Sullivan in Detail

 
[Louis Sullivan ornamentation (1899, 1903) Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co. store, 2 N. State Street, Chicago,
October 7, 2009 /Image & Artwork: designslinger]

Frank Lloyd Wright called him Lieber Meister. He was the country's first modern architect.
He was a brilliant designer. This is the work of Louis Sullivan.

 
[Details, former Schlesinger & Mayer Department Store Building (1903) Louis Sullivan /Images & Artwork:
 designslinger]

He transformed natural shapes into exquisite decorative forms to enhance his buildings,
rather than apply an old-world, classical architectural skin to a modern structures. 

 
[Ground floor facade reveal, October 7, 2009 /Images & Artwork: designslinger]

Ever since we arrived in Chicago in June, the bottom 2 floors of this Sullivan masterpiece
have been covered in scaffolding and plastic. The former Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co. department store building has been undergoing restoration, and a portion of the construction apparatus has been peeled away.

 
[Sullivan Center, October 7, 2009  /Images & Artwork: designslinger]

The restored 2-story facade is gleaming, and the old department store building will now
be home to offices with retail space confined to the ground. The newly named Sullivan Center
is one of my favorite buildings, especially because the Sullivan magic is right there at your fingertips.

Posted by designslinger at 10/20/2009 2:15 AM
Categories: Architecture, Decorative Arts, Architects, Preservation
Tags: Sullivan Center Louis Sullivan ornamentation
 

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  • 10/20/2009 6:42 PM Elizabeth9 wrote:
    Fantastic detail shown in your great camera shots! I've never seen such an ornate building before. I wouldn't want to clean off all the pollution and grime ... I wonder how much the cleaners get paid? lol
    1. 10/21/2009 4:20 AM designslinger wrote:
      Hope they collect a decent wage. It takes a special hand to take such good care of such a stunning building.

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