West Burton Place Historic District, Chicago

Just a hop and a skip away from the rigorously planned Carl Sandburg Village lies a charmingly chaotic realm that can only be described as Old Town's artistic birthplace. It all began in 1927 when a lively congregation of artists and craftsmen decided to breathe new life into the streets of West Burton Place.

Their canvas primarily consisted of Victorian houses, like the still-standing #147 and #164–166 (both dating back to 1881), which they transformed with an exuberant and freewheeling artistic flair. Some houses received a mere touch-up, while others were enveloped in brick, adorned with new wings, and molded into entirely new forms. These visionaries, though short on funds, possessed an abundance of imagination. They scoured Maxwell Street flea markets in search of tiles, copper bathtubs, wooden doors, and assorted hardware to bring their visions to life. Construction was a slow, apartment-by-apartment process, with rental income funneling into these painstaking unit conversions. Some dwellings were never truly finished, as their owners continued to infuse them with new artistic creations. Grateful tenants and homeowners alike have since preserved and further embellished these structures. In 2016, architect P. K. VanderBeke successfully advocated for and obtained city landmark status for the entire block.

Among the treasures on this artistic avenue is Theophil Studios, located at #143. Here, artist Theophil Reuther transformed a 1892 house into a Modern masterpiece with stucco facades adorned by red-brick accents, porthole windows, and decorative plaques. The real highlight, however, is the sprawling Carl Street Studios at #155. Loosely inspired by the Montmartre studios in Paris, this labyrinthine creation is the brainchild of the versatile Art Deco artist and craftsman, Edgar Miller. Behind its whimsical brick wall, you'll discover a maze of tile-studded sidewalks, intricately carved wooden doors and staircases, narrow winding passages, stained glass windows, and a pair of charming courtyard gardens complete with serene koi ponds!