Detroit Architects: William H. Vollmer (March 12, 1874- April 29, 1932)

Once a blue-collar draftsman, William H. Vollmer (March 12, 1874 – April 29, 1932) ran a successful architectural practice in Detroit during its rise as an industrial and automotive giant.

The homes Vollmer was hired to design had a significant impact on the residential landscape of historic districts like Indian Village, where his commission, the Caspar Hoffman House at 3488 Burns, stands today as a perfect reflection of his core strength: crafting stately revival-influenced designs that conveyed abundance and upward mobility, communicating refinement without leaning too heavily on theatrics.

Although not as widely known as many of his contemporaries of the time, Vollmer’s body of work from the 20th century reinforces the lasting prestige of Detroit’s most historic districts – neighborhoods shaped by a wide variety of talented designers.

For that, William H. Vollmer has a special place within the annals of Detroit’s architectural history.