Henri Matisse - The Dessert: Harmony in Red (Encore)

In 1896, Louis Sullivan wrote about skyscrapers and architectural design in “The Tall Building Artistically Considered” This was the origin of the famous phrase, “form follows function.” What Sullivan actually said was “form must ever follow function” but regardless of phrasing, the meaning remains the same - architects should first consider how a building will be used then base the design on that.

I remember when I was in school hearing my art history professor describe the early modern architectural philosophy like a layer cake. Sullivan argued that the building should be considered in tiers. At the base level, the business should be easily accessible to the public. It should be light and open and the second story should also be easily accessed by stairways. Above that, there should be offices. The offices should be uniform. They should look the same to unify the design and because they are all serving the same purpose. This section can have as many stories as needed and desired, then finally the attic at the top. Sullivan argued the attic story should have distinctive molding or a cornice to add not only a decorative flourish but to mark an end point to the building. Simultaneously this decorative topper would serve to set the building apart from others in the skyline.

While the building bears Sullivan’s name today, and he was a very important and influential architect, he was not an easy man to work with. One of the things many people leave out of the story of this building is the fact that a different architect, Daniel Burnham was hired to complete the last phase of the building in 1906. Louis Sullivan had a reputation for being great artist but awful human and his career suffered because of it. In the end, Sullivan died penniless. Another great architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, actually took up a collection and paid for Sullivan’s burial and stone inscribed to pay tribute to Sullivan’s legacy. While the man may be gone, his words that “form must ever follow function” have been repeated in textbooks and etched in stone to live on influencing generations to come.

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