Black Modernist Architects OG's pt 2

Dec 13, 2024

A Black Modernist Architect Index by Hood Century
When I started Hood Century on IG, I aint know there was black architects or - I wasn't deeply knowing about no architects at all, def didn't know that there was brothers. That every state has that “1st black modernist arch” shit happening right now. You think we would know haha. But for some reason or another I like the way I am finding out about these brothers and sisters…. So here we are creating this “Black modernist architect index”, discovering what cultural design choices makes black modernism, black modernism.

Black Modernist Architects: Pt 1

Amaza Lee Meredith
Alonzo Robinson Jr.
Roger Margerum
John Moutassamy

Black Modernist Architects: OGs Pt 2

Nathan Johnson, Detroit

Nathan Johnson was one of the 1st black architects I found when I started Hood Century. A detroit cat.

By the early 70s detroit had a black mayor, Coleman Young (one of the 1st black mayor’s in america) - and he def was hiring mass black local architects.

A lot of black modernist work was civic and churches.

But back in 62 real unique opportunity to build the residence of The Hongs, a family friend who commissioned a crispy new modernist home!! one of the 1st modernest Boston-Edison Historic District.

Hong Residence, Detroit, 1962

After that, Hong asked him to design this googie style building for his restaurant, Mannia Café. The design of that spot became iconic in the city. Even after the cafe closed down, the building became an epicenter for the growing hip hop community in Detroit. You’d come to see rap battles w/ - mc breed, Eniemn, Proof, etc…

Stanleys Mannia Café, Detroit, 1969

Style notes:

Fucked with Googie
Loved residential corner lots and corner window vibes
Was prolific, built around 40 churches just in Detroit
Mrs. Saundra Little at the City of Detroit is that PERSON you wanna find if you need more of Mr. Johnson

Edward Bowser Jr, New Jersey

Bowser was an East Orange legend. I always call NJ the big parking lot…I think everybody that lived in NYC got a slick nickname for that state.

He was a champion of affordable housing. One of my fav works of his is in East Orange - Kuzuri Kajiji - (meaning “beautiful village” in swahili), the first housing development projects owned and built by Black citizens.

Kuzuri Kajiji, Housing Projects, 1970

It was designed by Edward but built by a contractor, FW Eversley. I’ve been thinking about contractors, or construction folks. They not the licensed black modernist architects we are coming to know but….. think about how many of them helped build BLACK AMERICA….

In fact, the Bowser family are them ONES!! Building and engineering ran in the family. His father, Edward Sr. was an architectural draftsman and his youngest brother, Robert, was a municipal planner and the mayor of East Orange for four terms.

NJ refused to test Edward Jr. for his architectural license so he ended up taking it nationally (and got the highest score in the country). E Sr. didn't get his license until after his son did, inspired by the young bwoy! But still, they were all determined to build however they could.

Style notes:

Was big into glass walls and flat roofs that blended cribs into nature
Worked in Paris w Corbusier and bought the modernist nine-square grid layout of Swiss-French architecture back to the states
Designed each of the 200-plus town houses in KK with individually landscaped yards
Spent the second half of his life and career out in Ghana where he set up a school that taught construction trades and design

John R. Henderson, Colorado

Yo! Its funny, as I was walking to the cafe to write this shit. the rapper Jim Jones just said “my wrist stay Gaudy” in this song I was listening too.… It reminded me of how black folks love patterns, shapes, logos... similar to them italian ones, and french ones in louis v. (Damn, they African ain’t they?)

John R. Henderson, the 1st black architect in Colorado, used that same kinda symbol led design.. building his home in the shape of a “H” after his last name!! and in my head i was like “yuppp, thats something a brother would do…” haha. It triggered so much of how I started to look at and appreciate our cultural design habits.

The Henderson Residence, 1971, Skyland Neighborhood

Style notes:

Courtyard built into the H, hard af.
Loved mid-century modern floor-to-ceiling windows, dark red bricks, mass built ins
“Less is more”
Peep this audio interview w Mr Henderson speaking in 2019!!

Robert P. Madison, Ohio

Last but not least. I am from Ohio, so yall know, I had to hit google one day wit the “who was the 1st black architect in Ohio”, and there he was Robert P. Madison! A fly, 90 something year old architecture w a sharp mind and clean fits.

Mr. Madison was part of an “all black/segregated platoon” in WW2. He was shot in combat, and was like, fuck it - let me get back to the crib. Once he got back home, the design world started to speak to him.

He started his own firm with his brothers. The 3 went on to work on The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with I.M Pei in their hometown of Cleveland. They also designed the US embassy out in Dakar, Senegal. Now 101 years old, his firm Robert P. Madison Inc. has expanded to architecture, interiors and planning. Peep how many Madison’s are on the team now!!