Some architects focus solely on the function of the structure, and in doing so create an expression of necessity.
Others might perceive the appearance to be of greater consequence to the design, insofar as the integrity of the structure is preserved, and thus create a structure that is a testament to their desire for beauty.
And some learn the principle of balance, wherewith each member is essential to both the appearance of the structure, as well as the necessity for which it was built.
This is the case for the house that now stands at 301 N. Taylor Ave., constructed in 1921. According to the “Guide to the Oak Park-Ridgeland Historic District,” it was designed for Curtis Arthur Jr. by the architect and inventor Henry K. Holsman. This house is an example of the Classical Revival style, which is characterized by the use of formal symmetrical design, a broken pediment over the entry door and a minimal use of bays, towers or other protruding members.
The classical revival style of architecture draws inspiration from ancient Greece and Rome. According to an article by architecturestyles.org, the style became popular in America following “the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial, essentially America’s first-ever World’s Fair. The event sparked a new interest in the American colonial past, in contrast to earlier decades when colonial architecture had been dismissed as antiquated or obsolete.” The style grew in popularity after the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, where the use of classical and European forms was encouraged.
The Classical Revival style is a combination of both federalist and Georgian architectural features, which include Palladian windows, pediments and porches with classical columns; these were both popular styles in America during the 1700s and early 1800s.
The architect, Holsman, had a distinguished career in architecture and engineering. He was born in Dale, Iowa on July 3, 1866 and attended Guthrie High school from 1883 to 85 before continuing his studies at Grinnell College, The Chicago Art Institute and the University of Nebraska.
He became a superintendent for contractors in Chicago from 1891 to 1893 before joining the firm of Brainerd & Holsman from 1893 to 1897. He then opened an independent practice.
According to an article that was published by The Chicago Tribune on June 21, 1998, “[Holsman] designed more than 1,000 homes, 10 churches and six banks, but was probably best known for his college buildings. He designed the bulk of the Parsons college campus in Fairfield, Iowa.”
Among these are Foster Hall and Fairfield Hall (1903) and the Carnegie Library, the latter three having elements of the Beaux-Arts style.
Holsman was also an engineer who designed a two-cylinder motor car called the “Holsman,” patented on April 15, 1902. Holsmans were manufactured from 1903 until 1910 and were among the first successful type of early autos dubbed as “motor buggies.”
Later in his career, Holsman was hired as a consulting manager for Ludwig Mies van der Rohe during the 1946 construction of the Promontory Apartments at 553-32 S. Shore Drive, as well as the properties at 860-880 Lake Shore Drive in 1948. Holsman died at the age of 94 in 1961.
The house at 301 N. Taylor Ave. represents that remarkable history. The importance of this structure is not solely a question of its appearance, but rather the desire and the necessity from which it came. And in studying these implications, can there be discovery of its purpose.
