Louis Sullivan Ornament

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Although Sullivan rejected antique styles, he did not diminish the importance of ornament. Adler and Sullivan together, worked out many programs. While Adler solve the mechanical and structural issues, Sullivan took care of the art. It was Sullivan’s strength in adoring structure with expressive ornaments and façade in the Beaux-art style. He wrote, “Ornament, when creative, spontaneous, is a perfume.” The building structure was made of steel frame and the ornament was made of light materials such as terra cotta. Sullivan’s ornament design arose in the same period as Art Nouveau movement. His personal creativity allowed him to develop many original, organic architectural details inspired by nature, replacing the standard classical ornamentation Wainwright Building (1890-1891 in St. Louis Missouri) can be one of his exemplary accomplishment. We could see the vertical emphasis to the building’s overall form which is probably influenced by Marshall Field Store designed by Henry Hobson Richardson. The shaft consists of red brick pilasters with decorated terra cotta spandrels, the attic is rendered as a deep overhanging cornice faced in an ornamented terra cotta skin to match the enrichment of the spandrels and the pilasters below. The windows are set back, leaving the surrounding columns and piers to show the vertical aesthetic. These design elements can also be found in his work -Guaranty building. Sullivan designed Auditorium Building which was also renowned for its ornamental interior. Taking his cue from Adler’s acoustical requirements, the featured four elliptical arches, wider and higher toward the rear, dividing the ceiling into smooth ivory panel of the most delicate lacelike tracery. The buildings successfully apply the metal frame technology; they also unify skyscraper’s repetitious components. We can also look at his last big commercial building Schlesinger and Meyer Department store (1899-1904) in Chicago. This building consists abundance of cast-iron Art Nouveau decoration, especially around the entrances in the curved corner pavilion. Louis Sullivan, in his later years designed many small buildings in western town, and writing books. Louis Sullivan is an inventor of American architecture. His work influenced a generation of architects. Although many people criticized his work contradicting his theory, it wasn’t true. He said “Whatever is beautiful rests on the foundation of the necessary.” Suggesting the importance of function as well as

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