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When Nathan Johnson founded his architectural practice in Detroit in the mid-1950s, black architects like him were few and far between. His success paved the way for future generations of color architects and gave the Detroit cityscape several notable buildings.
Johnson died this week at the age of 96. Mayor Mike Duggan paid tribute on Twitter Monday, saying, “Today we lost a pioneer in our city. Nathan Johnson has broken down barriers to establish himself as one of the leading black architects in the country. When he struggled to find an opportunity due to discrimination, he created his own. “
Johnson was a mentor and friend to several generations of younger color architects.
“I am deeply saddened to learn of Nate Johnson’s death,” said Rainy Hamilton, co-founder and director of Hamilton-Anderson in Detroit. “Nate was an exceptional architect and always, always a gentleman. He was one of my favorite architects, a friend and a mentor – always available for wise advice. “
Hamilton added, “I remain proud of his accomplishments, especially as an African American practitioner in an industry that is still dominated by white men. I stand on his shoulders and will remember him with a warm heart and a smile. “
Johnson’s designs ranged from people mover stations to several black churches in the city.
Architectural historian Dan Austin, curator of the website HistoricDetroit.org, described Johnson as “a monumentally important figure and arguably Detroit’s most famous color architect. He overcame racial barriers and discrimination to shape the city’s skyline. “
Johnson was born in Kansas and found work as a draftsman in Detroit for Donald White, the first black architect ever to be licensed in the state, at White & Griffin. He founded his own company in the mid-1950s. Among his early work, Johnson worked on the construction of the Eastland Center shopping mall on behalf of developer Victor Gruen.
Given the reality of how race influenced decisions in Detroit, Johnson often found work in black churches and smaller retail projects. Although modest in size, these projects often turned out to be the city’s most eye-catching innovations.
Among other things, he designed the extension of the Second Baptist landmark in Greektown and the modernist Historic Bethel AME Church in Midtown.
In a city often tied to traditional architecture of the past, Johnson brought an adventurous modernist sensibility with sleek lines and imaginative geometry to his commissions. Sometimes it featured a pointed spire instead of a traditional church steeple, as in the historic Bethel AME.
In a 1963 article in the Free Press, Johnson explained his design philosophy: “We try to be honest. If we want to decorate a church, we leave it to the structure instead of adding ornaments. “
He did something similar at Stanley Hong’s legendary Mannia Café in the New Center area, creating a wavy roofline marked by a spike-like tower. In a 2019 interview with Detroit News, Johnson stated that he was inspired by the innovative works of Frank Lloyd Wright. That’s why he decided to go for his own innovative modernist designs like the Mannia Café.
“We didn’t copy anything there,” he said. “We wanted to be original.”
“Johnson’s work is among the most iconic and memorable modern designs ever built in Detroit,” said Austin.
His influence on other African American architects went beyond the mere role model. In the 1980s, Mayor Coleman A. Young Johnson commissioned the design of the new people mover stations. Johnson outsourced some of the posts to other black architects, including Roger Margerum, the Sims Varner firm, and Aubrey Agee.
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“Mr. Johnson has had a big impact on black architects across the country with his big assignments like the Detroit People Mover Stations,” said Saundra Little, a director of Quinn Evans in Detroit.
She added, “This collective infrastructure of design work is woven like a tapestry through downtown Detroit.”
John Gallagher covered architecture and other urban topics for the Detroit Free Press for 32 years before retiring in late 2019. His latest book is The Englishman and Detroit: A British Entrepreneur Helps Restore a City’s Confidence.
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https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2021/11/09/nathan-johnson-detroit-architect-obituary-death/6355221001/
