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Built in 1930 and expanded in 1938 and 1959, this Art Deco-style 11-story office building was designed by Arthur Peabody to house various government offices for the State of Wisconsin. The building’s north wing was constructed first, with the central wing being completed in 1938-1939, utilizing funds from the New Deal-era Public Works Administration (PWA), and the south wing in 1956-1959. Despite the long time span from the building’s origins to its completion, very few of the decorative details were changed and remained remarkably consistent despite the rise of the modernist movement and the Art Deco style falling out of favor by the time the south wing was completed, which in most circumstances led to buildings with portions that did not match the original vision. The building was apparently despised by Frank Lloyd Wright, whom called it a “monstrosity to anyone who thinks” and went on to call the City of Madison a “provincial capitol” that was “neither scholarly or gentlemanly.” Nevertheless, the building is a popular and generally well-liked building by the citizens of Madison. The building is the tallest office building in Downtown Madison, owing to its location close to Lake Monona, which includes a two-story podium that has a parking area on the roof, and the building sits right at the 187-foot height limit imposed throughout Downtown Madison to not block views of the State Capitol dome.
The building is faced with gray granite blocks and is E-shaped, with a tall 11-story tower in the center flanked by two wings of six and seven stories that are at equal height, with the adjacent street sloping downwards along the width of the building’s facade. The stone blocks are mostly unadorned, but the building’s east and west wings feature intricately carved reliefs on the spandrel between the first and second floors, in the spandrel between the fourth and fifth floor, in a ribbon on the sixth floor between window openings, and on the parapet, with additional decorative reliefs over the entrance doors and decorative pilasters with acroterions at the top that run between the paired windows on the second, third, and fourth floors. The eleven-story central wing features a band of decorative carved reliefs at the spandrel between the second and third floors, at the spandrel between the sixth and seventh floors, at the spandrel between the eighth and ninth floors, between window openings on the tenth floor, and around the top of the parapet on the tower and on the penthouse, with decorative Egyptian-inspired columns flanking the front entrance, and pilasters between paired windows on the third through eighth floors that terminate at acroterions on the ninth floor. The tower tapers at the eleventh floor to a narrower parapet, with the windows arranged in pairs at recessed portions of the facade that align with the smaller parapet above rather than the larger structure below. The building’s entrance doors are made of bronze with bronze Art Deco-style sconces on the east and west wings and an art deco chandelier at the main entrance at the base of the tower. The main entrance in the tower features a large transom with decorative bronze trim and a carved decorative stone trim surround, decorative lamppost fixtures flanking the window bays on either side of the doorway, featuring shields with the state motto, “Forward,” emblazoned on them, and is somewhat repeated on the west wing, though simplified, with the original entrance in the east wing being the smallest of the three entrances, with only a pair of doors in an unadorned recessed opening The windows on the “shaft” portion of the building’s design composition often feature recessed black-painted spandrel panels, with the windows at the top and bottom not including this feature. The decorative trim work continues around the side of the building and onto the rear facade facing Lake Monona, but is absent from the two light wells that flank the central tower, where portions of the facade are instead faced with buff brick, though still featuring the same fenestration pattern. The two wings also feature recessed penthouses faced in buff brick, with the east wing’s penthouse being added with the 1938-1939 construction of the tower wing and being smaller than the penthouse atop the later west wing.
The interior of the building is mostly modernized and relatively unremarkable office space that has been modified in multiple renovations. However, the main lobby features beautiful and colorful terrazzo floors, multi-colored marble wall cladding, bronze railings, fixtures, doors, and trim, decorative trim on the ceiling, including shell and floral motifs, and geometric chevron motifs. The space has been extensively described in publications and articles, but it appears that no images of it exist or are available, which sadly makes this treasure something that the public is unable to enjoy or appreciate. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, and today houses the offices for multiple departments of the State of Wisconsin. The building has undergone renovations and restorations in the past four decades, which have retained its beautiful exterior and most notable interior spaces, while allowing it to meet the needs of the state’s office workers.
