Max and Esther De Pree House facts for kids
The Max and Esther De Pree House is a special home found in Zeeland, Michigan. It's famous because a very well-known architect designed it. This house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017, meaning it's an important historical building.
Quick facts for kids |
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Max and Esther De Pree House
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 279 S. Division St., Zeeland, Michigan |
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| Built | 1954 |
| Architect | Charles Eames |
| Architectural style | Modern |
| NRHP reference No. | 100000886 |
| Added to NRHP | April 17, 2017 |
Contents
A Home Designed by a Famous Architect
Max De Pree was the son of D. J. De Pree, who started the Herman Miller company. This company makes office furniture. Herman Miller worked closely with famous designers Charles and Ray Eames starting in 1946.
How the House Came to Be
In 1953, Max De Pree saw a model house design. It was at the Eames Office in Los Angeles. Max really liked it and asked Charles Eames if he could build it in Michigan. Charles Eames had a different idea. He decided to design a brand new house just for Max and his wife, Esther. This special house was built on a small piece of land right next to where the De Prees already lived.
Who Lived in the House?
The De Prees lived in their unique home until 1975. Then, they sold it to Bob Rynbrandt, who also worked for Herman Miller. The Rynbrandt family lived there until 2010. After that, the Herman Miller company bought the house back. They wanted to make sure it was carefully restored and kept safe for the future.
What Does the House Look Like?
The Max and Esther De Pree House is a Modern style home. It has two stories and a flat roof. The front of the house is very balanced. On one side, there is a garage for a single car. On the other side, there is a study room.
Unique Design Features
A covered walkway connects these two parts to the main house. The main part of the house is shaped like a rectangle. It has about 2,000 square feet of space inside. The windows on the outside are placed in a special way. This helps to let in a lot of fresh air. The house sits on a sloped piece of land. From the house, you can look out over a wooded area that goes down to a stream.
