Chicago Landmarks
 

Gauler Twin Houses

Exterior, photo by Ron Gordon, 1999     Address: 5917 and 5921 N. Magnolia Ave.
Year Built: 1908
Architect: Walter Burley Griffin
Date Designated a Chicago Landmark: June 28, 2000

Floor plan from The Prairie School Review, First Quarter 1970 Built as speculative housing for John Gauler, a Chicago butcher, this pair of wood-and-stucco residences is a rare example of a twin Prairie School design. Their architect, Walter Burley Griffin, is internationally recognized for his distinctive designs, as well as his contributions to the field of "land planning," including his master plan for Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The vertical composition of these houses was a hallmark of Griffin's work and demonstrates his skill in adapting Prairie-style principles to a relatively small, narrow urban site. The houses share a front entrance walkway and their floor plans are mirror images of one another.