3. ARCHITECT LOUIS SULLIVAN
Louis Henry Sullivan (September 3, 1856 – April 14,
1924)was an American architect, and has been
called the "father of skyscrapers "and "father of
modernism".
He is considered by many as the creator of the
modern skyscraper, was an influential architect and
critic of the Chicago School, was a mentor to
Frank Lloyd Wright, and an inspiration to the
Chicago group of architects who have come to be
known as the Prairie School.
4. Philosophies of louis Sullivan
Louis Sullivan coined the phrase "form follows function”.
This statement, which placed the demands of practical use
above aesthetics, would later be taken by influential
designers to imply that decorative elements, which architects
call "ornament," were unnecessary in modern Building.
He often punctuated that the plain surfaces of buildings were
eruptions of lush Art Nouveau and something like Celtic
Revival decorations, usually made of cast iron or terracotta,
ranging from organic forms like vines and ivy, to more
geometric designs, and interlace, inspired by his Irish design
heritage.
5. Signature elements used by Sullivan
Probably the most famous example is the writhing green
ironwork that covers the entrance canopies of the Carson Pirie
Scott store on South State Street. These ornaments, often
executed by the talented younger draftsman in Sullivan's
employ, would eventually become Sullivan's trademark; to
students of architecture, they are his instantly-recognizable
signature.
Another signature element of Sullivan's work is the massive,
semi-circular arch. Sullivan employed such arches throughout
his career—in shaping entrances, in framing windows, or as
interior design.
6. CARSON PIRIE SCOTT BUILDING
The Sullivan Center, formerly known as the Carson, Pirie, Scott
and Company Building or Carson, Pirie, is a commercial
building at 1 South State Street at the corner of East Madison
Street in Chicago, Illinois.
The building is remarkable for its steel-framed structure, which
allowed a dramatic increase in window area created by bay-
wide windows, which in turn allowed for the greatest amount
of daylight into the building interiors.
This provided larger displays of merchandise to outside
pedestrian traffic creating the idea of the sidewalk showcase. In
between the windows were lavish bands of terra cotta that
replaced the earlier plan for white Georgia quarries because it
was lightweight and inexpensive.
Another reason for the change in what type of marble they
would use in construction was that stonecutters were having a
strike in 1898 during the time of construction.
7. CARSON PIRIE SCOTT BUILDING
The lavish Bronze-plated cast-iron ornamental work above the
rounded tower was also meant to be functional because it was to
be as resilient as a sheet of copper.
Both the use of bronze and terra cotta was important to setting
the building apart from others because it was essentially fire
resistant. It created a sense of monumentality. Sullivan thought
the building would be an asset to the city for a long period of
time. To ensure this great building would last and be resilient
against the threat of fire, there was a 40 ft water tower put on the
roof to supply the sprinkler system with enough water.
Sullivan designed the corner entry to be seen from both State and
Madison, and that the ornamentation, situated above the
entrance, would be literally attractive, which would give the store
an elegant unique persona important to the competitiveness of
the neighboring stores.
8. CHICAGO AUDITORUM
The Auditorium Building in Chicago is one of the best-known designs of Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler.
Completed in 1889.
As a young apprentice, Frank Lloyd Wright worked on some of the interior design.
Sullivan and Adler designed a tall structure with load-bearing outer wall . The Auditorium is a heavy,
impressive structure externally, and was more striking in its day when buildings of its scale were less common.
9. CHICAGO AUDITORUM
The building, which when constructed was the largest in the
United States and the tallest in Chicago, was designed to be
a multi-use complex, including offices, a theater and a hotel.
One of the most innovative features of the building was its
massive raft foundation.
In the center of the building was a 4,300 seat auditorium,
originally intended primarily for production of Grand Opera.
In keeping with Peck's democratic ideals, the auditorium was
designed so that all seats would have good views and
acoustics.
The building was equipped with the first central air
conditioning system and the theater was the first to be
entirely lit by incandescent light bulbs
