Detroit’s Renaissance Man | Jason R Woods

The Palms Apartments in Detroit. Photo by Jason R Woods.

As you may know, I love my Modern architecture. However living in Michigan and being obsessed with all things Detroit, it is hard to ignore the strong presence of other styles of architecture. I have come to appreciate them, at least in the context of my home state. Many have contributed to the rich story of design in Detroit, but one character stands above all else.

Albert Kahn briefly trained as an architect in Europe and inherited a knack for Beaux Arts designs that were in vogue at the time. He then brought his knowledge back to the States and proceeded to build a career as the most successful industrial designer the world has ever seen. Thanks to his factory building prowess, Kahn was also asked to design offices, theaters, synagogues, and homes. Below are just a few of the impressive examples of Kahn designs in Detroit that are still standing today, some over 100 years later.