12 May exterior detail photographic survey of burnham brothers’s 37-story art deco style carbon and carbide building (1929)
exterior detail photographic images of burnham brothers’s 37-story art deco style carbon and carbide building (1929), located at 230 north michigan avenue, chicago, il.
the green and gold glazed terra cotta ornament was fabricated by the northwestern terra cotta company, chicago, il.
the carbide & carbon building is a historic art deco skyscraper in chicago, famously designed to resemble a dark green champagne bottle with gold foil.
completed in 1929, this 37-story landmark at 230 north michigan avenue is celebrated for its unique materials and exuberant style:
- champagne bottle design: a popular urban legend—supported by architectural notes—suggests the building’s deep green color and gold top were inspired by a bottle of bubbly, a defiant nod to the prohibition era.
- luxurious façade: the exterior is composed of polished black granite at the base, followed by dark green terra cotta with gold leaf accents on the tower.
- 24-karat gold peak: the very top of the building is adorned with real 24-karat gold leaf, though it is only 1/5000th of an inch thick
- ornate interior: the lobby features floor-to-ceiling belgian marble, polished black granite, and original bronze art deco fixtures.
the building was originally commissioned by the union carbide and carbon company, innovators of the first dry cell battery, to serve as their regional headquarters. it was designed by the burnham brothers (hubert and daniel jr.), sons of the legendary chicago architect daniel burnham.
since its conversion in 2004, the building has housed several high-end hotels.
