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Monday, October 12, 2015

Curbed Chicago

CH-CH-CH-CHANGES

The Landmark Tribune Tower is Searching for a Buyer

THAT'S RATHER AWESOME

Bucktown Industrial Loft Located in Clock Tower Seeks $439K

CONSTRUCTION WATCH

Mapping Chicago's 21 Highrises Under Construction Right Now

CURBED NATIONAL

Reel Places: Empire, Lucious Lyon, and Music Mogul Mansions

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The real life and on-screen appearance of a mansion in Barrington, Illinois, that served as the home of Lucious Lyon in the FOX show Empire.
The life of a music mogul isn't easy, based on the portrait painted by Empire Entertainment don Lucious Lyon. When dealing with so many power struggles and record deals, the payoff, in part, comes in the form of incredible real estate. Lucious began the series inhabiting an elaborate home, which, as Curbed Chicago has previously pointed out, is actually the former real-life suburban residence of a local strip-club owner (and was on the market for $13 million earlier this year). While the French country-style estate—which took five years to build due to its elaborate ornamentation and woodwork—seems a fitting home for a self-made record exec, even boasting eight acres of gardens and a pair of lakes on site, it's also is one in a long line of magnificent homes owner by other industry masterminds. Empire creator Lee Daniels has said the main character was based on an amalgamation of similar stars including Barry Gordy, Quincy Jones, and Jay Z; It seems like the mansion Lucious inhabits also took cues from their elaborate homes.
ON THE MARKET

$3.295M North Center Victorian is Like a Real-Life Dollhouse

Spanning a huge, nearly 8,000-square-foot lot, this ginormous seven bedroom Victorian on Patterson Avenue is almost like a real-life dollhouse. The exterior has been beautifully preserved, and there's a couple of nice extras. For one, the lot is huge, so there's a really nice lawn. And second, there's a spot for sun tanning and also a basketball court for playing a game of H-O-R-S-E. The interior is a mixed bag though. While it's certainly nice and reflects the current homeowner's flair, there is a lot of variation and lots of really bright colors. Some of the wallpaper does fit with the Victorian vibe, but the bedrooms clash a bit. For those who dig the grandma-chic look, the place is pretty much ready to go. The house has just listed with a $3.295 million. While it's certainly one of the pricier homes in the area, the listing agent does suggest that the seller is motivated, and therefore, likely to consider reasonable offers. 
Get ready for the wallpaper >>
ADVENTURES IN ARCHITECTURE

The First Ever Chicago Architecture Biennial Attracted Over 30K Visitors in Its Opening Weekend

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[Photo: Steve Hall]
The first ever Chicago Architecture Biennial kicked off last weekend with events and activities taking place all over the city, and over 31,000 people partook in the various opening festivities, according an official announcement from Biennial organizers. The opening happenings saw visitors from around the world, and put the Chicago Cultural Center front and center. The Cultural Center alone witnessed 25,000 visitors over the four day opening period for the Biennial — a huge boost from its average 8,800 visitors in the same time frame. And not only has the launch of the Biennial been a success from an attendance standpoint, many critics and architects have praised the event. Chicago architect Stanley Tigerman praised the Biennial in a statement, declaring the exhibition at the Cultural Center was "nothing short of amazing."
A letter from Stanley Tigerman >>
ADVENTURES IN ARCHITECTURE

Take a Virtual Trip to the 1893 World's Fair, Site of Devil in the White City


A simulation of the Palace of Fine Arts, now Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry, from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. Dr. Lisa M. Snyder from UCLA's Institute for Digital Research and Education has been slowly building out a complete digital model of the fair. Image courtesy Museum of Science and Industry. 
As Chicago plays host to architecture buffs and design fans during the Biennial, an upcoming event harkens back to another time when the city and its buildings commanded a global audience. Exploring the White City and Its Architects, a one-day event at the city's Museum of Science and Industry on October 24, offers something fans of Devil in the White City have been clamoring for, a chance, however briefly (and digitally), to tour the 663-acre site of the famous 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. The work of UCLA Professor and architectural historian Dr. Lisa M. Snyder, the simulation is more IMAX than Oculus Rift; viewers are given a tour of the grounds on a large screen they can't steer, though it will be narrated in part by Tim Samuelson, the cultural historian for the City of Chicago. According to Jeff Buonomo, the museum's manager of temporary exhibits and events, the once-a-year event has taken place for roughly the last decade, but every year, Snyder adds more digital real estate to her model, slowly finishing interiors and placing additional building as she discovers and processes more source material (mostly black-and-white photos). Even when stacked up against modern events and festivals, the scale of the Exposition is still impressive.
UNDER $400K CLUB

