Chicago

Overview of Key Architectural Concepts

  • Identifying Key Buildings

    • Be familiar with specific buildings, their designers, locations, and dates.

    • Focus on buildings indicated by a red box, which will be included in a list provided on Friday.

    • The emphasis is on American architectural education between the 1850s and 1920s.

American Architects Studying Abroad

  • Historical Context

    • Americans studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris from the mid-1850s to the 1920s.

  • H.H. Richardson

    • Second American student at the Ecole after Richard Morris Hunt.

    • Notable for his Romanesque architectural style; influenced many buildings across the country, including city hall in Cincinnati.

    • Born into a wealthy family in New Orleans, his father was a sugar factor (wholesaler of sugar).

    • Great-grandson of Joseph Priestley, discoverer of oxygen.

    • Studied civil engineering at Harvard in the 1850s and moved to Paris to study in 1860.

The Civil War and Its Impact on Richardson

  • Effects of the Civil War

    • Louisiana's secession left Richardson's family financially ruined due to the blockade of New Orleans by Union forces.

    • He resorted to hiking and sketching Romanesque ruins in Southern France and Northern Spain for inspiration.

  • Career Beginnings

    • After the war in 1865, he established his architectural practice on Staten Island.

    • Secured a significant commission for the Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane, a lengthy project involving multiple buildings on a campus.

Notable Architectural Work

  • Important Projects

    • Famed for designing small-town libraries in and around Boston.

    • Designed the Pittsburgh Allegheny Courthouse and the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce.

    • Died prematurely at age 47 due to Bright's disease, compounded by obesity and health issues.

    • His architectural legacy continued through his successor firm, Ruton and Coolidge, which completed projects like Stanford University.

  • The Marshall Field Wholesale Store

    • A crucial building in Chicago impacting Louis Sullivan's work.

    • Catered to shopkeepers purchasing goods for general stores in rural areas, marking the transition to national retail chains.

    • Notable for its repetitive arches and massive proportions.

American Skyscrapers Development

  • Reasons for Skyscrapers

    • High land values necessitated vertical building construction post-1850, facilitated by the invention of elevators.

  • Chicago's Loop

    • High land value after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 prompted developments within a 20-25 block area, defining the loop.

  • William LaBaron Jenny

    • Credited as the father of steel frame construction, he experimented with iron and later steel, leading to the development of fireproof structures.

    • His challenges and innovations emerged following widespread urban fires in cities like San Francisco and Chicago, eventually leading to one of his pivotal projects in Cincinnati: the Chimotos Building.

Building Materials and Techniques

  • Iron and Steel Frame Construction

    • Iron was deemed fireproof during the 1850s and didn't burn but melted in extreme heat.

    • Jenny's innovation was to cover iron structures with fireproof materials, facilitating the transition to safer construction.

    • Developed a raft foundation technique to counteract Chicago's spongy soil.

  • Chicago School of Architecture

    • Formed the foundation for tall buildings with innovative techniques combining iron, brick, and a naturally grounded base to minimize risks associated with weight.

Burnham and Root Firm

  • Burnham and Root Partnership

    • Daniel Hudson Burnham, lacking formal training, partnered with John Welborn Root.

    • Burnham excelled in the business side, while Root focused on design, particularly reinvigorating office building concepts.

  • The Rookery

    • One of their significant designs, showcasing intricate masonry mixed with iron frames and later enhanced by Sullivan and Wright.

Lewis Sullivan's Influence

  • Louis Sullivan's Background

    • He briefly attended MIT and worked for the architect Frank Furness before moving into Chicago where he partnered with Adler to create iconic buildings.

  • The Auditorium Building

    • Designed collaboratively, representing the pinnacle of iron construction by Sullivan and Adler.

    • The multi-functional design incorporated theater, retail, and office spaces, emphasizing ornate exteriors reflective of the period.

Sullivan's Design Philosophy

  • Artistic Expression

    • Sullivan emphasizes a philosophy of architecture linking form and ornamentation directly to the materials used.

    • His works like the Schlesinger and Meyer store and Wainwright Building display a commitment to expressive, natural aesthetics, advocating organic architecture.

Final Years and Legacy

  • Later Career

    • Continued to produce bank buildings and published influential writings before passing away in relative obscurity.

    • His concepts influenced future generations of architects, especially Frank Lloyd Wright, who contributed some financial support during Sullivan's difficult later life.

  • Sullivan's Posthumous Publication

    • "A system of architectural ornament according with a philosophy of man's powers," aimed to inspire creativity and emphasize the potential within everyone to contribute meaningfully to the architectural landscape.

Concluding Remarks

  • Implications of Architectural Innovation

    • The evolution from iron to steel frames marked a pivotal shift in urban architecture, setting the stage for modern skyscrapers.

    • Understanding these historical transitions and figures provides a rich context for architectural studies today.

    • The legacy of these architects continues to influence contemporary practices, underscoring the importance of combining functionality with artistic expression in design.