From Mies to Mies; A Walk Along Lakeview Avenue
While traipsing around the city, we find ourselves entranced by all of the architectural
gems to be found in Chicago's neighborhoods. We've been snapping pictures by the hundreds and have begun to organize some of them into neighborhood/street groups which we will present to you in a series of posts. Sometimes just one city block contains more to share than a single post can bear. So, even though we may publish tidbits from Lakeview one day and the Loop the next, don't worry, as we go along we'll keep you all linked up, so you won't get lost.
[Entry, 2710 N. Lakeview; Entryway, 2466 N. Lakeview; Chicago /Images & Artwork: designslinger]
We're starting this tour in Lakeview, specifically along Lakeview Avenue. A rather short
street by Chicago standards, it runs for only four city blocks from Fullerton north to Diversey. Once lined exclusively with large mansions, today these blocks are filled with a mix of architectural styles that span 110 years of design.
[Andrew Leicht Mansion, 1891; Chicago Mansions, Images of America; 2400 Lakeview Apartments, 1963 /Images
& Artwork: designslinger]
We'll begin at the corner of Fullerton and Lakeview with the former, and current, occupant
of the site. The Andrew Leicht mansion was typical of the type of house once found along the avenue in the 1890s. Leicht was a wealthy businessman and built his home in an area filled with people of similar standing in Chicago's elite social circles. After the Leicht mansion was torn down, a Mies van der Rohe designed apartment tower was constructed on the corner lot.
[2400 N. Lakeview Avenue, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, 1963 /Images & Artwork: designslinger]
Now known solely by Leicht's old address, 2400 Lakeview bears all the hallmarks of a Mies
building, and was the last residential high-rise he designed in the city.
[2430, 2440, 2450 N. Lakeview, Chicago /Image & Artwork: designslinger]
The group of buildings pictured above, represent the shifting dynamics of luxury living
for the upper classes. While the neighborhood was still home to some of the city's wealthiest citizens, it was no longer desirable, nor economically feasible, to live in a large single family home in town. So cooperative apartment buildings, with very large floor plans, were constructed to provide shelter for the rich and powerful.
[2430 N. Lakeview Avenue, Rebori, Wentworth, Dewey & McCormick, 1927 /Images & Artwork: designslinger]
2430 Lakeview was built on the site of the mansion of Henry Chapin, who occupied one
entire floor of the apartment building that replaced his house. The exterior is rather flat, but it does have some Georgian Revival detailing at the base and upper floors which breaks up the monotony of the facade. The real bang for your buck comes in the size of the 17 apartments; luxurious 14 room duplexes, decorated by some of the city's top interior designers - then - and now.
[2440 N. Lakeview Avenue, Rissman & Hirschfeld, 1927 /Images & Artwork: designslinger]
Substantially larger than it's two neighbors, 2440 Lakeview originally contained 107
apartments in a mix of 11-room duplexes, with 8- and 6-room single floor plans. Even though the building had more units than its adjacent neighbors, the apartments still featured many of the qualities associated with luxury living in the mid 20s. The architects used brick as a background material with Gothic Revival decoration in stone and terra cotta to embellish the design. Their names are engraved in a glazed, terra cotta panel under a window, at ground level.
[2450 N. Lakeview Avenue, Howard Van Doren Shaw, 1924 /Images & Artwork: designslinger]
I can remember, as a teenager, that 2450 Lakeview was considered one of Chicago's
most exclusive addresses. It stuck in my mind because I thought "exclusive" only meant the Gold Coast neighborhood. Architect Howard Van Doren Shaw, who lived in the building, designed a sedate tower for a clientèle that did not want to draw attention to itself. Kate Buckingham, of Buckingham Fountain fame, lived in one of the 8,000 square foot apartments which occupied a full floor, contained 5 bedrooms and had appropriate servant's quarters. Apparently, original floor plans still exist. I found an apartment for sale in the building and the listing says that, #4 is a 5 bedroom, 5.5 bath, 8,000 sq.ft. unit in a cooperative building, which can be yours for $7,600,000. Check it out here. (I think the link will only be active as long as the apartment remains on the market - so hurry!)