Spacious, Rustic West Loop Loft Can Be Had for $365,000

While it may not be as cool as a loft located in an old clock tower, this one bedroom plus den in the West Loop is still very nice and reasonably priced at $365,000. Sometimes a home with overly personalized finishes and features can negatively affect the resell value, but in this case, the unit's subdued tones and the kitchen tilework works in its favor. The square footage isn't listed, but there is a floor plan in the listing, which helps depict the size and layout of the space. It's not exactly located in the heart of the West Loop, but it is just a short walk to Restaurant Row and only a couple of blocks to Union Park. There's also a nice back porch space that's big enough to have a few friends over for drinks and dinner. Another thing this place has really going for it is the low $155/month assessment.
Many more photos this way >>
CH-CH-CH-CHANGES

The Landmark Tribune Tower is Searching for a Buyer

Yesterday, Tribune Media announced that is has teamed up with a banker to search for a partner for either the redevelopment or outright sale of its landmark Tribune Tower on Michigan Avenue. It's no shocker that the company is looking to redevelop the property, as it had hinted at such a plan late last year. However, the sale of the 36-story neo-Gothic tower and the three acres it sits on would open the door to many opportunities to developers. Developers have been on a building spree in the last two years, building mostly new apartments and hotel rooms. The tower would likely not be a great candidate for apartments, but it does have good bones for a hotel. Built in 1925, the tower designed by Raymond Hood and John Mead Howells stands near the Wrigley Building, and represents one of the early icons of the Chicago skyline.
It could be a good candidate for a hotel plan >>
CURBED NATIONAL

#ThisPlaceMatters: Touring Historic Theaters Across the U.S.

All month long in October 2015, Curbed and National Trust for Historic Preservation are teaming up on #ThisPlaceMatters, a social campaign highlighting the most beloved places across America. Our motto at Curbed is "Love where you live," which ties in succinctly with the National Trust's mission to highlight everyday buildings and places alongside those officially earmarked for historic preservation. We're looking to you, our readers, to submit photos of your favorite places, preserved or not, on Instagram and Twitter by tagging them with #ThisPlaceMatters. Don't forget to tag Curbed and @savingplaces, too.

The interior of the Fox Theater in Spokane, Washington, which opened in 1931. Image courtesy NAC Architecture.
In our time-shifted, mobile-enabled, go-anywhere entertainment landscape, there's something radical about the design of classic theaters. Between the elaborate facades, illuminated marquees, and ornamental interiors, these structures celebrate a time, not so long ago, when entertainment was only experienced in a crowd, when plays and movies were communal.
NEW TO MARKET

Historic Kedzie Boulevard Mansion Lists for First Time in Years

A Logan Square mansion turned club house turned daycare center has just hit the market this week, presenting a big opportunity for those with some creative ideas. The 7,500-square-foot mansion hasn't been a single family home in many, many decades and although the listing agent suggests that it could once again be one, it'd certainly be a very expensive undertaking. Logan Square Preservation reached out to provide some history on the mansion, which for several decades was the club house for The Chicago Society, a local affiliate of the Polish National Alliance. During its years as the home of The Chicago Society, the mansion featured a swanky '60s lounge and even an exotic Polynesian-themed room. The mansion was sold fifteen years ago and has spent that time serving as a daycare center. Logan Square's obsession with cocktail joints and themed bars is getting to the point of becoming comical, but what if this old mansion is one day converted back into a retro event space? It's currently asking $1.6 million
Some current and historic interior shots >>
THAT'S RATHER AWESOME

Bucktown Industrial Loft Located in Clock Tower Seeks $439K


[Photos: VHT Studios]
This loft should seriously be the setting of a sitcom — it just looks like it was made for TV. The two bedroom, two bathroom unit is located at the very top of the Clocktower Lofts building on Wabansia and offers a surprising amount of space for the money. The listing indicates that the loft is the sole unit on the fourth floor, so there's plenty of privacy. The kitchen has some pretty nice appliances and the living room space has very tall ceilings. However, the highlight is certainly the lofted bedroom with the big clock face integrated into the wall. Something like this is certainly unique and could really create an opportunity for lots of interesting design ideas. But the deal only gets better, as a huge rooftop deck space and garage parking are included. This one can be had for $439,900.
Continue the tour after the jump >>
COOL MAP THING

