Amberg House
505 College Ave SE
Grand Rapids, MI
Year Built:
1911
Who actually designed the Amberg House, built in 1911, but started in 1909 is up in air. Wright departed for Europe in 1909, leaving much of his commissions in the hands of architect Hermann von Holst, with Marion Mahony Griffin taking on substantial design responsibility. Scholars continue to debate how much of the Amberg House reflects Wright v. Mahony’s interpretation of the Prairie School style. No matter who designed the house, it’s a top-notch example of said Prairie School style, with brick and wood, long sheltering rooflines, art-glass windows, and a grounded massing that ties it visually to the Midwestern landscape. The inside follows the Prairie principles, with flowing, interconnected rooms organized around a central hearth, built-in furnishings, and natural light filtered through patterned art glass. The Amberg House is open for overnight rentals, allowing guests to fully experience the Prairie design that is way better then a book, or even a short visit.
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