Random Notes - A Blog
30 April 2006 26 April 2006 The first is a bank in Louisville, Ohio, a building that merges in a simplified way Louis Sullivan’s Owatonna, Minnesota and Sidney, Ohio banks. Randy aptly describes his second image as “quirky Prairie”. Check out several other PS religious buildings on this site: one in Omaha and another in Des Moines. Unity Temple and the Larkin Administration Building are clearly in the mind of the designers of these churches. Please let me know if you have information about either of these interesting buildings, so that I can share it with the PS community. 21 April 2006 Of course, this is not a Prairie issue, but one that affects our entire built environment. While the restoration of historic houses is a welcome aspect of the present fevered real estate market, the building boom has also prompted an unprecedented wave of teardowns. One’s disappointment might be mitigated if the new buildings had any sense of architectural responsibility, but regretably, many are vain attempts to outdo the Joneses with larger master bedroom suites, bigger hot tubs and pricier commercial appliances, all located under roofs with improbable numbers of useless gables. One detects no spiritual sense of home in these structures. I am not an exclusive partisan of Prairie School architecture. It pains me just as strongly when a worthy Victorian or Lustron house is demolished. The point of remembering these lost buildings is to encourage us to make our neighbors and friends aware of the value of good design, historical continuity, and responsible stewardship. 19 April 2006 Bentley’s earlier buildings show an appreciation for the work of prominent PS architects. The 1913 Chase/Wohluter bungalows suggest familiarity with Griffin’s 1908 Twin Houses for John Gauler. Griffinesque corner piers are clearly seen in Bentley’s 1910 Bartl and 1912 Fix houses. Both of these Bentley dwellings also incorporate a stairway set a 45° to the body of the house, a notable feature of Purcell & Elsmlie’s 1910 Edna S. Purcell House. Further information about Bentley can be found on the excellent Prairie Styles website. |
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As always, I welcome your comments about this site or any Prairie School building. John A. Panning, Lake City, Iowa |
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