behind "lover's playground" - a frank lloyd wright-designed architectural remnant that survived the wrecking ball

in an irony-laden location-- between a parking lot and an adult novelties shop-- at the corner of randolph and elizabeth is an impressive bedford limestone archway that once comprised one of two entrances to the loeb apartment buildings. the largely intact carved stone assemblage is a rare remnant showing frank lloyd wright's hand in a commission for the firm of adler and sullivan. the opening leads to a separate stairwell at the rear of the building, the apartment having long since been demolished.

the adolph and william store and flats building was built for dankmar adler's friends adolph and william loeb in 1891-1892. adler and sullivan, frank lloyd wright, architects. the southern half of the building was demolished in 1923 when randolph street was widened, and was then replaced by the currently standing building. the northern half was demolished in 1974 and remains a parking lot. we can thank richard nickel for having discovered this overlooked building, and for introducing it to the record of neglected adler & sullivan commissions. an account of richard nickel's visit to frank lloyd wright at taliesin in the late 1950's, is that upon showing wright the image of the mostly-forgotten elizabeth street apartment, he responded "so... you found that one did you?" i'm currently digitizing several photos (in the hands of private collections) by richard nickel to ensure everyone has access to these files without having to jump through the usual hoops.

undated richard nickel photographic print of loeb apartment building (1892) projecting bay window accentuated with ornamental tin designed by frank lloyd wright. at least one of the oversized panels containing a centrally located lion head surrounded by rays of light was salvaged by tim samuelson shortly before demolition in 1974. a section of the building - with wright-designed bedford limestone entry and staircase still stands.

specifically, the residence was built for dankmar adler's friends adolph and william loeb from 1891-1892. the southern half of the building was demolished in 1923 when randolph street was widened, and was then replaced by the currently standing building. the northern half was demolished in 1974 and remains a parking lot.

the loeb apartments were of little importance to louis sullivan, since the commission was relatively frugal and arrived at the same time that the firm had abundant work designing skyscrapers in the loop. instead, the job was entrusted to chief draftsman frank lloyd wright, a circumstance which allowed wright to practice working independently. in the resulting structure, wright imbued the architecture with english-derived detailing -- a quality demarcating wright's formal interests from sullivan's, and characterizing the building as early in wright's career. tim samuelson points out that the design is "clumsy" and shows "early flirtations with popular revival styles." 

regardless of quality, we can thank richard nickel for having discovered this overlooked building, and for introducing it to the record of neglected adler & sullivan commissions. an account of richard nickel's visit to frank lloyd wright at taliesin in the late 1950's, is that upon showing wright the image of the mostly-forgotten elizabeth street apartment, he responded "so... you found that one did you?"

south entrance (archway) from adler and sullivan's 1892 loeb apartments. remarkably, the gothic style varnished oak wood staircase is still intact - used by the employees of the porn shop. it was designed by frank lloyd wright. i'm tempted to go there and ask to see it - even if it requires me having to buy a "toy."

the building bears some relation to two other commissions that took place concurrently. the charnley house was completed in 1892, a townhouse on the gold coast built for james charnley, and the albert sullivan house, which was completed the same year as sullivan's family residence at 4575 south lake park avenue. counting the loeb apartments, all three projects represent a time when frank lloyd wright's influence was to be felt within adler & sullivan's work.

tim samuelson maintains that the loeb apartment entrance proves to be a compelling puzzle piece, evidencing sullivan's greater guidance in the design of the charnley and albert sullivan houses. the meager remaining archway does gain some significance then, representing the transitional work of a young frank lloyd wright, who would be fired the following year for "moonlighting" or taking independent commissions while still working for sullivan.

further reading:

1964 view (kodachrome slide) of loeb apartments (1891-92) photographed by richard nickel. wright, adler, and sullivan, architects. demolished in 1974. the south entrance and two-story floor staircase escaped demolition.

tim samuelson salvaged the wright-designed ornament from loeb apartments (northern half) prior to demolition in 1972. the building was completed in 1891-1892 by adler and sullivan. the southern entrance remains standing - abbutted against a porn store. photo taken by samuelson. image courtesy of the tim samuelson archive.

the adolph and william store and flats building was built for dankmar adler's friends adolph and william loeb in 1891-1892. adler and sullivan, frank lloyd wright, architects. the southern half of the building was demolished in 1923 when randolph street was widened, and was then replaced by the currently standing building. the northern half was demolished in 1974 and remains a parking lot.
we can thank richard nickel for having discovered this overlooked building, and for introducing it to the record of neglected adler & sullivan commissions.
an account of richard nickel's visit to frank lloyd wright at taliesin in the late 1950's, is that upon showing wright the image of the mostly-forgotten elizabeth street apartment, he responded "so... you found that one did you?"
i'm currently digitizing several photos (in the hands of private collections) by richard nickel to ensure everyone has access to these files without having to jump through the usual hoops.

update as of 4-15-2019: bldg 51 recently acquires original frank lloyd wright-designed gothic style oak wood newel post from staircase of building's northern half, demolished in 1972.