Keck-Gottschalk-Keck Apartments, International Style apartment building in Hyde Park, Chicago, United States
The Keck-Gottschalk-Keck Apartments is a three-story residential building with a ground-floor garage and living spaces above along South University Avenue. The facade follows International Style principles with plain lines and functional design without unnecessary ornament.
Built in 1937, the structure was designed by brothers William and George Fred Keck and stands as one of Chicago's earliest examples of modernist residential architecture. It marks a turning point when American architects began incorporating European design ideas into their homes.
The building shows how living spaces were reimagined in the 1930s with open layouts and practical solutions rather than ornate decoration. You can see in the details how the architects wove everyday life into their design choices.
The building sits in a quiet residential area and is clearly visible from the street as you walk along South University Avenue. The external window blinds are among the first energy-saving systems of their kind, showing how early the designers thought about comfort and efficiency.
The building was not just a design project for the Keck brothers but also their home, shared with a university professor. This blend of personal life and architectural experiment turned it into a kind of living laboratory for new housing ideas.
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