Modernist architects, as far back as Chicago's own Louis Sullivan, like to note that "form follows function." But just as often, I think, form follows lot size. This family jewel at 1865 N. Wilmot Ave. (at the intersection of Oakley and Cortland) makes the best of a narrow triangle: 
Unusual, but not particularly unpleasant to walk by from this angle. I like the front cylindrical component - it makes the lot seem much less angular. Walk by it on Wilmot, though, and the building jumbles: 
Maybe I'm just a sucker for symmetry, but the middle piece here threw me off. It feels like three disparate chunks glued together with mortar. But kudos to the building's designer for crafting the indented, and nearly hidden, roof deck. A good place to spy on neighbors.
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Comments
Sat, 02/23/2008 - 18:58
I don't believe this works well at all. Every element of this house looks disconnected. They got the maximum square footage out of the site at the expense of a bad design that looks like an exaggerated version of an abstracted castle.
There's a dialog between the windows of the two brick ends of the building that is interrupted by the beige stone center that protrudes up as if to keep the two separate. Nothing looks unified.
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