Building Buzz – Century of Progress Homes – Chicago Architecture Center

By Barbara Puechler, Class of 2006

They don’t build them like this anymore!

Those fascinating architectural masterpieces from the 1933 Century of Progress, that is. The futuristic homes featured at the Chicago exhibition were revolutionary. Ferried by barge to their present location in Northwest Indiana, they still charm with their extraordinary features. Exterior walls were made with corrugated steel panels, cypress, or an artificial stone. Glass was used as an exterior material in the House of Tomorrow designed by George Fred Keck. Interiors revealed dishwashers and air-conditioning. Hangars for private planes were an option. The five homes were in states of decay for years, but much of the restoration work has now been completed.

Mark Your Calendar
A few years back CAF sponsored a bus tour for docents to visit these remarkable Century of Progress homes. If you missed it, you’re in luck—mark your calendar for the August 26 CAF Behind-the-Scenes tour of the House of Tomorrow, or the October 14 homes tour sponsored by the National Park Service. No doubt you will have a wonderful day to check out the Florida Tropical House, Armco-Ferro House, Wieboldt Rostone House, Cypress Log Cabin, and, of course, the House of Tomorrow. Don’t forget to bring your camera. These homes are clustered together near the very picturesque Indiana Dunes Lake Shore National Park, about 35 miles east of Chicago, and will sit for a very pretty picture!