# @dwellmagazine on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DOgwBo_EU6D
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/34784024-dwellmagazine-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/edc7fd31d0.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-09-12T18:09:34.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Dwell (@dwellmagazine) — https://gondola.cc/dwellmagazine

## Caption

7 years ago, we got to visit Rob and Mary in their home, which happens to be the last standing residence designed by Alexander Girard. In celebration of our 25th anniversary this year, we’re taking a look back at some of our favorite stories from the archive, like this one.
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Rob and Mary Lubera sensed something special from the listing of a single-story, post-and-beam structure, but they weren’t sure what. The distressed condition of the exterior suggested that it had been vacant for some time. But as the realtor opened the door, the couple was captivated by what they saw. “The natural light was incredible,” Rob recalled. After the tour, the realtor asked the couple what they thought. To his surprise, they replied in unison, “I love it.” As the couple started looking into the home’s history, the blueprints revealed that it had been designed by Alexander Girard, one of America’s most prolific interior, furniture, and textile designers. Girard had designed several houses near Detroit, all of which were later torn down. Bit by bit, they realized that the home was the last surviving residence anywhere that was designed entirely by Girard. Yet hardly anyone knew of it—not the Detroit Institute of Arts, not the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, not even Girard’s family. As Rob put it: “The people who knew Girard was the architect didn’t know who he was, and the people who knew about Girard didn’t know he was the architect.” The couple was stunned. But their immersion led to appreciation, and they committed to returning the house to its original state. With the ensuing restoration complete, Rob and Mary developed a larger understanding of the home’s legacy. “On most days we feel like curators, not owners,” Rob explained. “No one person can own something like this.” #dwellarchives | September 2018 | Photos by brianwferry | Story by deborahluberakawsky

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## Tags

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