Commercial style

E286236

Commercial style is an architectural approach that emerged in late 19th-century Chicago, characterized by steel-frame construction, large plate-glass windows, and minimal ornamentation that emphasized function and verticality in early skyscrapers.

All labels observed (2)

Label Occurrences
Commercial Style 4
Commercial style canonical 2

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf architectural movement
architectural style
associatedWithCity Chicago
avoids heavy historical ornament
buildingType urban commercial blocks
characterizedBy emphasis on function
emphasis on verticality
large plate-glass windows
minimal ornamentation
steel-frame construction
commonMaterial masonry cladding
steel
designGoal maximize rentable floor area
provide natural light to interiors
designPrinciple form follows function
distinguishedFrom Beaux-Arts
surface form: Beaux-Arts architecture

Victorian eclecticism
emergedInCentury 19th century
emergedInCity Chicago
emergedInCountry United States of America
surface form: United States
emergedInPeriod late 19th century
emphasizes commercial use of buildings
expression of structure
façadeFeature large window openings
regular grid of windows
function commercial buildings
office buildings
geographicOrigin Midwestern United States
glazingPattern large uninterrupted window areas
influencedBy advances in steel technology
urban land values and density
ornamentationLevel minimal
predecessorOf early modernist architecture
regionOfUse North American cities
relatedTo Chicago School architecture
surface form: Chicago School (architecture)
roofForm flat roof
structuralExpression horizontal spandrels
visible vertical piers
structuralInnovation skeleton frame construction
structuralSystem steel frame
timeOfProminence early 20th century
late 19th century
typicalBuildingHeight high-rise
multi-story
usedForBuildingType early skyscrapers
visualCharacter simple geometric forms
vertical emphasis on façades
windowType plate glass

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (6)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Monadnock Building architecturalStyle Commercial style
this entity surface form: Commercial Style
Marquette Building architecturalStyle Commercial style
this entity surface form: Commercial Style
Burnham and Root architecturalStyle Commercial style
this entity surface form: Commercial Style
Downtown Ripon Historic District architecturalStyle Commercial style
this entity surface form: Commercial Style
John Wellborn Root architecturalStyle Commercial style