Minoru and Teruko (Hirashiki) Yamasaki House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Minoru and Teruko (Hirashiki) Yamasaki House
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| Location | 3717 Lakecrest Dr., Birmingham, Michigan |
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| Area | 0 acres (0 ha) |
| Built | 1972 |
| Architect | Minoru Yamasaki |
| NRHP reference No. | 13000905 |
| Added to NRHP | October 25, 2013 |
The Minoru and Teruko (Hirashiki) Yamasaki House is a special private home in Bloomfield, Michigan. A famous architect named Minoru Yamasaki designed it for himself and his wife, Teruko, in 1972. This house is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. This means it's a historic place worth protecting.
Contents
The Story of the Yamasaki House
Minoru Yamasaki's Early Life
Minoru Yamasaki was born in Seattle in 1912. He loved architecture and studied it at the University of Washington. After college, he moved to New York City. There, he took more classes at New York University. In 1935, he got his first job as an architect.
Minoru Yamasaki worked for different companies in New York for about ten years. In 1941, he married Teruko Hirashiki. In 1945, they moved to Detroit. Minoru became the main designer for a big company called Smith, Hinchman, and Grylls. He worked there until 1949. Then, he decided to start his own architecture business.
Finding a Home in Michigan
When the Yamasakis first came to Detroit, it was hard for them to find a good home. Some areas in the suburbs had strong anti-Japanese feelings. This made it difficult for them to buy property. They eventually bought an old farmhouse in Troy, Michigan. At that time, Troy was a very quiet, rural area.
By the early 1970s, more and more houses were being built around Troy. The area was becoming a busy suburb. The Yamasakis were able to sell their farmhouse for a good profit. Because of their success, they could now buy land in places they couldn't before. In 1972, they bought the land for their new home. Minoru Yamasaki then designed the house himself. He lived in this house until he passed away in 1986.
About the House's Design
The Yamasaki house has two stories and a flat roof. It is shaped like the letter "L." The house is built with a strong aluminum frame. Bricks cover the outside walls.
Special Features of the House
The main entrance to the house is on the second floor. You enter through the inside part of the "L" shape. Other sides of the house have very tall glass walls. There is also a swimming pool next to the house.
Inside, the house has an open floor plan. This means that rooms flow into each other without many walls. The design is simple and clean. Minoru Yamasaki believed that the inside of a house should not be too busy. He wanted the furniture, artwork, and the people living there to be the main focus.
