This is the 38-foot dome in Preston Bradley Hall of Chicago's Cultural Arts Center. It is believed to be the world's largest Tiffany dome. Designs in the ornately decorated room are inspired from nature including fish scales in the dome and theTiffany lamp in this photo. Directly above the lamp are the symbols of the Zodiac. It is located at Michigan Ave., and Washington st. This was shot before the 2008 restoration that cleaned it up and got rid of the flourencent bulbs and now allows natural light. A visit now is truly one of visual delight. Not as mind blowing as St Chapel in Paris, but never the less, refreshing. This was shot with an ordinary point and shoot Canon sd700is digital camera at 200 asa. I laid on my back on the floor to compose this shot, and enable myself to hold the camera steady and align the two circles.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Chicago- Reliance Bldg 1st skyscaper with steel skeleton
Located at 32 N. State Street, the Reliance Building was built shortly after the Chicago fire, and is the first steel (not iron) skeleton structure building in the world and gave birth to the concept and engineering that enables the building of tall buildings with no masonry support what so ever, like in the Monadnock building a few block south east. Burnham and Root were the architects.
For more info, check out http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Landmarks/R/RelianceBuilding.html
Rookery building, Chicago, IL
Although the Rookery building was designed by Root, it is the Frank Lloyd Wright remodeled large skylit lobby done in 1905, which features elements of his Prairie School designs that bring fans from all over the planet. It is located at 209 South La Salle St., a few blocks south of Helmut Jahn's State of Illinois building.
My French guest, who I was giving an architecture tour pointed out that all the delicate cut out work in the iron beams would be economically impossible today, even if you could locate crafts people capable of the work.
The lamps are a delight to study also.
Unfortunately guests are limited to the first floor and are unable to explore the spectacular spiral staircase. Lucky for me, I was able to get fabulous photos of it back in the late 1960's that have been reproduced in various publications.
Chicago - Carson's Sullivan facade
One of the first buildings I showed a visiting French woman during our architecture tour was this structure on State Street.
"One of the most important structures in early modern architecture, famed for its influential modular construction and design. Visionary architect Louis Sullivan shaped this commercial building--originally built for the Schlesinger and Mayer department store--into a dramatically animated structure that inseparably merges beauty and function. The ornament of the lower two stories is frozen in cast iron, while at the same time giving the impression of being in fluid motion. It is an excellent example of Sullivan's genius for architectural ornament."
from www.ci.chi.il.us/Landmarks/C/Carsons.html
If you visit Chicago, you must not miss exploring its architecture, and this is number one on the list.
Chicago - Dubuffet & church
Here is another more unique view/interpertation of Jean Dubuffet's "Monument With Standing Beast" installed in the State of Illinois Plaza at Clark and Randolph streets in Chicago's loop.The building is by Helmut Jahn and worth exploring its huge open atrium.
I shot this with a point and shoot Canon sd700is during a morning architectural walk of the Loop with a visitor from France. Just shows that it is not the camera, but the eye of the fotographer that creates a fine fotograph.
Chicago - Dubuffet & church
"Monument With Standing Beast" by Jean Dubuffet in the State of Illinois Plaza. The building is by Helmut Jahn and worth exploring its huge open atrium.
I shot this with a point and shoot Canon sd700is during a morning architectural walk of the Loop with a visitor from France.