Gauler Twin Houses

Address: 5917 and 5921 N. Magnolia Ave. Year Built: 1908 Architect: Walter Burley Griffin Date Designated a Chicago Landmark: June 28, 2000

Built as speculative housing for John Gauler, a Chicago butcher, this pair of wood-and-stucco residences is a rare example of a twin Prairie School design. Their architect, Walter Burley Griffin, is internationally recognized for his distinctive designs, as well as his contributions to the field of "land planning," including his master plan for Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The vertical composition of these houses was a hallmark of Griffin's work and demonstrates his skill in adapting Prairie-style principles to a relatively small, narrow urban site. The houses share a front entrance walkway and their floor plans are mirror images of one another.