into his philosophy of organic architecture. Glass allowed for interaction and viewing of the outdoors while still protecting from the elements.
Themed and Coordinated
Frank Lloyd Wright was one of the first architects to design and supply custom-made, purpose-built furniture that functioned as integrated parts of the whole design. His Prairie houses use themed, coordinated interior design elements that are repeated in windows, carpets, furniture, doors, tables, chairs, light fittings and decorative elements.
Leaded and colored glass accented doors and casement windows open out to terraces and gardens with garden walls and planters incorporated into the design.
Restoration
Using Historic Photos with Original Drawings and documents
Meyer 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 property was rented out. Steelcase an international furniture company founded and headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI purchased the house in 1985.
The Meyer May House was placed on the Michigan State Register of Historic Sites in 1986. The property is also part of the Heritage Hill Historic District. Before restoration began, extensive research into the home’s original 1909 state was conducted through personal interviews, historic photos, original drawings and documents, and publications about Frank Lloyd Wright.
During this restoration, the 1922 addition was removed, all the plaster ceilings were replaced, the roof was rebuilt, more than 100 windows and skylights were repaired, and an enclosed veranda was opened. The landscaping was also restored to its original 1909 design.
Restoration began in 1986 and the house opened for visitor tours in 1987. The house is one of the most completely restored of Wright’s Prairie residences.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 similar Arts and Crafts style items from the period. Carpets were also woven according to Wright’s designs and colors.
“Michigan’s Prairie Masterpiece”
To Compliment The Land
Frank Lloyd Wright chose the site of the home to allow for sunlight to stream into the living room. Through the colored glass accented doors and windows. That open out to a spacious garden with walls and planters incorporated into the design. Providing both privacy to the second-floor gallery.
Inside the home, iridescent strips of gold art glass, were placed in the horizontal lines of both brick fireplaces. The home is a beautiful statement on the corner lot where it resides. There is plenty of room on the lot, yet Wright moves the back of the house and driveway right up against the lot line. This gives a much greater sense of space around the house.
The Meyer May house, like most of Wright’s Prairie homes, emphasizes the horizontal line. The long, overhanging eaves give shade from the summer sun and draw the eyes outward rather than upward. The bands of more than 100 windows and skylights around the house give no indication of how many rooms there are inside, nor what their use is.
Wright designed many of his Prairie homes to have a hidden entrance. The idea is that if you have not been invited to the house, you won’t feel particularly welcome just walking up and knocking on the door. This enhances privacy.
Today, complete with original furnishings and faithfully executed reproductions, the Meyer May house provides the rare opportunity to experience a Prairie house exactly as Frank Lloyd Wright intended.
