Hunter, Author at Optima

Local Wilmette Landmarks: Frank J. Baker House

Posted on April 5, 2023March 12, 2024 by Hunter

Have you ever stumbled upon a remarkable architectural gem that leaves you captivated by its design and history? The Frank J. Baker House, located at 711 Lake Avenue in Wilmette, is one such marvel that deserves a spotlight for its unique charm and intriguing background, along with its significance as a National Registered Landmark. It’s such a pleasure to be able to showcase this modernist architectural wonder that’s just a stone’s throw from Optima Verdana®.

Historical Background

Constructed in 1909, the Frank J. Baker House is a prime example of the Prairie School architectural style, which flourished between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This style was characterized by horizontal lines, overhanging eaves, and an emphasis on integrating the building with its natural surroundings.

The house was designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and commissioned by Frank J. Baker, a successful businessman with a passion for art and architecture. Throughout its history, the Baker House has undergone several renovations and restorations, all aimed at preserving its architectural integrity and adapting it to the needs of modern living. Today, the house remains a private residence, treasured by its owners, Amy and Eric Bauer.

Connection to Wilmette Landmarks

The Frank J. Baker House is also an integral part of the rich architectural tapestry of Wilmette’s collection of landmark structures, including the Robert and Suzanne Drucker House, and Oak Circle Historic District. Together they exemplify timeless modernist architecture at its best and offer an engaging and educational experience for all design enthusiasts.

Interior of Frank J. Baker House. Photo: @Properties

Architectural Features

One of the most striking features of the Baker House is its harmonious integration with the landscape. The house boasts a low-pitched roof, wide eaves, and extensive use of natural materials, allowing it to blend seamlessly with its surroundings. This unity of architecture and nature is a cornerstone of the Prairie School design philosophy.

Inside the Baker House, you’ll find a spacious, open floor plan that allows for an easy flow between rooms. The generous use of windows and natural light creates an airy, inviting atmosphere, while the built-in furniture and custom woodwork showcase the craftsmanship and attention to detail that went into designing and constructing the home.

Impact on Modern Architecture

It’s a rare pleasure to see such a pristine example of Wright’s genius and the influence of the Prairie School on modern architecture — with its clean lines, simplicity, and connection to nature — up close. At Optima®, as we continue to design living spaces that blend form and function, we draw inspiration from architectural masterpieces like this every day.

Woman in Architecture: Eulie Chowdhury

Posted on April 3, 2023October 26, 2025 by Hunter

As part of our ongoing Women In Architecture series, we continue to honor the contributions of female architects who have shattered barriers and paved the way for future generations. Today, we celebrate the life and work of Eulie Chowdhury, the first woman architect of India, who left an inspiring legacy of perseverance and innovation with India’s most ambitious Modernist project.

Early Life and Education
Eulie Chowdhury was born in 1923 in Uttar Pradesh, India. Growing up in a time when women’s roles were largely confined to the household, Chowdhury sought to disrupt those societal boundaries while building her career on a host of rich multicultural experiences derived from her early years spent traveling with her diplomat father. Schooled in Japan, Sydney and the U.S., Chowdhury had the freedom to become a steward of culture.

Career
Upon returning to India in 1951, life took a remarkable turn for Chowdhury, when she had the opportunity to participate in the design and planning of the modern city of Chandigarh, working alongside some of the most renowned architects of her time including Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret. Chandigarh, situated at the foothills of the Shivalik Hills, would become one of Le Corbusier’s greatest works and an iconic symbol of India’s post-independence architectural movement.

During the first phase of the Chandigarh project, from 1951-1963, Chowdhury worked on the High Court building, the first structure to be built by Le Corusier. She also helped with drawings of the Geometric Hill, Tower of Shadows, and Martyrs Memorial, some of the seminal structures of the city.

Champion for Women’s Rights and Professional Involvement
Eulie Chowdhury was not only a pioneer in her profession but also a staunch advocate for women’s rights. She actively encouraged more women to pursue careers in architecture, inspiring a generation of female architects to follow in her footsteps.

Throughout her career, Chowdhury was involved in various professional organizations, such as the Indian Institute of Architects and the Indian Council of Architecture. She used her influence to promote the importance of women’s participation in the field and to create opportunities for the next generation of architects.

Government Home Science College, Sector 10, Chandigarh. Credit: Sarbjit Bahga on Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Deed.

Legacy
Though Eulie Chowdhury passed away in 1995, her spirit continues to touch the world of architecture. As the pioneering woman architect who shaped India’s modern architectural landscape, her inspiring legacy of resilience, innovation, and groundbreaking achievements continues to hold incredible power. In celebrating Chowdhury’s remarkable story, we hope to spark the desire for current and future generations of women to chase their dreams and leave their own indelible marks on the world of architecture.

