Chicago - Architecture & Cityscape

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

The Auditorium Theater

In the famous words of Frank Llyod Wright, the Auditorium Theater is..
"The greatest room for music and opera in the world-bar none."

It all began with a dream of a rich Chicago businessman Ferdinand Peck. A dream of building an opera house in Chicago which would be the world's largest and grandest theatre, one that would rival such institutions as the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. He wanted to provide the city, a place of art and culture, instead of a city choked by stockyards and smokestacks.. In 1886, he incorporated the Chicago Auditorium Association and managed to pursuade many of Chicago philanthropists to join the Association, including Marshall Field, Edson Keith, and George Pullman. On December 22, 1886, the association hired the renowned architectural firm of Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan, as architects on the building... and an architectural masterpiece was waiting to happen..

The Association realized that such opera theaters are not big moneymakers, so they decided on a multi-use structure, which apart from a theater included a hotel, offices and stores. The building was completed in 1889. It was a tall Romanesque-style structure with thick load-bearing outer walls. When completed, it was the tallest building in Chicago and the largest building in the country. What made it even more special were it's contrasts, a rough-hewn rock base piled by increasingly shaped and refined upper floors.. and fluid and florid interior space. . Although, very soon the hotel and offices became unprofitable [ The opening of nearby Congress Plaza Hotel and the elevated "L" tracks, contributed to it's failure]. Although the Auditorium Building has been associated with financial ups and downs [through wars & depression], but when one is talking about the building from engineering, architectural and artistic point of view, It's A MASTERPIECE!

It is difficult to cover the theater in one post, so I have divided into multiple posts..

The Foundation..
One of the main challenges in the construction was the Chicago's soggy and unstable, soft blue clay to the depth of over 100 feet. Those days, the 20th century technology of caissons sunk to bedrock, had not yet developed. As a solution to the problem, Dankmar Adler, along with engineer Paul Mueller, came up with an innovative solution, variously termed as "Spread Footing" or a massive "Raft Foundation"..
# For more on the Foundation.. click here..

The Outer Lobby..
The main entrance to the theater is located right below the Auditorium Building's 17th floor tower. In 1889, the outer box office lobby extended to the exterior walls, which included heating and ventilation grills around the column bases. In 1850's Congress Parkway was expanded and an exterior sidewalk was installed along the Auditorium Building's front facing the Congress parkway. This process destroyed , half of the box-office lobby, the ladies resturant and men's cafe.
# For more on the outer lobby, click here..

Twin objectives of "optimal acoustics" with a "democratic" theater.
Adler incorporated many ideas to achieve optimal acoustics. His "isacoustic curve" is accompanied by relatively low arched ceiling, that minimised echoes. The progressively widening arches "shaped like a cone or speaking trumpet", helped in maximizing amplification and minimizing echoes. His low ceiling also made it difficult to built more than a few boxes. This perfectly corresponded with Peck's desired to build a "democratic" theater, which not a symbol of social divisions.
# For more, click here..

Gold leaf spandrel with portrait medallions....
Beautiful gold leaf with portrait medallions can be seen on each side of the stage. The medallions were designed by Johannes Gelert. The portraits are of Joseph Haydn [orchestral music], Richard Wagner [opera], Demosthenes [oratory] and William Shakespeare [drama]..
# For more.. click here..

Murals..
There are murals above the proscenium arch and on the north and south walls..
Proscenium arch murals are designed by Charles Holloway..
Murals on the North and South Walls are designed by Albert Francis Fleury.
# For more.. click here..

Grand Stairways, Mosaics, Stencils, Carpets and Plaster Decorations..
The curvilinear foliate motifs with interwined vines and leaves can be seen in wrought iron, stencils, carpets, plaster relifs and stair railings..
Mosaics: Designed by Sullivan..
Stenciling: Designed by Sullivan or Healy & Millet
Iron Ornament: Designed by Sullivan..
# For more images.. click here..

Art Glasses..
Designed and created by the firm of George Healy and Louis Millet.
Six art glasses above the doors leading from the box office entryway into the main lobby. These are inspired from the allegorical figures of Wisdom, Oratory, Drama, Music, Poetry and Dance..
# For more.. click here..

"I have stood in every great hall and sat in all famous theatres and opera houses of the world, but in its unrivaled acoustics, both for oratory and music,...and in the harmony and taste of its ornamentations, this Auditorium of Chicago is without a rival or a peer.”
Let me end with these words of Chauncey Depew,
State Senator from New York and President of the New York Central Railroad, 1890..
Sullivan's Ideas next..

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Auditorium Theater: The Foundation

Continued from, The Auditorium Theater.. click here..

Although Louis Sullivan overshadows Dankman Adler in credits for the beauty of the building, but it was Adler's engineering genius was clearly responsible for the building's layout, construction and mechanical systems. One of the main challenges in the construction was the Chicago's soggy and unstable, soft blue clay to the depth of over 100 feet. Those days, the 20th century technology of caissons sunk to bedrock, had not yet developed. As a solution to the problem, Dankmar Adler, along with engineer Paul Mueller, came up with an innovative solution, variously termed as "Spread Footing" or a massive "Raft Foundation"..

Adler and Mueller designed a floating mat of crisscross railroad tiers. This was topped with a double layer of steel rails, embedded in concrete, coated with pitch. The resulting raft distributed the weight of the massive outer walls over a large area.

