Painted signs on buildings were the billboards of the nineteenth century. They could be large and numerous. Today, reminders of these signs grace older buildings throughout cities from London to Chicago in the form of “ghost signs“: faded remnants of painted signs that disappear a little more each year. In most cases these signs are… Read More Lincoln’s Law Office: Bringing Ghost Signs Back to Life
When you think of Frank Lloyd Wright, usually the expensive masterpieces come to mind: Fallingwater, the Guggenheim, and the Robie House (I previously wrote about Robie here and here!). Wright was, however, interested throughout his career in designing affordable architecture for all Americans. Intrigued? Look no further than Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Frank Lloyd Wright collaborated with the… Read More Affordable Housing, Milwaukee, and Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright. Sure, he’s a famous architect with a household name. But what’s the big deal? As an architectural historian, I often get asked what my favorite architectural style or time period is. The second most common question I get is my opinion of Frank Lloyd Wright. People love to have opinions about Frank… Read More Five Things to Like About Frank Lloyd Wright
An hour and a half north of Chicago, in the small town of Racine, Wisconsin, the S.C. Johnson headquarters (originally Johnson Wax) sits mere blocks from the broad, blue expanse of Lake Michigan. With historic neighborhoods and old factory buildings on either side, S.C. Johnson’s iconic research tower is an unusual beacon to visitors: this… Read More S.C. Johnson: the Wright Office Building
The Brewster Apartment Building, built in 1893, is a stately but fairly unassuming building on the corner of Diversey and Pine Grove in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. Besides the impressive, Sullivanesque detailing under the eaves, it is easy to look past it. However, its dark exterior is misleading. Much like The Rookery, Chicago’s Burnham &… Read More The Surprising Interior of the Brewster Apartment Building
The Robie House, like many houses designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, looks decidedly modern. It is surrounded by buildings that, while they emulate century-old architecture like Gothic cathedrals, are in fact younger than the Robie House. One neighbor in particular, however, is certainly newer than the Robie House but instead of turning to national trends… Read More The Robie House’s Contemporary Reflection
I recently got two behind-the-scenes tours of the Rookery in downtown Chicago (in one month. I will not turn down a behind-the-scenes building tour). The Rookery, built in 1888 and designed by Chicago architects Burnham & Root, is not only beautiful but rich with history. Last week’s post was an overview, and today I’m sharing some… Read More The Rookery: Six Fun Facts
With the opening of the computer-shaped Apple Store on Michigan Avenue last Friday, I was inspired to look at another architectural duck in Chicago: the boat-shaped bar on North Avenue Beach. I’ve written about novelty architecture and ducks once before (perhaps the most confusing but also most fun architectural term around!), and they never fail… Read More Chicago’s Land-Bound Boat
If nothing else, Frank Lloyd Wright is known for his role in creating the Prairie style. His house designs, particularly the later ones, all have similar look to them: horizontal lines, overhangs, hidden entrances. By the end of his career, it was these designs for which people flocked to Frank Lloyd Wright. But in… Read More If You Ask Frank Lloyd Wright for Tudor Revival
Domes and circles seem to be everywhere and cutting edge lately. There’s the ring-shaped Apple Park in California, the Amazon bubbles in Seattle, and a recent announcement was just made about a glass dome apartment to be constructed on the top of a Seattle building. But domes aren’t new. In fact, you may be familiar with… Read More Thinking Outside the Box(office): the Geodesic Domed Pioneer Theater
Susie Trexler 