Built in phases between 1911 and 1959, this Prairie and Organic Modern-style house and office were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright to serve as his family residence and studio, with two fires leading to substantial reconstruction of the house in 1914 and 1925. The house, which is named “Taliesin”, Welsh for “Shining Brow” or “Radiant Brow”, referring to the hill upon which it is situated, is a long and rambling structure with multiple sections built at different times, with the building serving as a living laboratory for Wright’s organic design philosophy, as well as growing with Wright’s family, wealth, and business. The house sits on a hill surrounded by fields, but is notably located below the top of the hill, which Wright saw as being such a significant feature of the landscape that it should remain untouched by the house’s presence. The house’s westernmost wings served as the home of livestock and farm equipment, as well as a garage, later becoming housing for the Taliesin Fellowship, where aspiring architects apprenticed with Frank Lloyd Wright. The central wing served as the Frank Lloyd Wright studio, where Wright and his apprentices and employees worked on projects for clients, as well as where Wright often met with clients. The eastern wing served as the Wright family’s residence, and was rebuilt twice, in 1914 and 1925, after being destroyed by fire, and is overall the newest section of the complex, though some portions of the west and central wings were added after the main phase of construction of the residence was complete.
The house is clad in stucco with a wooden shingle hipped and gabled roof, with stone cladding at the base and on piers that often flank window openings, large casement windows, clerestory windows, outdoor terraces and balconies, stone chimneys, and glass french doors, all of which connect the interior of the building to the surrounding landscape. The interior of the buildings feature vaulted ceilings in common areas, stone floors, stone and plaster walls, decorative woodwork, custom-built furniture, and multiple decorative objects collected by Wright during his life. The exterior of the house has a few areas distinctive from the rest of the structure, with a cantilevered balcony extending off the east facade drawing the eye towards the surrounding landscape from the living room of the residence, next to a large set of glass doors that enclose the living room and adjacent bedroom from a shallower cantilevered terrace, while to the west of the residence, and south of the central wing, is a landscaped garden, which rests just below the crest of the hill.
The building was the full-time home of Wright from 1911 until 1937, when Wright began to spend his winters at Taliesin West in Phoenix, Arizona, due to the effects of the Wisconsin winters on his health. For the rest of Wright’s life, the house was the summer home of Wright and the Taliesin Fellowship, and following his death, the house was deeded to the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, which operated and maintained the house as a museum and the home of multiple programs until 1990. Since 1990, the house has been under the stewardship of the nonprofit Taliesin Preservation Inc., which operates the house in conjunction with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. The building is a contributing structure in the Taliesin Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976. Taliesin was one of eight Frank Lloyd Wright buildings listed as The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2019. Today, Taliesin is utilized as a museum, offering tours and interpretation of Frank Lloyd Wright’s life and work.
Getting organized: Volunteers begin to set up the equipment that will be used to treat those in need in north-central Wisconsin.
Built in phases between 1911 and 1959, this Prairie and Organic Modern-style house and office were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright to serve as his family residence and studio, with two fires leading to substantial reconstruction of the house in 1914 and 1925. The house, which is named “Taliesin”, Welsh for “Shining Brow” or “Radiant Brow”, referring to the hill upon which it is situated, is a long and rambling structure with multiple sections built at different times, with the building serving as a living laboratory for Wright’s organic design philosophy, as well as growing with Wright’s family, wealth, and business. The house sits on a hill surrounded by fields, but is notably located below the top of the hill, which Wright saw as being such a significant feature of the landscape that it should remain untouched by the house’s presence. The house’s westernmost wings served as the home of livestock and farm equipment, as well as a garage, later becoming housing for the Taliesin Fellowship, where aspiring architects apprenticed with Frank Lloyd Wright. The central wing served as the Frank Lloyd Wright studio, where Wright and his apprentices and employees worked on projects for clients, as well as where Wright often met with clients. The eastern wing served as the Wright family’s residence, and was rebuilt twice, in 1914 and 1925, after being destroyed by fire, and is overall the newest section of the complex, though some portions of the west and central wings were added after the main phase of construction of the residence was complete.