We'll take a break and pick up again next week, because we travel up another 2 blocks
to get to our next destination and ending with another Mies building. See you tomorrow with some interesting views from Chicago's famous El as it starts it's journey around the Loop.
gems to be found in Chicago's neighborhoods. We've been snapping pictures by the hundreds and have begun to organize some of them into neighborhood/street groups which we will present to you in a series of posts. Sometimes just one city block contains more to share than a single post can bear. So, even though we may publish tidbits from Lakeview one day and the Loop the next, don't worry, as we go along we'll keep you all linked up, so you won't get lost.
We're starting this tour in Lakeview, specifically along Lakeview Avenue. A rather short
street by Chicago standards, it runs for only four city blocks from Fullerton north to Diversey. Once lined exclusively with large mansions, today these blocks are filled with a mix of architectural styles that span 110 years of design.
& Artwork: designslinger]
We'll begin at the corner of Fullerton and Lakeview with the former, and current, occupant
of the site. The Andrew Leicht mansion was typical of the type of house once found along the avenue in the 1890s. Leicht was a wealthy businessman and built his home in an area filled with people of similar standing in Chicago's elite social circles. After the Leicht mansion was torn down, a Mies van der Rohe designed apartment tower was constructed on the corner lot.
Now known solely by Leicht's old address, 2400 Lakeview bears all the hallmarks of a Mies
building, and was the last residential high-rise he designed in the city.
The group of buildings pictured above, represent the shifting dynamics of luxury living
for the upper classes. While the neighborhood was still home to some of the city's wealthiest citizens, it was no longer desirable, nor economically feasible, to live in a large single family home in town. So cooperative apartment buildings, with very large floor plans, were constructed to provide shelter for the rich and powerful.
2430 Lakeview was built on the site of the mansion of Henry Chapin, who occupied one
entire floor of the apartment building that replaced his house. The exterior is rather flat, but it does have some Georgian Revival detailing at the base and upper floors which breaks up the monotony of the facade. The real bang for your buck comes in the size of the 17 apartments; luxurious 14 room duplexes, decorated by some of the city's top interior designers - then - and now.
Substantially larger than it's two neighbors, 2440 Lakeview originally contained 107
apartments in a mix of 11-room duplexes, with 8- and 6-room single floor plans. Even though the building had more units than its adjacent neighbors, the apartments still featured many of the qualities associated with luxury living in the mid 20s. The architects used brick as a background material with Gothic Revival decoration in stone and terra cotta to embellish the design. Their names are engraved in a glazed, terra cotta panel under a window, at ground level.
I can remember, as a teenager, that 2450 Lakeview was considered one of Chicago's
most exclusive addresses. It stuck in my mind because I thought "exclusive" only meant the Gold Coast neighborhood. Architect Howard Van Doren Shaw, who lived in the building, designed a sedate tower for a clientèle that did not want to draw attention to itself. Kate Buckingham, of Buckingham Fountain fame, lived in one of the 8,000 square foot apartments which occupied a full floor, contained 5 bedrooms and had appropriate servant's quarters. Apparently, original floor plans still exist. I found an apartment for sale in the building and the listing says that, #4 is a 5 bedroom, 5.5 bath, 8,000 sq.ft. unit in a cooperative building, which can be yours for $7,600,000. Check it out here. (I think the link will only be active as long as the apartment remains on the market - so hurry!)
We'll take a break and pick up again next week, because we travel up another 2 blocks
to get to our next destination and ending with another Mies building. See you tomorrow with some interesting views from Chicago's famous El as it starts it's journey around the Loop.
Posted by designslinger at 7/22/2009 2:15 AM 
Categories: Architecture, Architects, History
Tags: Howard Van Doren Shaw Andrew Rebori Mies van der Rohe luxury apartments
Categories: Architecture, Architects, History
Tags: Howard Van Doren Shaw Andrew Rebori Mies van der Rohe luxury apartments
You know something guys? I don't even know why I bother. Your photos and text are fantastic. I've been catching up on your posts and I'm both thrilled with the info and furious at my sorry efforts. My site is totally second rate compared to this. Now where is that delete button? Please keep up the wonderful work!
Okay, hold it right there! Thanks for the extraordinary compliments, but really now, we can't do without our doses of Chicago History Journal, and have been chomping at the bit waiting for your return. Sorry efforts - puhleeze!! Speaking of returning, when are we going to get together for that glass (or two) of wine?! You have to welcome us to the big city!
Hey, thanks for this wonderful tour, interesting research and photos are great!
Thanks for visiting and the compliment.