Krause Music Store

The Krause Music Store is a two-story commercial building on North Lincoln Avenue with a grey terra cotta facade decorated with geometric patterns and organic motifs. A large central display window frames the storefront, while the upper floor originally functioned as a residential apartment for the owner.

The building was completed in 1922 as the final architectural work by Louis Sullivan, a pioneering figure in modern design. Its creation marked the end of Sullivan's prolific career, which spanned over three decades of influence on American urban architecture.

The store reflects how early 20th-century merchants lived above their shops, mixing commerce with domestic life in a single building. Passersby can still sense this blend of work and home through the vertical arrangement of retail below and living quarters above.

The building sits in Lincoln Square's active commercial corridor and is readily visible from the street, making it easy to approach and examine the facade. A comprehensive renovation in 2005 restored the structure while adding landscaping details that enhance the surrounding streetscape.

The terra cotta ornaments adorning the building were specially produced by the American Terra Cotta Company and feature intricate floral patterns alongside geometric light effects. These handcrafted details represent a level of artisanal mastery in commercial building design that has become increasingly rare.

Location: Chicago

Architects: Louis Sullivan

GPS coordinates: 41.96528,-87.68611

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:42