Waller Apartments, Multifamily residential by Frank Lloyd Wright in Chicago, Illinois.
Waller Apartments is a residential complex on West Walnut Street built around a central courtyard. Individual units feature parlors, bedrooms, dining rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and storage spaces arranged across multiple levels in a thoughtfully planned layout.
Built in 1895, this complex was among Chicago's earliest efforts to provide affordable housing for lower-income residents. Following the great fire of 1871, such social housing represented an important step in the city's rebuilding and modernization.
These apartments represent an early collaboration between architect Frank Lloyd Wright and developer Edward C. Waller to create housing for lower-income residents.
The site is best explored on foot as it sits within an urban residential neighborhood. Visitors can view the exterior structure and courtyard layout, which reveal the connected design of the complex.
Frank Lloyd Wright designed this complex in partnership with developer Edward C. Waller, revealing how his innovative thinking applied to everyday housing projects. The project was unusual because a renowned architect focused his attention on affordable mass housing rather than only wealthy patrons.
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