Maps Show How Chicago Was Devastated After the Great Fire of 1871

On this day in 1871, a fire that started in a barn quickly spread through Chicago and burned 3.5 square miles of the city to the ground. The Newberry Library reminds us about this day in history on Facebook, and provided a map that shows the large chunk of Chicago that was destroyed during the disaster. The fire killed 300 people and left another 100,000 without homes, destroying much of what is downtown and the Near North Side today. However, Chicago quickly rebuilt and the city's famous architects had a blank canvas to work with to design and erect the world's first skyscrapers. Less than twenty years after the Great Chicago Fire, the city hosted the World's Columbian Exposition and introduced thousands to the White City. 
Maps are this way >>
HOLY COW!

Watch Wrigleyville Erupt After the Cubs' Big Wild Card Win

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[Photo via Instagram user giorgio813]
So, the Cubs won a game last night. What's the big deal, right? To outsiders, it may not seem like much, but to Chicago's North Side residents, last night's win was truly something to celebrate. As Chicagoans well know, the Cubs have a storied history of just simply being bad. The team's nickname is the "Lovable Losers" after all. However, the Cubs are no longer losers and the team's curse has been lifted as the Northsiders have finally advanced beyond the wild-card match to meet longtime rival St. Louis Cardinals in the postseason. Wrigleyville erupted after the win, looking like something from a fictional scenario, and the celebration will continue through the weekend as the Cubbies head to St. Louis for their next big test. If the Cubs triumph, expect a much, much bigger celebration
No flipped cars or fires, just chants and cheers >>
CH-CH-CH-CHANGES

C.H. Robinson Inks Deal to Lease New Building at Former Gutmann Leather Site

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[The old Gutmann Leather tannery circa 2006. Photo via Flickr Creative Commons/TheeErin]
Developer Sterling Bay has landed its first major commercial tenant for its growing portfolio of recently acquired industrial property in Lincoln Park. Crain's reports that logistics giant C.H. Robinson Worldwide has inked a deal with Sterling Bay to lease a new office building that will take the place of the former Gutmann Leather Company site off Webster Avenue. The company will relocate about 1,000 employees to the new three-story, 200,000-square-foot facility near the end of 2018, Crain's reports. While Sterling Bay would not comment about their plans for the neighboring Finkl steel site, the company does expect to break ground on the new facility very soon.
·Lease propels developer's plans for Lincoln Park project [Crain's]
·All previous Finkl steel coverage [Curbed Chicago]
ALMOST SOLD STUFF

Harry Weese-Designed Riverfront Cottage Scores a Contract

The riverfront townhouse designed by Harry Weese that hit the market last week to much fanfare has already scored a contract. Designed and developed by Weese, the River Cottage townhouse development and its sail-like facade is not only unique looking, but is also unique in the sense that the units are very rarely available. The unit that entered the market last week was the first time in over 25 years that one of the Postmodern, nautical-themed houses went up for grabs. The 4,100-square-foot three bedroom property hit the market last Thursday with an asking price of $2.3 million and went contingent today. We won't know the offer price until the sale closes. However, there's certainly still a chance that the deal could fall through and another buyer could step up to the plate. 
Many more photos this way >>
CURBED NATIONAL

Rebuilding a Frank Lloyd Wright House, Piece by Piece

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Bachman Wilson House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Image copyright Tarantino Studio; courtesy Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas.
In Bentonville, Arkansas, a house that Frank Lloyd Wright designed for a New Jersey couple more than 60 years ago has been painstakingly reassembled, board by board and pane by pane, overlooking the clear waters of the Crystal Spring. When it opens to the public next month on the lushly wooded 120-acre campus of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, it will be the first Wright house in Arkansas—a delicately preserved later example of the so-called Usonian homes that the architect conceived as models for affordable middle-class living.
How the house came to be in the Ozarks of northwestern Arkansas, some 1,200 miles from where it was first built, is a story that touches on the unforgiving potency of Mother Nature, a couple's untiring effort to restore and preserve an unsung architectural gem, and the ambitions of the Walmart heiress Alice Walton, who founded Crystal Bridges in 2011 with an eye toward establishing it as a destination for fans of American art and architecture.
HOUSES OF THE HOLY

