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Alden B. Dow Home and Studio Exterior Views Mid Century Modern

Imaginatively woven into the natural environment and surrounding pond, the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio elicits you to question, peek around corners and travel on unknown paths. It draws you into rooms of diverging angles, soaring roof lines, brilliant color, abundant natural light, and geometric patterns. The integration of building and site truly exemplify Mr. Dow’s definition of organic architecture as the idea that “…gardens never end and buildings never begin.” Designed and built in a small, conservative, Midwestern town amidst the Great Depression, the Home and Studio challenges your idea of the built environment. The Home and Studio reflects Alden B. Dow’s desire to redefine buildings, merging form and function for the ultimate experience. Experience, enjoy and discover an innovative definition of mid-20th Century modern architecture.

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Arial view of The Alden B. Dow Home and Studio
Arial view of The Alden B. Dow Home and Studio
There is a lovely interior courtyard that snakes out back. Here you can see where the drafting room meets up with Dow's office; the small door leads out of his personal office to the outdoors.
There is a lovely interior courtyard that snakes out back. Here you can see where the drafting room meets up with Dow's office; the small door leads out of his personal office to the outdoors.
Dow loved red accents, and they repeat all over the house. I like these on the exterior very much. The detail mixed with the patinated copper gives a great effect.
Dow loved red accents, and they repeat all over the house. I like these on the exterior very much. The detail mixed with the patinated copper gives a great effect.
This screened-in porch is on the second level of the house and overlooks the big pond. I love the colorful Bertoia furniture. The end tables were done by Dow himself.
This screened-in porch is on the second level of the house and overlooks the big pond. I love the colorful Bertoia furniture. The end tables were done by Dow himself.
A screened-in porch overlooks the pond and sports furniture by both Harry Bertoia and Dow himself. Photo by: Balthazar Korab
A screened-in porch overlooks the pond and sports furniture by both Harry Bertoia and Dow himself. Photo by: Balthazar Korab
The best view by far of the Alden B. Dow home and studio is from a little rise on the other side of the man made pond. I love how the Prairie style is at play here, a Japanese vibe, and of course this very inventive Dow style as well. The house was built in four stages and also contains what was Dow's architecture office.
The best view by far of the Alden B. Dow home and studio is from a little rise on the other side of the man made pond. I love how the Prairie style is at play here, a Japanese vibe, and of course this very inventive Dow style as well. The house was built in four stages and also contains what was Dow's architecture office.
This bridge at the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio goes from the terrace of the Dow home over the pond and out toward the large public park Dow Gardens.
This bridge at the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio goes from the terrace of the Dow home over the pond and out toward the large public park Dow Gardens.
A geometric bridge connects one of the many outdoor terraces of the Dow Home to green space on the other side of the pond.
A geometric bridge connects one of the many outdoor terraces of the Dow Home to green space on the other side of the pond.
This view of the back of the Dow Home gives a much better sense of the scope of the place and how inviting the landscape into every element of the design was so critical to Dow. Don't miss a word of Dwell! Download our FREE app from iTunes, friend us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter!
This view of the back of the Dow Home gives a much better sense of the scope of the place and how inviting the landscape into every element of the design was so critical to Dow. Don't miss a word of Dwell! Download our FREE app from iTunes, friend us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter!
Jump ahead to 1939 and Dow was into the house that he would live in. You can see the lights of the submarine room which sits right at water level. Seats just below the window let the sitter trail a finger in the pond just outside.
Jump ahead to 1939 and Dow was into the house that he would live in. You can see the lights of the submarine room which sits right at water level. Seats just below the window let the sitter trail a finger in the pond just outside.
Here's a view of the entrance to the Dow Home and Studio from the 1930s. Dow loved his tall, unit-block spires, and the Dow children would climb them as they played on the home's roof.
Here's a view of the entrance to the Dow Home and Studio from the 1930s. Dow loved his tall, unit-block spires, and the Dow children would climb them as they played on the home's roof.
Dow's love of nature was boundless. Here an apple tree nicely frames his home.
Dow's love of nature was boundless. Here an apple tree nicely frames his home.