A New Way of Living for a New Modern Life
[20 East Cedar (1924) Fugard & Knapp, architects /Images & Artwork: designslinger]
Ironically 20 East Cedar stands on the site once occupied by the Michael Brand Brewery
owned by Rudolph Brand who lived down the street. By the time architects Fugard & Knapp designed this tall, cooperative apartment building, the brewery was gone and the house that occupied the site was to be torn down to make way for large, deluxe apartments.
[Window bays of double-height apartments /Images & Artwork: designslinger]
If you've been following our story of residential Cedar Street over the past couple of days
you'll know that the block between Rush and Lake Shore Drive was developed to provide housing for a certain clientle with a certain income and social rank. By the time developer Harold Bradley undertook construction at 20 East, that clientle wasn't interested in living in the old-fashioned houses of their parent's generation, they wanted something new and modern.
[Penthouse duplexes, 20 East Cedar Street /Image & Artwork: designslinger ]
The cooperative gave apartment owners voting shares in their building and a say in who
could live there. It wasn't cheap and was as exclusive as ever, but instead of the heavy, old row houses they grew-up in, these were large, light apartments with all the modern conveniences that the latest in plumbing and electric technology had to offer, plus a doorman! In addition, Fugard & Knapp designed 20 East with two-story-high living rooms, which could give one a feeling of grandeur in an otherwise low-ceilinged apartment. Those grand rooms are tucked behind the tall, Gothic Revival trimmed windows.
As Lisa Douglas sings to us in every opening episode of Green Acres , "I just adore a
penthouse view," and I think the occupants of 20 East Cedar do too.
If you missed the post about Rudolph Brand check out: The Final Four, and see how
the previous generation lived in Socials, Sororities & Consuls, plus Along Cedar Street; A Pan-Hellenic Row, to complete the tour.
Posted by designslinger at 6/24/2010 2:15 AM 
Categories: Architecture, History
Tags: Chicago East Cedar Street Fugard and Knapp
Categories: Architecture, History
Tags: Chicago East Cedar Street Fugard and Knapp
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