The Name Game
Today we're presenting a small photo essay on the decorative display of building names.
This isn't about large commercial structures with a major corporate tenant getting naming rights because of an expensive lease. These are names that were placed on residential apartment buildings decades ago by a builder or architect for reasons unknown.
We live in an apartment building here in LA, with a name spelled out in lighted dimensional
letters, in a font popular during the Miami Vice 1980s. They are hard to miss, although the building would benefit without them. When the designer/builder of the Montrose decided that this brownstone needed a name, the overall scheme was enhanced by the square, iron grillwork panels above. At the Montclaire, the classically inspired balustrade added some weight and substance. The unintended effects of age, staining, and dead vines, made the name even more interesting.
The carvers of the lettering of the Georgia and Fleur-de-Lis took two different approaches
when they cut into the stone.
Who were the people that built these buildings? Why did they feel compelled to put names
on them? Is it good marketing? Or was Georgia the name of a wife or daughter who would live on inscribed in stone over a doorway? The Montrose is located far from the street, or beach, that bears the same name. Were Houghton and Kirkwood the origian owners? When we get settled in after our move to Chicago, I think I'm going to do a little investigating, and see if I can answer some of these questions, and I'll let you know what I find out.
Posted by designslinger at 5/19/2009 7:15 AM 
Categories: Architecture, Graphics, Decorative Arts
Tags: Chicago apartment building names
Categories: Architecture, Graphics, Decorative Arts
Tags: Chicago apartment building names
An interesting topic - so much so that I've linked to you from my post today!
http://parisisinvisible.blogspot.com/2009/05/whats-in-name.html
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