In celebration of DOCOMOMO Tour Month, on October 24th, we will partner with Mid-Century Modern Midland for a Zoom lecture on the works of Alden B. Dow. Craig McDonald, the executive director of the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio, will present Alden B. Dow: A Way of Life.
During his 50-year career in architecture, Alden Dow designed over 560 projects in the state of Michigan and throughout the United States. Whether designing homes for the individual or the family, workspaces for industry, worship spaces for religious communities, or schools and civic buildings, Alden Dow believed the architect always played an essential role in creating harmony between people, materials and ideas. Good architecture responds to the land and its culture. In 1944, Alden Dow said, “I have no idea what my next design for a building will look like, but I do know it will not look anything like the one I have just completed, and that is not because of me, but because of the individual or individuals that are going to use the next building.”
The progressive climate of the pre- and post-war years encouraged Alden Dow’s interest in new technology, new materials, and innovative designs. His buildings combined functionality with imagination and creativity. For five decades, Alden Dow successfully pioneered architectural designs that are still timely today.
Midland, Michigan, showcases Alden B. Dow’s architectural work. Although he designed over 600 projects throughout his career, this small, mid-western town highlights over 130 architectural designs. His father, Herbert H. Dow, may have formed the industry that supports the city, but Alden Dow created the architectural texture that defines it. Houses, religious buildings, schools, civic structures, and commercial projects are all a part of Alden B. Dow’s legacy to Midland. His appreciation and standard of quality, innovation, and progressive design will continue to challenge our thinking and ways of approaching architecture.
