Edsel & Eleanor Ford House - Pool, Lagoon, and Landscape Restoration
Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan
2023 Cultural Landscape Award - Michigan Historic Preservation Network
Ford House selected Albert Kahn Associates to restore the Jens Jensen and Albert Kahn-designed landscape, lagoon, and pool, which had become unrecognizable. Nearly 100 years after the original design and installation of the project, the recreational area of the estate needed vital repairs and a team devoted to the initial design vision. The entire team of landscape architects, engineers, construction trades, and researchers expertly restored the site and added universal accessibility and sensory opportunities to transform the visitor experience.
Drone scanning and 3D models worked alongside historical drawings, photographs, and family videos. Expert craftspeople dissected and recreated handcrafted historic details.
Kahn’s reinforced concrete pool was repaired with its innovative infinity edge and original fixtures, and the iconic waterfall was refurbished. The intention behind Jensen’s natural oasis was restored. The team's attention to detail will allow the landscape to remain universally accessible for another 100 years. Now, the former estate of Edsel and Eleanor Ford will transport visitors back to the 1930s.