Eye candy of the week

Leota and Talbert Adams were inspired to build this mid-century home while traveling abroad. During a flight over the Atlantic, they spied the shadow of their plane in the clouds below. Upon their return, the Adams’, who were both licensed pilots, decided to create a home shaped like an airplane. The home’s plan mimics the outline of a plane, with its long wings covering the lot facing Moores River Drive.

Completed in 1951, the house features ashlar fieldstone walls and a low-pitched roof typical of Modern Ranch houses. At the time the neighborhood was platted, the increasing popularity of the automobile allowed for the development of generous residential plots, often spread along winding streets. Following this pattern, home designs featured strong horizontality as their broad facades filled the wide lots. Here, as in many cases, the elevations are further extended with the inclusion of the attached garage.

Without a doubt, the most striking feature of this house is its bowed walls, completed with curved plexiglass windows. The rounded ends recall the streamlined look popular in the Art Deco era and led people to refer to this home as “The Airport House.” The current owner, who has occupied the house since 1986, has poetically named it “Wingspan.”

— Daniel E. Bollman, AIA

“Eye candy of the Week” is our weekly look at some of the nicer properties in Lansing. It rotates each with Eyesore of the Week. If you have a suggestion, please e-mail eye@lansingcitypulse.com or call Belinda Thurston at 999-5065.