However, over the course of time, the weight of the heavy masonry outer walls in relation to the lightweight inner walls, deformed the raft. Today portions of the building has settled more than 31 inches. The defect is clearly visible in the theater lobby, where the distinct slope towards the outer walls is clearly visible.

Apparently, there were no stairs when the theater opened. These were added much later to compensate for the slope of the theater floor.

Auditorium Building: The Outer Lobby

Auditorium Building

Auditorium Building - Outer Lobby

Add caption

The marble mosaic floors were designed by Louis Sullivan in cooperation with Healy & Millet..
Sic arched art glasses are located above the doors leading to the main lobby. These are designed by George Healy and Louis Millet. The inspiration are debatable. Though some claim that these are allegorical representation of Wisdom, Oratory, Drama, Music, Poetry and Dance, announcing the theatre’s varied purposes.
For more on the art glasses.. click here..

Auditorium Theater: Achiving twin objectives of "optimal acoustics" with "a democratic" theater..

Adler's most remarkable expertise was in acoustics. He based his acoustical design based on Scottish physicist John Scott Russell, who had studies about the transmission of sound in theatrical spaces. Russell favored what is called an "isacoustic curve". His basic premise was that the optimal auditorium design had an upward slope from front to back, essentially eliminating a broad back wall, where sound reverbations can cause problems.

Adler incorporated many ideas to achieve optimal acoustics. His "isacoustic curve" is accompanied by relatively low arched ceiling, that minimised echoes. The progressively widening arches "shaped like a cone or speaking trumpet", helped in maximizing amplification and minimizing echoes. His low ceiling also made it difficult to built more than a few boxes. This perfectly corresponded with Peck's desired to build a "democratic" theater, which not a symbol of social divisions.

The democratic spirit of the theater's conception demanded perfect sightlines for all. An objective largely accomplished! When the theater opened in 1889, it had 4,200 seats [including main floors, balconies and boxes]. The seats are set to rise 15 inches over every two rows. This allows all members of the audience to see and hear the performances. The original design did not include the box seats. These were omitted from the design as these are historically filled with wealthy patrons and symbolize social class divisions, which was against Peck's democratic spirit. However, with pressure from fund raisers they put boxes in the theater.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Auditorium Theater: Gold Leaf Spandrels with Portrait Medallions..

Gold Leaf Sprandrels and Portrait Medallions

Auditorium Theater: Interior details..
Gold Leaf Sprandrels and Portrait Medallions...
There's beautiful gold leaf spandrel on either side of the stage between the proscenium opening and the first set of boxes. Four portrait medallions appear in gold leaf, two on each side. The medallions were designed by Johannes Gelert, a Danish-born New York sculptor, who was chosen by Healy and Millet to work on the Auditorium. The portraits are of..
On the left:
Joseph Haydn [orchestral music] and Richard Wagner [opera]..
On the right:
Demosthenes [oratory] and William Shakespeare [drama]..

Joseph Haydn [orchestral music]

Richard Wagner [opera]..

Demosthenes [oratory]

William Shakespeare [drama]..

Gold Leaf Sprandrels and Portrait Medallions

details - Gold Leaf Sprandrels and Portrait Medallions

Btw, it's this gold leaf with medallions, reminds me of [the original] Chicago Stock Exchange entrance arch.. click here..

Auditorium Theater: Interiors - Murals

“The utterance of life is a song, the symphony of nature.”

Proscenium Arch Mural..
Designed by Charles Holloway..
Healy and Millet had organized a competition, in which hundreds of participants entered includining Louis Comfort Tiffany. And Charles Holloway was selected. He was only 29 years old at the time..

The Auditorium Theater's official website, click here.. describes these murals best. An excerpt..

At the apex of the mural, rests the words: “The utterance of life is a song, the symphony of nature.” Holloway's design represents humanity at different stages of life through song: the past, or the “Song of Sorrow”; the present, the “Song of Joy”; and the future, the “Song of Hope.” This mural is meant to be viewed from right to left (south to north).

Among the 40 life-size classical figures are (starting at the far right): An angel before a bright fire symbolizing birth and inspiration; groups of joyful dancers; a male receiving a garland from a woman; a mother with a baby at her breast; a young child riding on a tiger's back; and youthful lovers. At the center of the proscenium's mural are three figures representing the present, the past and the future. The left side of the arch depicts images of sorrow and death: a philosopher with one hand on a skull; a grieving woman; a young man holding a dying companion; a daughter at the feet of her aging mother; a cross; a group of monks; the angel of twilight.

Apart from murals on the central or east proscenium arch, there are murals on the north and south walls.. Image below shows the north wall murals..

Murals: North and South Walls..
Designed and painted by Albert Francis Fleury [1848-1924]..
These continue the theme of nature, depicted in the mural over the proscenium. the words are from a poem written by Sullivan with title, "Inspiration"..
The south mural:
The inscription reads: “O, soft, melodious spring time! First-born of life and love”
The north mural:
The inscription reads: “A great life has passed into the tomb and there awaits the requiem of winter’s snows.”

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Auditorium Theater: Interiors: Grand Stairways, Mosaics, Stencils, Carpets and Plaster Decorations..

Auditorium Theater:
Grand Stairways, Mosaics, Stencils, Carpets and Plaster Decorations..
The curvilinear foliate motifs with interwined vines and leaves can be seen in wrought iron, stencils, carpets, plaster relifs and stair railings..
Mosaics: Designed by Sullivan..
Stenciling: Designed by Sullivan or Healy & Millet
Iron Ornament: Designed by Sullivan..

Add caption