Field Notes
Louis Sullivan in St. Louis, Missouri
In St. Louis there is a remarkable collection of artifacts and one major building associated with famed architect Louis Sullivan. The artifacts are held in the St. Louis Museum of Art. The building is the Wainwright, a few blocks from the Gateway Arch. Louis Sullivan, American, 1856-1924 Winslow Brothers Company Ornamental Iron Works, Chicago, Illinois … Read more
Wainright Building – St. Louis, Missouri
The architectural design of the Wainwright Building is recognized as the foundational blueprint for the modern skyscraper. Masterminded by Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler, its design famously mirrors the structure of a classical column, divided into three distinct vertical zones (a tripartite composition) of base, shaft, and capital: 1. The Base (Floors 1–2) 2. The … Read more
Old Cathedral – St. Louis, Missouri
Basilica of Saint Louis, KingOn this location the first church in St. Louis A small wood structure, was blessed on June 24, 1770. Six years later it was replaced by a larger church of white oak timbers blessed and used for divine service for the first time in early summer of 1776. It also served … Read more
Gateway Arch National Park – St. Louis, Missouri
The Gateway Arch National Pakr includes the Old Courthouse and the Gateway Arch. This photo from Kiener Plaza Park captures three defining layers of downtown St. Louis architecture perfectly framed inside the legs of the Gateway Arch. The building showcased in the center is the historic Old Courthouse, built between 1839 and 1862. It is … Read more
St. Louis Cathedral Basilica – St. Louis, Missouri
1) NARTHEX. This gathering place is a fine example of Byzantine style art and architecture The lower wall is buff marble to symbolize earth. The mosaic panels above are paved with a series of scenes about the life of Saint Louis IX, King of France (1214-1270), patron saint of the city. The barrel vaulted ceiling … Read more
The Wedge – Alton, Illinois
The image shows the front entrance of The Wedge Building, located at 620 E Broadway in Alton, Ohio. This facility operates as The Wedge Innovation Center, a prominent 55,000-square-foot coworking, startup, and technology entrepreneurship hub powered by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). The $33 million historic rehabilitation project meticulously restored and merged two historic structures—the … Read more
Cortex – St. Louis
The Cortex innovation district is conveniently located by transit from the airport and other locations throughout St. Louis served by Metro. Upon arriving in the district one of the first things that struck me was the prairie grass project. A very conscious effort was made to plant native materials. The Police Department Parking Garage had … Read more
Olive’s Bloombox – Ferndale, Michigan
Olive’s Bloombox is a florist and gift store at 262 W 9 Mile Rd in Ferndale, Michigan. Each section has a dedicated rug to set it apart from the others. The space is not overly full. Items can stand out and have room to themselves, rather than crowding every inch with product. A recycled wire … Read more
Downtown – Rochester, Michigan
The historic Rollin Sprague Building, home to The Home Bakery, is located at 300 S. Main Street in downtown Rochester. Originally known as the “Old Stone Store,” it was built in 1849 for Dr. Rollin Sprague and stands as the oldest commercial building in downtown Rochester. The structural sides are hidden by adjacent buildings, but … Read more