John Miller
There are several residences referred to as Mushroom Houses in the United States. The one in Perinton, New York, was constructed between 1970 and 1972 for an attorney-artist couple, Robert and Marguerite Antell. It was designed by a local architect and features four 80-ton pods that resemble mushrooms. Another Mushroom House, also known as the Pod House, was built by architect Terry Brown in Cincinnati, Ohio between 1992 and 2006. This one-bedroom house has a cone-shaped addition and a spiral staircase. However, the most well-known Mushroom Houses are those built by Earl Young in Charlevoix, Michigan, starting in 1924. Young constructed unique homes that blended into their natural surroundings, often featuring wavy roofs and stonework that resembled mushrooms. These houses have become famous and are even featured in a documentary film, The Wizard of Boulder Park.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Perinton, New York |
| Builder | Robert and Marguerite Antell |
| Year of Construction | 1970-1972 |
| Style | Contemporary |
| Design | Patterned after umbels of Queen Anne's Lace |
| Colour | Brown |
| Structure | Four 80-ton pods on reinforced concrete stems |
| Height | 14-20 feet |
| Pod Design | Windowed sides and caps |
| Function | Living, dining, kitchen, and sleeping areas |
| Selling Price | $729,000 |
| Other Mushroom Houses | Charlevoix, Michigan; Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Charlevoix Mushroom Houses Builder | Earl Young |
| Cincinnati Mushroom House Builder | Terry Brown |
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What You'll Learn
Earl Young's self-taught architectural designs
Earl Young, born in 1889 in Michigan, was an American architectural designer, realtor, and insurance agent. He designed and built 31 structures in Charlevoix, Michigan, over a span of 52 years, despite never being a registered architect. Young's designs were self-taught, and he worked mostly with stone, using limestone, fieldstone, and boulders sourced from Northern Michigan. His philosophy was to preserve the natural feel of the land, and he believed that a small stone house could be as impressive as a castle.
Young's first mushroom house design was Boulder Manor, which he began working on in 1927. However, construction was halted due to the Great Depression, and he lost the manor in 1929. Young regained possession of the property in 1937 and finished it in the mid-1940s, marking a turning point in his architecture career.
Young's unique designs featured curved lines in doors, windows, roofs, and fireplaces. His signature style also included wide, wavy eaves, exposed rafter tails, cedar-shake roofs, and a horizontal emphasis in design. His attention to detail and focus on integrating his structures with the natural landscape set him apart from other architects. Young's designs were influenced by nature, and he often built around existing trees and land features, creating a seamless blend of architecture and nature.
The Sucher House, built for the CEO of the Speedway 79 gasoline company, is the largest mushroom house designed by Young. It showcases his quintessential stacked stone fencing and further emphasises his organic relationship with the stones he used. Young's designs have become iconic in Charlevoix, attracting visitors from around the world who are captivated by his whimsical creations.
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The Mushroom House in Perinton, New York
The Mushroom House, also known as the Pod House, is a contemporary residence in Perinton, New York. The house was constructed for an attorney-artist couple, Robert and Marguerite Antell, between 1970 and 1972. It was designated a town landmark in 1989. The structure is located in a moderately wooded ravine adjacent to Powder Mills Park in Pittsford, a suburb of Rochester, New York.
The Mushroom House gets its name from its whimsical appearance, which resembles a series of giant, extraterrestrial mushrooms or fungi. The house is made up of four 80-ton pods that rest on reinforced concrete stems ranging from 14 to 20 feet in height. Each pod has a "cap" that is completely windowed, and they fan out from three feet in diameter at the top to five feet at the base. The pods are constructed of concrete and polyurethane and are supported by fourteen 20-foot steel-reinforced concrete stems. One pod serves as the living and dining area, another as the kitchen, and the remaining two as sleeping areas.
The Mushroom House was designed by architect James H. Johnson and was inspired by the umbels of Queen Anne's Lace, with a brown colour that suggests mushrooms. Mrs. Marguerite Antell, a potter, was heavily involved in the construction process and handcrafted over 9,000 ceramic tiles found throughout the house.
The unique design of the Mushroom House has attracted attention from television programs and books, such as HGTV's Offbeat America series and the Weird U.S. series. It has also become a popular tourist attraction, with people intrigued by its unusual and whimsical appearance. In February 2012, the house was sold for $729,000 after failing to attract buyers at its original asking price of $1.1 million.
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The Studio in Cincinnati, Ohio
The Studio, also known as the Mushroom House, is an ornately whimsical home built by architect Terry Brown in the Hyde Park neighbourhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. Constructed between 1992 and 2006, with the structure being completed in 2016, the one-bedroom house features a cone-shaped addition and a spiral staircase entry. The house served as Brown's office and secondary residence until his death in 2008.
