a closer look at the partially restored frank lloyd wright-designed waller apartments

the frank lloyd wright-designed waller apartments (located on the west side of chicago) were completed in 1896. a few years prior, wright was working as chief draftsman for the architectural firm of adler & sullivan. in 1893 louis h. sullivan fired wright after learning of his "bootleg" commissions. around the same time, wright completed the francis apartments (1895), constructed for the terra haute trust company. as wright's philosophy of design matured, he gradually abandoned the orbit of sullivan's richly organic for more retrained and strongly geometric design. a few photos of frank lloyd wright's waller apartments (1895) taken yesterday afternoon. with the exception of ornamental terra cotta panels and a cornice accentuated with beads, the facades exhibit a restrained design. l

broad and stepped semicircular richardsonian romanesque arch entrance. each apartment was designed with a single bedroom, parlor, bathroom, kitchen and closets. the floor plans varied from one apartment to the next, based on proximity to each unit's staircase. the five adjoining units were virtually identical with the exception of the ones on each end (both contained side windows). sadly, the fourth unit was destroyed by fire in 1968 and shortly demolished thereafter. the remains vacant.

the five units were accentuated with two beaded border heavily ornamented terra cotta panels featuring intricate leafage. the buff-colored terra cotta was fabricated by the northwestern terra cotta company, chicago, ills.

the identical terra cotta panels have been partially cleaned.

soot and other air pollutants conceal much of the detailing shown on the left side of the panel.

the cornice contains a simple, repeating beaded border, comprised of several terra cotta sections joined together along the roofline.