Fire Claims Yet Another Landmark South Side Church

Woodlawn residents woke up to some very bad news this morning: the Shrine of Christ The King Catholic Church has been devastated by a raging fire. According to DNAinfo, the fire was first detected early this morning around 5:45 a.m. and by 9 a.m., the roof had collapsed. The church had been undergoing a massive and costly restoration effort, which started back in 2008. The scenario is eerily similar to that of the Pilgrim Baptist Church in the Bronzeville, which burned down in 2006 during a lengthy restoration effort. Despite raising money to rebuild, Pilgrim has sat idle ever since. However, Shrine of Christ The King has survived at least one fire before. Church members and representatives tell DNAinfo that they plan to rebuild after this week's catastrophe.
·Blaze Devastates 92-Year-Old Shrine of Christ the King Amid Restoration [DNAinfo]
·Fire heavily damages nearly century-old church in Woodlawn: 'This is devastating' [Tribune]

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CurbedCurbedIn perhaps the most San Francisco story ever told, the couple spotted the house while they were walking in the Bay to Breakers race.The Fisks had the home built with Cuban Mahogany woodwork, detail-rich tile surrounds on every fireplace, a ballroom, and a rooftop plant conservatory.Homeowners Jim Warshell and Gail Baugh have spent the past 12 years restoring to perfection their a large Victorian house in Hayes Valley.Although the kitchen is in what is close to the layout it had at the time of its construction, it has modern updates.  Prada's New Pastry Shop Is as Swanky as You'd Imagine - Eating Pretty - Curbed Nationalmain.original_prada.jpgShrine by Celia-Hannes (Célia Picard & Hannes Schreckensberger) - photo credit Celia-HannesOn Location | East Meredith, N.Y. - The New York TimesThese wicker chairs   Toro Canyon House / Bestor Architecture[ shipping container home ] Midcentury modern designMidcentury modern designMidcentury modern designMidcentury modern designMidcentury modern designMidcentury modern design Josephine Choquet  "Amazing and Unusual Cave House in Festus, Mo" ok I was going to pin this because of the cool architecture, and then I read the caption and it's in some place called FESTUS!! Must repina clever closet under the stairs //small space design solutionshttp://www.minosadesign.com/2015/03/bathroom-design-small-space-feels-large.htmlCould a shipping container be your perfect home? http://calgary.isgreen.ca/Sachi Fujimori's Casa Reciclada was constructed from used shipping container. Architects Anna Duelo, Úrsula Ludowieg OPhelan and Marc Koenig collaborated on the project. Courtesy of: Terra HallA Dashing Modern Rendition of London Mews Housing - Adventures in Architecture - Curbed NationalA Dashing Modern Rendition of London Mews Housing - Adventures in Architecture - Curbed NationalWhat a cute house!Tama Art University Library by Toyo Ito.Shipping Container Home Designs - #shippingcontainer Chamfer Home: Tiny Self-Sufficient House Operates Off-Grid in Any LocaleA 160 square feet tiny house on wheels in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Designed and built by East Coast Tiny Homes.This is how I'd do my stairs and bed so you could sit on the side of the bed and not have to crawl across the loft on your knees.Container HouseTree view window at zen architects alphington houseShipping Container Homes.Picture-Perfect Modern Gable Masters the 'Barn Chic' Look - Globe Trotting - Curbed NationalPicture-Perfect Modern Gable Masters the 'Barn Chic' Look - Globe Trotting - Curbed NationalPicture-Perfect Modern Gable Masters the 'Barn Chic' Look - Globe Trotting - Curbed NationalPicture-Perfect Modern Gable Masters the 'Barn Chic' Look - Globe Trotting - Curbed NationalInvisible Barn is a mirror-clad folly camouflaged among the trees of a California forest.Mount Fuji Architects Studio “This architecture is consisted by combining L-shaped blocks of reinforced concrete and sequential frames of box-shaped engineer-wood” Step Inside a Beautifully Glamorous Hollywood Home via @mydomaineapartmenttherapyUpstate NYSee On

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