#chicagoarchitect

[ornamenteer]

It’s these kind of building details that give our subconscious refuge in the knowledge that another human being was here and crafted these things for our benefit. And it is this type of fractal detail that soothes the sympathetic nervous system, down-regulating stress hormones and facilitating homeostasis. Buildings shaping us after we have shaped them! . . #chicago #chicagoarchitecture #chicagoarchitect #neuroscience #detail #details #architecture #architecturaldetail #ornament #architecturalornament #marquettebuilding #terracotta #traditional #traditionalarchitecture (at Chicago, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq-uB8BlIrF/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=faih03puusg4

[mcnicholasarchitects]

On location today for some finished photos of a fantastic project. We're grateful for our wonderful (and incredibly patient with the construction process) client who really held the vision of how amazing the house could be! . . #chicago #chicagoarchitect #onlocation #architect #architecture #architecturaldetail #stairs #staircase #woodwork #millwork #bespoke #custom #customdetails

[mcnicholasarchitects]

Happy 176th birthday to Otto Wagner - a luminary and icon, he continues to be a lodestar for us, nearly 100 years after his death. Thanks Otto for the path you paved and the knowledge you gave - we are grateful and have taken up the gauntlet! After all, there is no modernity without tradition. . . #masterarchitect #ottowagner #watercolor #watercolorrendering #architect #architecture #architecturaldetail #nomodernitywithouttradition #chicagoarchitect #chicago #vienna #viennese #viennesesecession #tradition #innovation #artnouveau

[mcnicholasarchitects]

A couple elevation concepts for a client's townhouse in progress . . #handdrawn #elevation #architecture #architecturaldesign #handdrawnelevation #tracepaper #penandink #pencil #drawing #art #architecturaldetail #architecturelover #architect #chicagoarchitect #chicagoarchitecture #concept #concepts #progress #wip #workinprogress

[mcnicholasarchitects]

Scenes from an office move (happening soon!) - this is our current kitchen floor, composed of old Chicago brick street pavers. Known oddly(!) as Chicago Street Paver Bricks they were locally produced resulting in salmon and red shades due to the local clay minerals, usually lime. Fired in coal-fueled kilns, they resulted in an incredible durable and fast-drying brick. At the height of paver-bricks-as-Chicago-streets there were more than 60 companies making bricks, many of which popped up after the Great Fire of 1871 in the demand to rebuild the city. Street paver bricks are much denser than regular brick, and as they wore down with usage, they would be pulled up and flipped over giving a second life and brand new look to the road without additional material expense or waste! The bricks commonly had the name of the producer on one side so that if the brick failed, the city knew which company was responsible. The ones not buried under feet of more recent asphalt and concrete are commonly reused, understandably so. We’ll miss this floor! . . #chicagoarchitect #chicago #chicagogreatness #chicagostreetpaver #chicagostreetpaverbrick #brick #brickpavers #brickpaver #reuse #reduce #recycle #reducereuserecycle #history #chicagohistory #architecture #officemove (at Chicago, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cbf2HLwpVao/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mcnicholasarchitects]

Happy 12th birthday to Quigley! Lover and fighter - he keeps us on our toes. . . #dogs #dogsofinstagram #officedog #officedogs #chicagoarchitect #architectureoffice #architecturedog #chicago #printersrow #printersrowchicago #happybirthday #dogbirthday #rescuedogsofinstagram #rescuedog #whorescuedwhom (at Printer's Row, Chicago) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBJPfeapvFR/?igshid=qu2j5uoldh4c

[mcnicholasarchitects]

Stair in one of our Evanston projects - really hard to beat a beautifully stained treads and railings, and white paint everywhere else! . . #traditional #traditionalarchitecture #architecture #chicagoarchitecture #chicagoarchitect #architecturephotography #architect #mytradhome #traditionalhome #stair #windingstairs #staircase #stairs #stained #whitepaint #painted #evanston #illinois #design #architecturaldetail #details #railing #pickets #balusters (at Evanston, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/BmJ-YXpAFBn/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=fs1e2t8dyb12

[mcnicholasarchitects]

Overheard at dinner tonight: “Like feathers on my girlfriend’s face and stuff. I don’t give *back*, I *give*. Fuck you.” . . #chicagoarchitect #architectureoffice #architecture #awesomeclients #wehaveawesomeclients #architecture #chicago #dinner (at Cherry Circle Room)