Purcell and Elmslie: Prairie Progressives explores the work of two important members of the organic architecture movement, and celebrates their tremendously important contributions to American architecture and the Prairie School. Wishing to return to simplicity and honesty, Purcell and Elmslie created homes and buildings that were consistent with a democratic society-simple forms, the natural use of textural materials and decoration, and buildings that accommodated the nature of a site. As did Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright, Purcell and Elmslie held the conviction that a building does not end with its simple structure, but reaches its final and logical culmination in the clothing-color, situation and natural environment, together with its decoration of glass, terra-cotta, and other textural materials.
The firm of Purcell and Elmslie was tremendously successful in the sense that their small open-planned free-flowing houses could be shared by a great number of Americans of moderate means. Projects discussed in this book can be found throughout the Midwest, including Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, North Dakota, Illinois, Wisconsin, and more. The time has come to recognize the work of these progressive architects of the Midwest.
Purcell and Elmslie: Prairie Progressives includes:
Comprehensive biographies of George Grant Elmslie and William Gray Purcell
The Work of the Firm
The Domestic and Non-Domestic Work of Purcell, Feick and Elmslie
Work after the Firm Broke Up
The Late Work of Purcell and Elmslie
A Catalog of Major Projects
| Acknowledgments | p. 8 |
| Background | p. 16 |
| Introduction | p. 18 |
| George Grant Elmslie | p. 28 |
| William Gray Purcell | p. 46 |
| The Work of the Firm | p. 66 |
| The Nature of the Partnership | p. 68 |
| The Domestic Work | p. 80 |
| The Nondomestic Work | p. 116 |
| Work after the Firm | p. 148 |
| The Late Work of Purcell & Elmslie | p. 150 |
| Contribution & Influence of the Firm | p. 160 |
| Catalog of Major Projects | p. 168 |
| Early Work of Elmslie | p. 170 Early Wo |
| Purcell & Feick | p. 170 |
| Purcell, Feick & Elmslie | p. 171 |
| Purcell & Elmslie | p. 174 |
| Purcell 1920-1965 | p. 176 |
| Elmslie 1920-1952 | p. 176 |
| Notes | p. 178 |
| Bibliography | p. 182 |
| Photo Credits | p. 188 |
| Index | p. 189 |
| Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved. |
ISBN: 9781423600053
ISBN-10: 1423600053
Audience:
General
Format:
Hardcover
Language:
English
Number Of Pages: 192
Published: 1st May 2012
Dimensions (cm): 25.5 x 25.5
x 2.3
Weight (kg): 1.102