Elevation detail of residence, 1959
Isadore Shank, circa 1953
Entrance Zerman residence photographed in 2004
Firbeams refers to the douglas fir beams which support the roof of our home. This residence was designed by my father, Isadore Shank (1902-1992), a mid-century modern architect in Saint Louis whose practice spanned sixty years. During his career, he designed a city hall, a union education and retirement center, utility offices for the R.E.A., and many apartment buildings in the Midwest. But his preeminent contributions were the private residences that distinguish Saint Louis as a unique and important location for modern architecture. As many of the finest examples of this architectural era are currently under assault, I hope to encourage awareness and preservation of these works. In addition, this website offers links (under construction) about other members of this family, and their contributions to art and historic preservation in Saint Louis.