Albert Kahn: Unintended Consequences

Registration Required. This event will be held in the Meeting Room of the FCL Farmington location at 23500 Liberty St, Farmington, MI 48335) and also held virtually via Zoom.

From 1929 to 1932 Albert Kahn, Inc. oversaw the design and construction of over 500 factories in Soviet Russia. Many of these plants were converted to munitions production during World War II. The Chrysler Tank Arsenal and Willow Run Bomber Plant notwithstanding, without Kahn’s unintended contributions to the Russian war effort, there is arguably no decisive Allied victory over the Third Reich, and no complete liberation of Europe, making these adaptive renovations among the most influential to ever be applied to Albert Kahn, Inc. designs. Dale A. Carlson considered the gravity of Kahn’s bearing on world history and asked, “What unique and significant adaptive renovations and reuses of Kahn designs might we find here in the Motor City if we went looking? Exactly how far might Kahn’s influence posthumously and unintentionally extend into Detroit’s future? Which reuses might exhibit the greatest degrees of versatility and unintended consequences?”

Join FCL and presenter Dale A. Carlson on the evening of Wednesday, April 10th, 2024 for a countdown/reveal style presentation, with accompanying Keynote lecture and fine art photography display, showcasing what the presenter believes Kahn himself would consider the most wildly unpredictable renovations and reuses of his buildings in Metropolitan Detroit. Bring your own stories of imaginative repurposing to share during a post-lecture Q&A with discussion. 

**At the program, Dale A. Carlson will have some of his architectural related materials available for sale. All transactions will be handled by Dale A. Carlson. 

This program is Generously sponsored by the Friends of the Farmington Community Library