Salvatore and Maria D’Antoni House

Salvatore and Maria D’Antoni House

Salvatore and Maria D’Antoni House Photograph by Lake Douglas
Photo 2 of Salvatore and Maria D’Antoni House Photo 3 of Salvatore and Maria D’Antoni House
1918, Edward F. Sporl. 7929 Freret St.

Salvatore D’Antoni, who operated a produce business, is said to have sent local architect Sporl to Chicago to see Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie Style buildings. Their influence is evident in the house, which emphasizes horizontality with its low spreading forms, shallow-pitched roof, projecting sun-breaker cornice, and light-colored bands of stone trim. Although the front facade is symmetrical, the house conveys a picturesque aspect due to the chiaroscuro effects of multiple recessions and projections and an entrance so deeply set and heavily shaded within its porch that it seems to dissolve. The construction material—long, thin buff-colored bricks separated by wide, indented mortar bands—exaggerates the building’s textural qualities and its horizontal lines. Decorative terra-cotta motifs along the cornice were inspired by the work of Louis Sullivan. The garage is a small-scale version of the main house.

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