1247 NAVARRE PL

This lovely contemporary townhome in downtown Detroit was designed by Hausner and Macsai. It was envisioned by the architect John Macsai, know for his work with the University of Chicago and Jay Pritzker, founder of the Hyatt Hotel chain and namesake for the Pritzker Prize. The townhome is within the Navarre Place development which was commissioned by the developer Morton Scholnick in 1965. Mr. Macsaai was a contemporary of Mies Van de Roche, the designer of the nearby townhomes in Lafayette Park. Compared to Mies' "Plan Libre" school of thought, Macsai followed an architectural mindset of which moved beyond the 2d plan and envisioned space as the relationship of 3d cubes of program. This can be seen within the experience of the home as spaces lend themselves to specific programs and uses. This marriage between space and use makes this a unique moment within the Lafayette Park Historic District, and a key part of the contemporary conversation of how we envision space.