Villa Weil: A French Modern Masterpiece

Posted on March 29, 2023March 13, 2024 by Hunter

We’re always moved by stories of lost-and-found in the world of great modernist architecture, and that’s just what we discovered in a recent article by Joseph Giovannini in The New York Times about a French Modern Masterpiece brought back to life by Dominique Perrault and Gaëlle Lauriot-Prévost, the architects leading the charge for master planning the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Giovannini observes that for many architects, time is measured in the projects they undertake, and that every new project is an opportunity to create something meaningful and lasting. And when Dominique Perrault and Gaëlle Lauriot-Prévost — partners in life and in the firm of Dominique Perrault Architecture went in search of a weekend country house outside of Paris, they were looking to feed their desire to enjoy both the city and nature. As it turns out, they were also looking for a project that would leave a lasting mark on the world.

For years, Perrault Architecture honed their appetite for monumental projects, including the design of the National Library of France in Paris in 1989 when Perrault was only 36. In looking for a country home, on the other hand, Perrault and Lauriot-Prévost were motivated by the desire for something personal, something that would reflect their own tastes and sensibilities rather than building for others.

They considered a host of options in their search for the right property, including repurposing a former factory. Nothing seemed quite right until a real-estate agent specializing in architect-built homes introduced the couple to a Modern masterpiece that had been largely forgotten — the Villa Weil, designed and built by Jean Dubuisson, a third-generation Parisian architect who came out of the École des Beaux-Arts to design Modernist housing blocks that helped build the infrastructure of France as it emerged from the wreckage of World War II. Villa Weil, situated in a protected forest near the medieval town of Senlis, north of Paris, was commissioned by the real estate developer André Weil and completed in 1968.

Perrault and Lauriot-Prévost saw something special in the house, described by Giovanni as “a straight line of a building streaking across the landscape.” He writes, “Inside and out, the clean white planes, crisp machined corners and squared geometries are derived from International Style Modernism and recast into a new synthesis….The abstract lines and planes, like picture frames, bracket outdoor terraces that are landscaped like the Zen gardens Dubuisson had seen in Japan. Huge sliding glass doors recall the indoor-outdoor relationship of mid century Modernist California houses, by then well known in Europe.”

But the home wasn’t without its issues, since it had languished for years without proper attention. They restored the house with exquisite attention to its original design and materials. Today, Perrault and Lauriot-Prévost enjoy the long-forgotten estate with their two dogs, furnished with original mid-century Modernist furniture sourced online. As Giovanni relates, the couple remains dedicated to “expanding the property to its fullest potential — the basement and barn are being turned into exhibition spaces for a variety of shows and a home for their collection of models and drawings.” At the same time, the vision of the owners is to design and build flats that will host resident artists, architects, and researchers as part of a study center that will expand the life of the semi-private villa into a campus for a larger architecture and design community.

Wilmette Landmarks: Robert and Suzanne Drucker House

Posted on March 27, 2023 by Hunter

As part of our Wilmette Landmark series, today we’ll cover a home steeped in an architect’s very own familial bonds. A home that has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 2013 — The Robert and Suzanne Drucker House. Designed by one of Chicago’s iconic Modernist architects, Harry Weese.

An Overlooked Modernist

His practice was inexhaustibly creative. Rooted in the Modernist and Brutalist architectural styles which laid the groundwork for efficient and functional living spaces. His most famous work, the Washington Metro system, not only showcases Weese’s unique design approach but also illustrates how he prioritized the user experience with his coffered concrete vaults and meticulous attention to detail. Weese never shied away from innovation, all the while quietly detaching himself from the architectural dominance of Mies van der Rohe and Frank Lloyd Wright.

The Drucker House

Quietly closed off from view, the front of the Drucker home is a wonderful expression of Weese’s personal brand of Modernism — a synthesis of International Style, Scandinavian, and Midwestern influences. The home’s geometry is obscured by slatted screens and maturing cedar trees. The house is L-shaped. Consisting of two wings running parallel to the street and the other angled in a way that allows for sunlight. This L-shaped arrangement also allows for an expansive view of the front yard.

The back of the home, on the other hand, embraces its deep rectangular lot and thoughtfully placed windows. Along with a screened porch resembling film reel that takes advantage of natural light to cast the home’s image. The indoor and outdoor living space almost seem to be brought together through this effect, all while maintaining complete privacy.

Side view of Robert and Suzanne Drucker House. Photo: Susan Benjamin

Weese built the Drucker house for his sister Suzanne and her family. It largely reflects Weese’s experimental approach to Modern design, and is informed by geometry rather than ornamentation. Furthermore, the house exhibits a remarkable focus on flexibility instead of adhering to a traditional layout that — when combined with how the Drucker family lived — created a universally functional residence that could accommodate the family’s lifestyle.

In its interior, the home is compartmentalized into zones delineated by screens and bookspaces. Each room flows effortlessly from one to another, the kitchen in particular being planned with convenience and ample storage in mind. In 1963, as the Drucker family began to grow, a second floor was added to provide more space.

As Optima® continues to embrace all that Wilmette has to offer, taking the time to highlight unconventional pioneers who blurred the boundaries of style and functionality is always a pleasure. We encourage you to take a slow drive to see this magnificent home and all that it has to offer on 2801 Iroquois Rd in Wilmette, IL.

