Kenna Apartments Reliefs - Chicago, IL
Posted by: adgorn
N 41° 46.202 W 087° 34.250
16T E 452554 N 4624401
Two small concrete panels, designed by Alphonso Iannelli, on either side of the front door of the apartment building designed by modernist architect Barry Byrne.
Waymark Code: WM1182X
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 09/03/2019
Views: 3
From the Chicago Landmarks site describing the building: (
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"Year Built: 1916
Architect: Barry F. Byrne
Date Designated a Chicago Landmark: August 12, 1990
The ubiquitous Chicago three-flat is creatively transformed through this design, a close collaboration between architect Barry Byrne and sculptor Alfonso Iannelli. The simplicity of the superbly detailed brickwork is offset by the sculptural treatment of the window frames and entrance. The straightforward design and craftsmanship of this South Shore structure marked a major departure from other urban buildings of the period. Byrne, who began his architectural career with Frank Lloyd Wright, also designed Immaculata High School and St. Thomas the Apostle Church. This building was designed for John F. Kenna, a bookkeeper."
From a Chicago Patterns article:
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"The front door is flanked by elaborate stone carvings of a man, woman, and child. Iannelli provides enough decoration to serve the entire building; the delicate curves in Iannelli’s compositions are a perfect counterpoint to the geometric severity of the architecture. Byrne and Iannelli’s decorative scheme is quiet, understated, and lyrically powerful."
The building is located near Chicago's lakefront southeast of Hyde Park. Very unusual entrance decor.