Bryn Mawr Historic District [Edgewater Presbyterian Church]

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Harold Washington Library

Posted on 10:04 PM by babli panday

Harold Washington Library..
Address: 400 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60605 ..
Completed: 1991
Architect: Thomas Beeby of Hammond, Beeby and Babka Inc.
The monumental building, occupies an entire city block. The axial symmetry, typifies Beaux Arts, although it is a post-modern building, with a glass and aluminum pedimented attic.
The library is named after late Mayor Harold Washington, the Chicago's first African American mayor, Harold Washington [aka "the people's mayor"] who had been a strong advocate for the new building.

The facade has some interesting ornamentation with Ceres [Roman Goddess of agriculture], the Windy City Man and the Y-symbol inscribed on the walls..

Ceres [Roman Goddess of agriculture]
For more, click here..

The allegorical Windy City Man..

The Y-symbol..

Seven large sculptures can be seen on the roof, featuring several representations of the bird owl, a bird associated with Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, knowlegde and learning..
# For more..click here..

The top floor has a huge atrium. The glass-roof on the top floor, provides for a beautiful sunlit place to read and perhaps the only place inside the library where photography is allowed..

For more on... [click on the link]
# Harold Washington Library: Architectural sculptures.
# Harold Washington Library: Roof ornamentation
# Harold Washington Library: Atrium

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Harold Washington Library - II [Sculptural ornamentaion]

Posted on 9:30 PM by babli panday

Harold Washington Library..
Address: 400 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60605 ..
Completed: 1991
Architect: Thomas Beeby of Hammond, Beeby and Babka Inc..
Continued from the above post, click here..
There are some very interesting sculptural ornamentation on the walls of the library..

- Face of Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, with the city motto, Urbs in Horto [City in a Garden] inscribed below her face and cornstalks extending down..
- Face of the Windy City Man..
- Y-symbol, with CPU inscribed inbetween, with CPU standing for Chicago Public Library..

In 1993, seven ornaments were added to the roof, by the Kent Bloomer Studio. These were designed by Ray Kaskey, a former student of Bloomer's.
- Barn owls perched at the four corners of the building..
- The Great Horned Owl were placed in the centers of the State, Congress and Van Buren sides of the building..
The bird owl is associated with Minerva, the goddess of knowledge, wisdom and learning..The owls in turn are surrounded by a fantastical environment of swirling seedpods, feathered helixes, and Greek palmettes.
# For more on the roof ornamentation.. click here..

For more on .. [click on the link]
# Harold Washington Library..
# Harold Washington Library: Architectural sculptures.
# Harold Washington Library: Roof ornamentation
# Harold Washington Library: Atrium

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Harold Washington Library - III [Roof ornamentation]

Posted on 7:09 PM by babli panday

Harold Washington Library..
Address: 400 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60605 ..
Completed: 1991
Architect: Thomas Beeby of Hammond, Beeby and Babka Inc..
Continued from the above post, click here..

This post is about the roof ornamentation..
In 1993, seven ornaments were added to the roof, by the Kent Bloomer Studio. These were designed by Ray Kaskey, a former student of Bloomer's.
- Barn owls perched at the four corners of the building..
- The Great Horned Owl were placed in the centers of the State, Congress and Van Buren sides of the building..
The bird owl is associated with Minerva, the goddess of knowledge, wisdom and learning..The owls in turn are surrounded by a fantastical environment of swirling seedpods, feathered helixes, and Greek palmettes.

Posted in | No comments

Harold Washington Library - Atrium

Posted on 5:49 AM by babli panday

Harold Washington Library..
Address: 400 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60605 ..
Completed: 1991
Architect: Thomas Beeby of Hammond, Beeby and Babka Inc.

Perhaps the only place in the library where photography was allowed, was this top floor atrium.. Beautiful sunlit place to read..

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Monday, April 6, 2009

S. Dearborn Street [Manhattan Building - I ]

Posted on 10:05 PM by babli panday

Manhattan Building..
Address: 431 S. Dearborn St.
Year Built: 1891
Architect: William Le Baron Jenney
Date Designated a Chicago Landmark: July 7, 1978..
The architect William Le Baron Jenney was one of the pioneers in the development of tall buildings. It reached the then astounding height of 16-story in 1891.

The plaque reads ...
Chicago Landmark..
Manhatten Building
William LeBaron Jenny, architect
1891..
The Manhatten is Chicago's oldest surviving steel-frame building. It's architect was a pioneer in the development of steel frame construction, which along with the invention of elevator, made possible the modern skyscraper. Bay windows admit maximum light to the interiror spaces.
Designated a Chicago landmark on July 7, 1978
By the City Council of Chicago
Michael A Bitandic, Mayor
Commission of Chicago Historical and Architectural Landmarks.

The distinctive bay windows provide maximum light to the building's interior spaces, while the combination of a granite [lower three floors] and brick facade [upper stories] help carry and lighten the load of the internal steel framework.

There are some amusing grotesques on the facade of the building..
For more images of the grotesques, click here..

For more images..
Manhatten Building-II: Sculptural Ornamentation..

S. Dearborn Street has a number of designated Landmark buildings..
Monadnock Bldg., Fisher Bldg., Old Colony Bldg., and Manhattan Bldg.. For more on thse check the related links..
RELATED LINKS..
# S. Dearborn Street..
# Monadonock Block..
# Fisher Building..
# Old Colony Building...
# Manhattan Building.
Also nearby..
# Printing House Row District..
# Harold Washington Library..

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S. Dearborn Street [Manhatten Building - II, Sculptural Ornamentation]

Posted on 9:00 PM by babli panday

Continued from the above post.. click here..

Manhatten Building..
Address: 431 S. Dearborn St.
Year Built: 1891
Architect: William Le Baron Jenney
Date Designated a Chicago Landmark: July 7, 1978 ..
The Manhatten is Chicago's oldest surviving steel-frame building.
This post is more about the sculptural ornamentation.. the grotesques on the facade.