The Mushroom House in Cincinnati is not to be confused with several other mushroom houses in the US. One such example is the collection of mushroom houses in Charlevoix, Michigan, built by local architect and designer Earl A. Young. Young's houses are known as "gnome homes", "mushroom houses", or "hobbit houses". They are made mostly of stone, using limestone, fieldstone, and boulders found in Northern Michigan. Young built 26 residential houses and four commercial properties over his 50-year career, with his first mushroom house, Boulder Manor, being constructed in the late 1930s to the mid-1940s.
Another notable mushroom house is located in Perinton, New York. This house, constructed between 1970 and 1972, was built for an attorney-artist couple, Robert and Marguerite Antell. The house is made up of four 80-ton pods that rest on reinforced concrete stems ranging from 14 to 20 feet in height. The structure has been designated a town landmark and has been featured in television programs and books due to its whimsical appearance.
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Boulder Manor in Charlevoix, Michigan
The Mushroom Houses of Charlevoix, Michigan, were built by local architect and designer Earl A. Young. Young was a self-taught master builder who created custom homes that fit the site, rather than forcing the landscape to accommodate his designs. He built 26 residential houses and four commercial properties over his 50-year career, most of them in Charlevoix. His works are made of stone, using limestone, fieldstone, and boulders found in Northern Michigan. Each house is unique and designed to blend in with its natural surroundings. Young's philosophy was to preserve the natural feel of the land, and his attention to detail and focus on this aspect of his work set him apart from other architects.
The Charlevoix mushroom houses began to take shape in 1924 when Young purchased 37.5 acres of land called Bartholomew's Boulder Park. The park was named for the abundant glacier-buffed boulders found on the land. Young's first mushroom house design was Boulder Manor, which he began working on in 1927. Located along Lakeshore Drive, it was intended to be Young's private residence. However, construction was halted due to the Great Depression in 1929, and he lost ownership of the property. Young regained possession of Boulder Manor in 1937 and completed it in the early 1940s, transforming it into a beautiful mid-century modern design.
Boulder Manor is the centerpiece and gateway to Boulder Park. It is a large home built from massive boulders, with a unique brand of vernacular architecture that doesn't fit neatly into any one architectural style. The house features wide, wavy eaves, exposed rafter tails, and Young's signature stacked stone fencing. The stonework and landscaping echo the natural ground on which the house sits, creating an integrated work of art.
Young's other notable Charlevoix creations include the Half House, the Thatch Roof House, 304 and 306 Park Ave, the M. Sucher House, and the Castle House. The Half House, built in 1947, is composed almost entirely of boulders and local fieldstone and is capped with a wavy, cedar-shingled roof. The M. Sucher House is the largest mushroom house designed by Young, built for the CEO of Speedway 79. The Castle House is situated on the shores of Round Lake and is a beautiful stone castle.
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The Half House in Charlevoix, Michigan
The Half House was built in 1947 and remains true to its original design. It gets its name from its unusual appearance, as it looks like a house that has been cut in half. The house is composed almost entirely of boulders and local fieldstone and is topped with a wavy, cedar-shingled roof. This horizontality echoes the California ranch style, which was popular at the time.
Young's philosophy was to preserve the natural feel of the land, and he preferred to build around nature rather than alter it. His attention to detail and focus on integrating his structures into their surroundings set him apart from other architects. Young's houses feature signature elements such as wide, wavy eaves, exposed rafter tails, cedar-shake roofs, and a horizontal emphasis in design.
The Half House is located within the Park Avenue Triangle, where Young constructed seven homes and remodelled three. Young's own house, located nearby on Lakeshore Drive, is known as Boulder Manor. He purchased the land for this property in 1924 and began construction in 1928, but the project was halted due to the Great Depression. Young eventually regained the property and completed Boulder Manor in the early 1940s.
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Frequently asked questions
Local builder and designer Earl Young built the Mushroom Houses in Charlevoix, Michigan.
Earl Young built the Mushroom Houses through the mid-20th century. He purchased the land in 1924 and began work on his first mushroom home design in 1927.
The Charlevoix Mushroom Houses are made of stone, using limestone, fieldstone, and boulders. They are designed to blend in with their surrounding landscapes. They feature wide, wavy eaves, exposed rafter tails, cedar-shake roofs, and a horizontal emphasis in design.
The Mushroom Houses are located in Charlevoix, Michigan. You can take a self-guided tour or a guided tour through the Charlevoix Historical Society.
Yes, there is a Mushroom House in Perinton, New York, and another in Cincinnati, Ohio.
