Louis Henry Sullivan was an American architect born in 1856 in Boston, Massachusetts. He is considered the "father of skyscrapers" and one of the founders of modern architecture. Some key points about Sullivan: - He developed the philosophy that "form follows function" which became a basic principle of 20th century architecture. - He designed many tall commercial buildings in Chicago, pioneering steel-frame construction which allowed for taller, more efficient designs. - His buildings featured ornamentation inspired by nature to add beauty and symbolism while emphasizing simple geometric forms. - Apprentices like Frank Lloyd Wright were influenced by his ideas of organic architecture and breaking away from historical styles.

1. WOLKITE UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF
ARCHITECTURE
LOUIS HENRY SULLIVAN
1856-1924
THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE II
BY BIRUK TIGISTU
TO AR WENDMAGEGN

2. LOUIS HENRY SULLIVAN
“Form follows function
“father of skyscrapers
father of modernism
One of the recognized
trinity of American
architecture

3. Born September 3 , 1856
Boston,Massachuset
ts,USA.
studied Masatuset institute
of Architecture
Influenced by Henry Hobson
Richardson
Influenced Frank LloydWright
Died April 14,
1924 (aged 67)
Chicago , Illinois , U.S.

4. design
Ornament and structure were integral; their subtle rhythm
sustained a high emotional tension, yet produced a sense
of serenity. But the building's identity resided in the
ornament
Sullivan's philosophy that "form follows function"
became one of the basic principles of twentieth century
architecture, and was one of the foundations of Prairie
School style

5. • Chicago’s Great Fire broke out in 1871. He saw opportunity
for great architecture in the city’s ruins.
• Sullivan was the architect who ultimately developed the most
distinctive treatment for tall buildings. He saw the problem of
taking structures ever higher as the most important challenge
to architects of his era.
• Frank Lloyd Wright was one of the Sullivan’s apprentices from
1888- 1893.
• Adler left partnership in July 1895
• Ornamentation was taken in consideration in his buildings.

6. • He wanted his creations to remind people of
their bond to nature and to find sublime joy in
that attachment.
• He also believed that internal beauty is reflected
externally and is its clear representation.
• Sullivan's designs generally involved a simple
geometric form decorated with ornamentation
based on organic symbolism.
• Considered one of the most influential forces in
the Chicago School, his philosophy that form
should always follow function went beyond
functional and structural expressions .

7. He uses simple GEOMETRIC
FORMS But highly
ORNAMENTAL
Decorated with
ornamentation based on ORGANIC
SYMBOISM
PHILOSOPHY-
•TRIPPLERATIONALITY
- FUNCTIONAL
- TECHNICAL
- SOCIOLOGICAL

8. Sullivan developed a style of
ornamentation
reflected nature through symmetrical use of
stylized foliage & weaving geometric forms

9. Another signature element of Sullivan's
work is the massive, semi-circular arch
Sullivan employed such arches throughout his
career—in shaping entrances, in framing
windows, or as interior design. various

10. It is the pervading law of all things organic and
inorganic, Of all things physical and metaphysical,
Of all things human, and all things super-human, Of
all true manifestations of the head, Of the heart, of
the soul, That the life is recognizable in its
expression, That FORM EVER FOLLOWS
FUNCTION. This is the law
FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION
The principle is that the shape of a building or object
should be primarily based upon its function or
purpose.
Louis Sullivan believed that the exterior of a building
should reflect its interiors and its interior functions

11. The underlying idea behind this philosophy is
“efficiency”.
Efficiency in materials, space planning and
ornamentation provides a way to minimize the
cost of construction and increase the profit
margin.
The idea of efficiency suddenly became
central to the high rise architecture because of
modular construction that greatly supports
repetition

12. Sullivan's legacy is contradictory. He is the
first modernist.
• Louis Sullivan is widely considered America's first
truly modern architect. Instead of imitating historic
styles , he created original forms and details. Older
architectural styles were designed for buildings that
were wide , but Sullivan was able to create aesthetic
unity in buildings that were tall

13. . • Sullivan's designs often used masonry walls with
terra cotta designs. Intertwining vines and leaves
combined with crisp geometric shapes.
• In his last years, Sullivan seemed willing to
abandon ornament altogether in favor of honest
massing.
• His stripped-down, technology-driven, forward-
looking designs clearly anticipate the issues and
solutions of Modernism.

14. D E C O R AT I O N IN TERRA COTTA
Done By L . S u l l i v a n

15. STEEL FRAME & SULLIVAN
Louis Sullivan was the first architect
to find the right form for a steel
Highrise.
•The steel girder was the form for the
steel high-rise.
The steel frame allowed
• taller buildings with larger
window,
•which meant more interior day
lighting , and more usable floor
space

16. Auditorium Building | 1886-1890
Carson, Pirie, Scott and Co. | 1899-1904
Wainwright Building | 1890-1891
Guaranty Building | 1894-1895
National Farmers' Bank | 1906-1908
Merchant's National Bank | 1913-1914
People's Savings and Loan Association Bank | 1919
Farmers' and Merchants' Union Bank | 1919
HIS WORK

17. Auditorium Building
Architect - Louis H. Sullivan
Location - Chicago, Illinois
Date - 1886 to 1890 timeline
Building Type - Civic Auditorium
Construction System - Bearing masonry
Climate - Temperate
Main features - 10 stories high, load-bearing
masonry construction

18. The Auditorium was built for a syndicate of
businessmen to house a large civic opera house”.
•To provide an
economic base it was
decided to wrap the
auditorium with a hotel
and office block.
•Hence Adler & Sullivan had to plan a complex
multiple-use building.
•One of the most innovative features of the building
was its massive raft foundation, designed by Adler,
over a clayey soil central space were 136 offices and
a 400-room hotel,
In the center of the building was a
4,300 seat

19. Carson Pirie Scott Store
Architect - Louis H. Sullivan
Location - Chicago, Illinois
Date - 1899 to 1904 timeline
Building Type - Department store
Climate – Temperate
Style - Early Modern
Main feature - Tall with rounded corner

20. • Instead of a stack of undifferentiated office rooms,
the department store required broad horizontal
open spaces where goods could be displayed.
•At the ground floor the windows were to be
showcases highlighting selected wares.
•Ground floor windows richly encrusted with cast
iron frames by Sullivan and his assistant Elms lie

21. • He went into a financial and
emotional decline, be set by
alcoholism, chronic financial
problems and shortage of
commissions.
• He died in a Chicago hotel room on
April 14,1924
DECLINE

22. THANK YOU