Page 80 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Chicago

78  CHIC A GO AREA B Y AREA

l Charnley-Persky
House
1365 N Astor St. Map 2 D2. Tel (312)
573-1365. Tel (312) 573-1365.
q Clark/Division. 8 mandatory;
noon Wed, 10am & noon Sat.
Closed public hols. &
Frank Lloyd Wright called
Charnley-Persky House (1892)
“the first modern house in
America.” Two of America’s most
influential architects collaborated
on the design: Wright (see p32),
then a draftsman in the early
stages of his career, and Louis
Sullivan (see p32), known for his
Facade of 1500 North Astor Street, with its Classical detailing architectural detailing. They
j 1500 North in the 1920s and 1930s, the were commissioned by
lumberman James Charnley
Astor Street house is, perhaps, the finest and his wife Helen.
example of this architectural Charnley-Persky House is a
Map 2 D1. q Clark/Division then bus
22, 36. Closed to public. style in Chicago. pivotal work in the history of
Graceful carvings in a modern architecture. Its design
This opulent four-story Italian floral motif decorate the embraces abstract forms, every
Renaissance palazzo was built building’s smooth, white interior view providing a
in 1893 for Chicago Tribune stone facade. These perfectly balanced composition.
publisher Joseph Medill as a carvings are repeated in The house’s relatively simple
wedding gift for his the metalwork on the facade of brick and limestone
daughter. Designed by windows. Although contrasts with the elaborate
McKim, Mead and White, the shapes of the fronts of the exclusive Astor
it is built of orange windows vary, they Street neighborhood.
Roman brick, with all unite to create a An atrium reaching from
terra-cotta trim. harmonious balance. the oak-paneled entry hall
The most impressive The stone on the to a skylight two floors above
feature of this house, townhouse’s facade, is the interior’s focal point.
the largest on Astor which was quarried in Dramatic arches frame the
Street, is the two- Lens, France, is trimmed rooms on the first floor.
story front porch with polished granite. Along with bold geometrical
with Doric and Art Deco window on A subtle three-story forms and organic abstractions
Ionic columns. the exterior of Edward bay of black metal there are surprising details, such
Cyrus Hall P. Russell House embodies the as windows in the closets. One
McCormick II, son of grace and elegance striking feature of the house is
the inventor of the Virginia of this truly refined, much- the elegantly tapering wooden
reaper (see p33), bought the admired, building. screen on the second floor.
mansion in the 1920s. He
then commissioned an
addition to be built at the
north end, doubling the
building’s size. It now contains
luxury condominiums.

k Edward P. Russell
House
1444 N Astor St. Map 2 D2. q Clark/
Division. Closed to public.
A unique, four-story town-
house, the Edward P. Russell
House was designed in 1929
by the architect firm of
Holabird and Root. Designed
in the Art Deco style popular The elegant second-floor stairway screen at Charnley-Persky House

078-079_EW_Chicago.indd 78 13/07/16 2:59 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm