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designers Ben and Frances Rose.
The house is considered to be Speyer’s best architectural work and is
notable for its progressive design and its deference to the work of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Speyer’s professor at IIT. Like Mies’ masterpiece
Farnsworth House, the Rose House is on pylons that lift it above grade. In
1958, the house was one of 12 homes in the nation featured in a Bethlehem
Steel publication promoting the use of steel framing for residential design.
Also on the property is an automobile pavilion, designed by Speyer’s first
graduate student David Haid, to house the Rose’s classic car collection.
Haid’s design emulates that of the house and stands on pylons over a ravine.
The pavilion was featured in the popular 1986 John Hughes film, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
Current Condition and/or Status:
The Rose House is in excellent condition but has been vacant since the death
of Frances Rose in early 2009. The property is listed for sale with
Sotheby’s.
Potential Threat: While the
property is designated as a Highland Park landmark, inquiries have
been made regarding demolition of the house and a possible lot split. This
is of concern because Highland Park has previously permitted two local
landmarks to be demolished.
What You Can Do: Urge Highland
Park officials to keep the property’s landmark protection in place and to
support the owner’s effort to preserve the house.
Other Contacts: Interested buyers
should contact:
Rose House
and Pavilion Video
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Photos 1: Rose, Ben Residence,
exterior view, A. James Speyer entering house, Highland Park, IL 1961
alterations. A. James Speyer and Brenner Danforth Rockwell [architects].
Harry Callahan [photographer], 1953. A. James Speyer Collection, Ryerson and
Burnham Archives, The Art Institute of Chicago. © The Art Institute of
Chicago; 2 house, exterior view, 2009; 3 Rose, Ben Residence, exterior view, entrance, Highland Park, IL
1961 alterations. A. James Speyer and Brenner Danforth Rockwell
[architects]. Tom Yee (New York) [photographer]. c. 1950s. A. James Speyer
Collection, Ryerson and Burnham Archives, The Art Institute of Chicago. ©
The Art Institute of Chicago; 4 Rose, Ben, Residence, cars, interior garage,
Highland Park, IL, 1961 alterations. A. James Speyer and Brenner Danforth
Rockwell [architects]. A. James Speyer Collection, Ryerson and Burnham
Archives, The Art Institute of Chicago. © The Art Institute of Chicago; 5
pavilion, exterior view, 2009; 6
still from movie, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, featuring pavilion interior,
1986, Ben Rose Estate |
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