Tag Archives: architecture

November 28, 2016

200 Years of Illinois: Henry Bacon, and that’s no baloney

Posted by rkcunningham
in architecture, Lincoln | Tagged , , | Comments Off on 200 Years of Illinois: Henry Bacon, and that’s no baloney

Reverent. Classical. (Well, neoclassical.) Uncontroversial in design, though the subject has a few fringe detractors. The Lincoln Memorial began to take shape in 1915. By then, architects and others had pitched a number of, shall we say, novel ideas about … Continue reading →

October 5, 2016

200 Years of Illinois: Mies van der Rohe in the House

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in architecture, Illinois / regional | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on 200 Years of Illinois: Mies van der Rohe in the House

On October 7, 2004, the National Register of Historic Places added the Farnsworth House, located near Plano, to its list of significant locales. Beautiful, yet a challenge to human habitation, the Farnsworth House won immediate plaudits when Ludwig Mies van der … Continue reading →

July 28, 2016

Throwbacklist Thursday: Women’s Work

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Well, less than 100 years after women won the right to vote, one of them is running for the White as the nominee of a major political party. Tonight, Hillary Clinton will accept the nomination for one of the world’s most … Continue reading →

October 27, 2015

Excelsior! continued

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in architecture, Chicago | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Excelsior! continued

You night think a skyline would maintain a certain consistency, an unchanging nature that reflected the fact that building a skyscraper is one of humanity’s more complex undertakings. Yet recent newsicles tell us that the most storied skyline of all, Chicago’s, … Continue reading →

September 3, 2015

Happy National Skyscraper Day

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in architecture, Chicago | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Happy National Skyscraper Day

Once rare wonders of the world targeted by giant apes, skyscrapers have become an indelible aspect of the urban experience. Their majesty inspires local pride, their beauty elicits amazement, and their daring/obnoxious designs spark debate. No city is more identified … Continue reading →

October 1, 2013

Skyscraper of the Day, Part 20

Posted by sfast
in architecture, Chicago, Illinois / regional | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Skyscraper of the Day, Part 20

Field Building, 135 S. La Salle Street.  Graham, Anderson, Probst, and White, 1934.  View from southeast.  (Contemporary post card, collection of the author) Announced on September 29, 1929 just days before the stock market crash, the Field Building was to … Continue reading →

September 30, 2013

Skyscraper of the Day, Part 19

Posted by sfast
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Conway Building, corner of Clark and Washington Streets.  D. H. Burnham & Co., 1913.  View from northeast.  (Contemporary post card, collection of the author) Four large neoclassical office blocks designed by Burnham’s office around the time of his death in … Continue reading →

September 27, 2013

Skyscraper of the Day, Part 18

Posted by sfast
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  Chicago Stock Exchange, view from northeast.  (Contemporary post card, collection of the author) The Stock Exchange, a project to fund a new trading room through the provision of office space for traders and associated businesses, alternated bay windows with … Continue reading →

September 26, 2013

Skyscraper of the Day, Part 17

Posted by sfast
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Rookery Building.  View from northwest (contemporary post card, collection of the author). The Rookery became Chicago’s center of architectural, contracting, engineering, and subcontracting expertise. It was intended to be the most luxurious commercial structure in Chicago and its size along … Continue reading →

September 25, 2013

Skyscraper of the Day, Part 16

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Masonic Temple, corner of Randolph and State Streets.  Burnham and Root, 1892 (demolished, 1939).  (120 Photographic View of Chicago, Rand McNally, 1912) Buildings braced by sway-rods typically had two or mote dedicated vertical planes on which, at every level, rods … Continue reading →