Madlener House facts for kids
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Albert F. Madlener House
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1964 HABS photo
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 Location in Chicago metropolitan area
Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 4 W. Burton St., Chicago, Illinois |
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| Built | 1902 |
| Architect | Schimdt, Richard E. |
| Architectural style | Prairie School |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000234 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1970 |
The Madlener House, also known as the Albert F. Madlener House, is a large home built in the early 1900s. It is located in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, USA. Famous architect Richard E. Schmidt and designer Hugh M.G. Garden created this house.
The house was finished in 1902 for Albert Fridolin Madlener, a German-American business owner, and his wife, Elsa Seipp Madlener. Since 1963, it has been the main office for the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts. The Madlener House became a National Historic Place in 1970. In 1973, it was also named a Chicago Landmark, protecting its history and design. Architect Daniel Brenner updated and restored the house in 1963-64.
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Building the Madlener House
Albert Madlener's father, Fridolin Madlener, was a well-known merchant who came to Chicago from Germany. Albert went to the Latin School of Chicago and Yale University. After learning about business in Germany, Albert took over his family's company.
In 1898, Albert married Elsa Seipp, whose father was also a famous Chicago business owner. In 1901, as Elsa was expecting their first child, Albert asked his brother-in-law, Richard E. Schmidt, to design a new house. Schmidt was only 35 years old at the time. Schmidt and his partner, Hugh M.G. Garden, accepted the job. The beautiful home was finished just one year later, in 1902.
Unique Architecture and Design
The Madlener House is special because it mixes old and new architectural ideas. It combines different styles popular in the Midwest and other countries at the time. It also uses both natural and geometric shapes in its design.
Architectural Styles and Influences
The house has tall ceilings and a cube shape, which was inspired by German Neoclassical buildings in Berlin, Germany. However, many parts of the house also show influences from Chicago's own Prairie School movement. This style was made famous by architects like Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright.
Some people have compared the Madlener House to famous buildings like Villa Shone in Berlin and Frank Lloyd Wright's Winslow House. Other details inside the house show the Arts and Crafts style. This movement was popular when the house was built around 1900.
Materials and Special Features
The outside of the Madlener House is made of Indiana Limestone. This choice fits the Prairie School idea of using local building materials. The architects paid special attention to the entrance. It features a unique eight-sided decoration designed by Garden. There is also delicate bronze grill work, inspired by the designs of Wright and Sullivan.
Inside, the main entrance area and grand staircase are covered in beautiful Circassion walnut wood from the Black Sea region. This wood is arranged in a special way called "bookmatch treatment." The fireplace in the entrance area is also made of Indiana limestone.
"Spirit of the Waves" Sculpture
A bronze sculpture called "Spirit of the Waves" is set into the foyer fireplace. This artwork is a key example of the Arts and Crafts movement in the house. It was created by the Belgian artist Albert Van Den Berghen. The Madlener family and Richard Schmidt asked him to create it after the house was finished. Schmidt had met the sculptor in 1900. Berghen wanted the sculpture to show something about the lake, so he created waves and mermaids. A model of "Spirit of the Waves" was shown in Chicago in 1906.
Interior Spaces and Design
The first floor of the house has exhibition spaces. These rooms used to be the music room, living room, and dining room. They are decorated with light-colored mahogany wood. The wooden patterns on this trim match the simple but detailed design on the doorway grill work.
The dining room ceiling is very detailed. It is made of painted plaster with a design that mixes geometric and natural patterns. The most exciting part of the house is the third-floor ballroom. The Madleners were known for hosting many fun parties here.
The house has some unusual features, like no visible chimneys on the roof. Also, its large windows are placed lower than usual. Many drawings of the Madlener House are kept at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Architectural Fragment Garden
The Madlener House also has a special collection of old architectural pieces. These pieces are from the late 1800s and early 1900s. They come from famous architects like Louis Sullivan, Dankmar Adler, H.H. Richardson, Frank Lloyd Wright, and others. Many of these pieces were saved from Chicago buildings that have since been torn down. These fragments were given as gifts and are displayed in the courtyard garden and on some walls of the library.
The Graham Foundation
The the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts was started in 1956. This foundation gives money for projects and holds public events about architecture. They explore how architecture fits into art, culture, and society. The foundation was created using money left by Chicago architect Ernest R. Graham.
Madlener House and the Graham Foundation
Albert Madlener passed away in 1947, and his wife, Elsa, in 1962. Their son, Albert Jr., then owned the house. He sold it to a real-estate company soon after. There were ideas to tear down the house or turn it into the mayor's home. But then, the Graham Foundation, which was just starting, bought the house.
Since 1963, the Graham Foundation has owned and used the Madlener House. In its first year, the foundation asked architect Daniel Brenner to make big changes inside the house. Many walls and home features were removed to make the house better for the foundation's activities. The mahogany wood in the new exhibition rooms was lightened, but the walnut wood in the entrance stayed the same. The kitchen was turned into a library. This library now holds all the books and publications that the foundation has supported. The ballroom became a lecture hall and performance space. Other rooms on the second and third floors were turned into offices and art galleries. In 1964, while the renovations were happening, the city of Chicago officially named the Madlener House a city landmark.
Current Activities
Today, the Madlener House is led by Sarah Herda. It is the main place for the Graham Foundation's public programs. These include art shows, talks, performances, and meetings. You can visit for free.
