Waller Apartments - Chicago, IL - Frank Lloyd Wright Designed Buildings on Waymarking.com

A plaque at this site reads:

"Chicago Landmark

Waller Apartments
Frank Lloyd Wright, architect
1895

Commissioned by prominent real estate
developer Edward Carson Waller to meet the
demand for affordable housing, these apartments
are considered among the earliest examples of
subsidized housing in Chicago. The simplified
design of the facade indicates the young architect's
departure from traditional design toward the
abstract, modern principles for which he was later
internationally known.
Designated on March 2, 1994
Richard M. Daley, Mayor
Commission on Chicago Landmarks"
This website (visit link) also informs us:

"The Waller Apartments designed by Frank Lloyd Wright on the west side of Chicago are another sad story. A collection of five connected apartment buildings made up the Waller Apartments. There are currently only four buildings standing, as the second apartment building from left to right was destroyed by a fire in the 1960's. It is still an empty lot where the apartment building once stood, and subsequently takes away from the unity designated by the row of Frank Lloyd Wright apartment buildings. Each of the five Waller Apartments buildings was divided into four units, but have since been divided into two townhouses each.

An interesting feature of the buildings as they stand today is that portions of the buildings have been cleaned, revealing the intense yellow color of the bricks, while other portions of the buildings remain buried under decades of dirt. It is so dramatic that it looks like different colored bricks were used for each of the units, while they are actually all of a uniform color. Floral ornament on the exterior of the building points to Frank Lloyd Wright's influence from his previous employer Louis Sullivan. The Waller Apartments were built approximately two years after Wright was dismissed from Sullivan's firm.

Fortunately the Waller Apartments is a Chicago Landmark, meaning they are protected from demolition. However, a Chicago Landmark is only required to maintain its appearance according to the year it was Landmarked -not the year it was built."

Year Completed: 1895 Commissioned By: prominent real estate Nearest City or Town: Chicago Public/Private: Public Tours Available?: yes Website: [Web Link]

Visit Instructions:
There are no specific visit requirements, however telling about your visit is strongly encouraged. Additional photos of the building or house to add to the gallery are also nice, but not required. Pictures with a GPS or you in them is highly discouraged.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   06/17/2011 Metro2 visited it