W. Hawkins Ferry House

The W. Hawkins Ferry House is a modern residence in Grosse Pointe Shores defined by its two-story flat-roofed form and slender precast concrete columns that frame views toward Lake St. Clair. The grid created by these columns breaks up the exterior wall and allows light to move through the interior spaces in a structured way.

Designed in 1964 by architect William Henry Kessler for W. Hawkins Ferry, a prominent art collector and author, the house emerged as a response to mid-century modernist principles. Its creation coincided with a period when residential architecture was increasingly exploring the relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces.

The house was built to serve as a gallery space where Ferry could live among his collected artworks, integrating daily life with his passion for art. This approach shaped how the interior was arranged, with open spaces designed to showcase the collection as part of the home itself.

The house sits on the lakeshore and offers views of the water from multiple angles as you walk around it. Photography is most rewarding when light is strong enough to cast shadows through the column grid, which happens throughout the day depending on the season.

The house earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019 despite being less than 60 years old at the time, a recognition that reflects the importance placed on modernist residential design. This designation highlights how quickly certain buildings gain status as examples of a significant era in American architecture.