State Street Village, IIT

The State Street Village is on the campus of IIT in Chicago, designed by Helmut Jahn.

The village is located in front of the Crown Hall and down the street from the McCormick Tribune Center.

Side facing state street, metal siding, and windows done by Douglas Hunter.

 Vegetation in the interior patios that mix into the building. 

Clean and interesting structure for the glass panels. 

Interior patio between each unit that still includes glass on the railway side, natural lighting and quality views. 

Space as a sound barrier, with the stair wells facing the railway creating a "silent box."

Structure of the L-train just a few feet from the village. 

The glass is part of a sound barrier of the L-train.

View from the L-train stop, the State Street Village with Crown Hall (Mies van der Rohe) in the back ground. 

Crown Hall

The School of Architecture of IIT in Chicago is based in the Crown Hall designed by architect Mies van der Rohe, who once was part of the Bauhaus in Germany. 

Mies designed many buildings in the IIT campus, along with Rem Koolhaas. His ideas are still taught in the School of Architecture there and inspired a founding society that tells of his architectural beliefs and his life story. 

Mies is known for his almost illusion of "floating" in buildings and stairs, making them feel light. 

The walls are entirely made of glass and steel frame, giving the maximum amount of natural light possible, for good or bad. 

The bottom floor is made up of a sitting area, bathroom, tool shops, and the architecture library. 

These panels and the two pillars are the only restrictions in the open floor plan, making it easily transformed for different activities. 

The first floor is made up of open space used as architecture students' workshop, mixed together so that the work can be easily viewed between all years. 

The circulation is the center point of the first and second floor plan, and the rest follows. 

Lake Shore Drive Apartments

Most buildings were built during this time taking up the entire city block, but Mies was one of the first to take a step back and leave a space between the sidewalk and the actually building, making the city a more friendly and spacious environment.

 

For their time, these apartments were (and still are) high class. Today however they miss necessities that didn't exist when they were built, such as water outlets for washing machines in every apartments and individual air conditioning control (it is controlled for the whole building). 

Located right downtown but on the shore line, a couple blocks back stands the John Hancock Center. 

These particular sides of the buildings overlook to the lake. 

Attention to details. The buildings are undergoing renovations this year, updating its systems and outdated materials.

This vertical pattern of Mies is because of the structure that he used, new in its time of steel frame and glass. 

Between the Lake Shore Drive Apartments with Chicago peeking through. 

Robie House

The Robie house was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and completed in 1910. Even though the Robie house is a three story building, it feels low to the ground with its unique roofs. 

The entrance to the Robie House is just high enough for a person to pass under it, making it a place of only passing. 

Chicago Cultural Center

Chicago cultural center is where meetings and cultural events are held. Its known for its victorian style tile ceiling. 

Historical main stairwell.

John Hancock Center

At one time the John Hancock building was the tallest in Chicago, therefore was designed with a public observation deck for the viewing of Chicago.

With the structure towards the exterior of the building, it has an open floor plan, making it easy to convert the different levels into different uses. 

At the base of the tower is a plaza that includes shopping, dinning and access to the Observatory. 

Inside the building, the structure is left to the visitors eye. 

The base of the tower is bigger and slims at the top, like a pyramid. That along with its criss-crossing structure, it stands out amoung the rest of the Chicago's skyline. 

Auditorium Theater

Built in 1887, the building was almost torn down various time because it didn't make enough money to be maintained. Today it is a historical landmark and hosts important concerts and shows.  

Sullivan was known for his attention to detail. 

Main lobby of the theater.

Original stencil design by Frank Lloyd Wright. 

Only in the highest balcony do the original seats still exist. All other have been refurnished close to the original design.

Detailing on wood panels located in a sitting area with fireplace for upper class. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright while a student of Louis Sullivan.

Upper balcony, the highest being 7 stories up from the stage. It is one of the best theaters in terms of sound engineering still today.