Four Houses by Architect Frederick Schock, Late 19th-century residential ensemble in Austin neighborhood, Chicago, United States
Four Houses by Architect Frederick Schock is a group of four residences with irregular shapes, ornate details, and contrasting textures in Queen Anne style. Located on West Race Avenue and West Midway Park, each building displays distinctive architectural elements while contributing to a unified ensemble.
Schock built these houses between 1886 and 1892, a decade of active construction in Chicago's growing residential area. He designed them for family members and a local businessman, with one serving as his personal home for decades.
These homes show how Schock blended family ties with bold design choices, shaping Chicago's Victorian-era residential style. They reflect a time when architects treated their own houses as personal creative statements.
The four houses are located at two different streets in the Austin neighborhood and can be viewed from the street. Visitors should allow time to walk both locations to see the ensemble in its context.
Each house features different design experiments that Schock used to test new ideas while maintaining visual continuity across the group. This balance between individual creativity and architectural unity makes the ensemble stand out among late 19th-century residential projects.
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