The house is clad in stucco with a wooden shingle hipped and gabled roof, with stone cladding at the base and on piers that often flank window openings, large casement windows, clerestory windows, outdoor terraces and balconies, stone chimneys, and glass french doors, all of which connect the interior of the building to the surrounding landscape. The interior of the buildings feature vaulted ceilings in common areas, stone floors, stone and plaster walls, decorative woodwork, custom-built furniture, and multiple decorative objects collected by Wright during his life. The exterior of the house has a few areas distinctive from the rest of the structure, with a cantilevered balcony extending off the east facade drawing the eye towards the surrounding landscape from the living room of the residence, next to a large set of glass doors that enclose the living room and adjacent bedroom from a shallower cantilevered terrace, while to the west of the residence, and south of the central wing, is a landscaped garden, which rests just below the crest of the hill.
The building was the full-time home of Wright from 1911 until 1937, when Wright began to spend his winters at Taliesin West in Phoenix, Arizona, due to the effects of the Wisconsin winters on his health. For the rest of Wright’s life, the house was the summer home of Wright and the Taliesin Fellowship, and following his death, the house was deeded to the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, which operated and maintained the house as a museum and the home of multiple programs until 1990. Since 1990, the house has been under the stewardship of the nonprofit Taliesin Preservation Inc., which operates the house in conjunction with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. The building is a contributing structure in the Taliesin Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976. Taliesin was one of eight Frank Lloyd Wright buildings listed as The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2019. Today, Taliesin is utilized as a museum, offering tours and interpretation of Frank Lloyd Wright’s life and work.
View of one of the new rapid bus stations being constructed on Wisconsin Ave for the new East-West line.
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Dr. Justin Patchin, UW-Superior Class of 1998, delivers the keynote address to graduates. Justin teaches at UW-Eau Claire and is a nationally recognized expert on cyberbullying. He's appeared on CNN and spoken at the White House, but he told graduates this was his favorite place to speak.
#63/122. Magnificent
In the late 1800's, many of Chicago's wealthy families built magnificent summer homes along the shore of Geneva Lake in southern Wisconsin. Stone Manor, built by Otto Young is the largest estate ever built on the lake. Otto started his American business life selling costume jewelry from a pushcart on the sidewalks of New York City. After the Chicago Fire of 1871, Mr. Young moved to Chicago and began investing heavily in real estate in the burned out city. Though many thought that Chicago would never rebuild after the devastation of the fire, Otto saw the opportunity and he stockpiled an enormous fortune.
There are seven levels in this historic estate. Complete with 2 sub-basements, 4 main levels, and a sprawling roof terrace. A 250-foot wide veranda completes this architectural wonder that stretches an amazing 174 feet along the lakeshore. The exterior walls feature Bedford limestone, the interior walls are covered in Tennessee marble and hand laid parquet tile floors complete this majestic masterpiece. When completed in 1901, all of the doorknobs, plumbing and electrical fixtures on the main level were 14kt gold plated, with matching solid sterling silver on the 2nd floor. Ceilings in the mansion are hand-carved out of mortar and lavishly decorated by European artists with breath-taking oil paintings.
As seen from a tour boat ride along the shore in August, 2022 with my mother and sister.
Good Food Garden Party
Community Groundworks
Madison, Wisconsin
September 12, 2015
Photos by Emma Cassidy, eaCas.com
These images were made during a journey down Rustic Road 32 in Marinette County on June 24, 2017.
R-32, Wisconsin’s longest rustic road, offers a 37-mile journey through several county parks and the Peshtigo River State Forest. The route features multiple species of hardwoods and conifers, along with numerous granite boulders and outcroppings. R-32 also offers vistas of the Thunder and Peshtigo rivers.
Wisconsin's Rustic Roads system was created to preserve many of the state's scenic, lightly traveled country roads. Features of Rustic Roads include rugged terrain, native vegetation and wildlife, or open areas with agricultural vistas.
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. © All rights reserved.
With a Sunday free, Marty figured we all ought to pile into the car and go to the Wisconsin Dells. The goal was to see the geography (rather than all of the weird-ass amusement parks and water parks), hit The Wonderspot, and then maybe see what's become of Lake Delton. Wisconsin got some pretty heavy rains a while back, and they wiped out the dam that held in place the waters of the artificial lake.
Also on the agenda, though, was lunch at Paul Bunyan's Cook Shanty with an all you can eat waited table buffet!