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Lansing Presbyterian Church, 1961,
Lansing
LEFT House of Prayer Lutheran
Church, 1963, Country Club Hills
RIGHT Henry K. Beard House, 1954,
Barrington”
majority of Dart’s designs, forced congregants to
focus on worship. Most of his churches only
feature clear clerestory windows that provide a
distinct light source, but also do not allow any
distractions from the outside world. The Dartdesigned
sanctuaries from the early part of his
career are smaller, open spaces that ultimately
allow for more personal—and spiritual—
interaction.
DART RESIDENTIAL DESIGN: DISTINCTIVE SITES,
MATERIALS AND SPACES
Dart designed over 50 custom homes in the
Chicago area before joining Loebl, Schlossman &
Bennett. Each house is distinct and incorporate
natural materials like brick, wood and stone, inside
and out. The majority of the residences are situated
carefully on their sites to allow the inhabitants to
interact with nature through large windows.
A notable residence from this part of Dart’s
career is the Henry K. Beard House from 1956. It
was featured in several magazines and was an
AIA award winner in 1960. Dart combined
Chicago common brick with steel and glass to
create a distinct modern house. The overall form
of the house is horizontal, which is emphasized in
the broad overhangs and the fl at roof, and it
maintains a strong connection with the ground.
The gently sloping site, which features several
towering oaks, allows for an open parking area
beneath the house, which is initially hidden from
view as the house is approached.
In 1962, Dart designed the Richard Henrich
House in Barrington, which is strategically
perched atop a wooded hill overlooking a lake.
The three-story residence is clad completely in
Chicago common brick and has floor-to-ceiling
windows throughout. Verticality is stressed and
38 JULY // AUGUST // 2015 CHICAGO ARCHITECT AIACHICAGO.ORG