How Space Affects Mood

Posted on March 22, 2023March 23, 2023 by Hunter

Today, virtually every aspect of daily life seems to bring a measure of stress. And when thinking about how to cope, it’s reassuring to turn to science, where research studies continue to point to the fact that human health and the spaces in which we live, work, and play directly correlate with stress levels and mood. Since our earliest years and projects, Optima® has championed the primacy of interior space, and we continue to celebrate its importance for each and every one of our residents — including giving a few tips on how to make the most out of one’s own space!

The Importance of Natural Light

Previously, we’ve spoken about the positive effects of an abundance of natural light and expansive windows and the critical role they play in adhering to our principles of Modernist design. Sunlight alone holds many benefits that go beyond the physical. It helps increase serotonin and endorphin levels, two hormones that significantly boost our mood.

What simple steps can you take to maximize natural light in your space? Start by arranging mirrors to reflect light, making sure you’re not blocking light with furniture, and rethink the use of dark drapes or shades.

Natural light at Optima Lakeview®, Chicago, IL

Perception

The impression a space makes affects your mood, as well, and happens on an immediate and intuitive level as your mind and body engage with the physical environment. Picture an expansive living/dining area with floor-to-ceiling windows where you are drawn to gather with family and friends (or curl up with your pooch). Juxtapose that impression with what you would feel when entering a cluttered, dim room with little space to move around.

Take advantage of the layout of your space to maintain a sense of effortless flow in and around furniture and built-in elements, and keep piles and stacks to a minimum!

Introducing Color

Color isn’t merely visual eye candy, it provides a psychological experience, as well. Beyond the sense of tranquility that the Modernist palette of monochromatic tones of gray, white, and black offer, expanding your space’s palette can make a world of difference in boosting your mood.

Extending a hand to vibrant colors like red, yellow, or orange can give you feelings of passion and comfort. Cooler colors on the other side of the spectrum, like blue, green, and purple, can be peaceful, calming, or comforting. Sprinkling bits of color throughout your space is a surefire way to add a new emotional dimension to the environment and enhance your mood.

Terrace gardening at Optima Sonoran Village® — Vertical landscaping at Optima Sonoran Village®

Budding Companions Can Increase Mood

We’ve written in the past about the mental health value of introducing budding companions such as house plants or flowers into your space, based on the results of comprehensive studies that show how the presence of plants improves concentration and memory retention while also reducing stress.

Make a regular habit of keeping plants and flowers around your home, and enjoy their affect of reducing the likelihood of depression and increasing positive feelings — in addition to the aesthetic beauty they provide.

From the feedback we continue to receive from Optima® residents, living in one of our communities sets the stage for high spirits and upbeat moods. With “great bones” in the design of our residences, optimized for openness, materiality and light, the opportunity to transform living space into home becomes a joy.

The Softline Opera Chair: A Symphony of Possibilities

Posted on March 20, 2023 by Hunter

As we continue to tour the public spaces at Optima® communities to highlight the curated collection of Modernist furnishings, such as the Eames chair, or tulip table, etc. We find it just as important to highlight recent advances of Modernist furniture design, propelled forward by the likes of Eero Saarinen, Charles and Ray Eames, Florence Knoll, and so many other masters of design. Today we introduce you to the OPERA chair at Optima Lakeview®, by SOFTLINE.

Brief History

SOFTLINE has been creating and producing innovatively designed furniture for a global market since 1979. The enterprise was founded as a division of K. Balling-Engelsen A/S, a Danish producer of technical polyurethane foam. For decades, this high-quality, flexible foam has been the material of choice for furniture production due to its unique properties.

In 2003, they became an independent, privately-owned enterprise with a factory in Denmark, where the upholstery is performed by hand, based on Scandinavian traditions and utilizing eco-friendly materials.

OPERA

The OPERA chair designed by Busk+Herzog serves a symphony of possibilities at Optima Lakeview® in its ability to elegantly blend modern and contemporary styles. From its high armrests, to provide privacy for all matters of which you may want to hide, to its backrest and cushion that completely envelopes your body.

The OPERA can also be used as a versatile lounge chair in larger configurations, much like PLANET, or in smaller configurations like PIERCE. Both of these elegant iterations can be found together just steps away at Optima Kierland® in Scottsdale. The OPERA chair provides a human-scale sense of privacy, as well as a space for contemplation or conversation in our business center. This striking piece is the perfect place for our residents to relax in solitude without being completely separated from friends, and we’re delighted to include this iconic design to Optima’s® Modernist collection!

Why Xeriscaping Matters

Posted on March 15, 2023 by Hunter

As with many books, movies, and other forms of American-focused media, you’ll often find images of a lush green lawn, situated flush against a modest home. Unfortunately, to keep these lawns green all-year-round requires a good deal of water and upkeep. And with climate change and longer droughts looming, the need for a more environmentally-effective system of water conservation has become urgent.

At Optima®, we often talk about how the architecture of a residence and the land it inhabits can ultimately affect the landscape. For us, the conversation around, “How will this new structure affect the land around us?” remains central and compelling. As with all of our Arizona properties, it has been vital to embrace different forms of landscaping in order to design and build more environmentally-viable spaces that reduce the amount of water being used in more arid climates. Enter xeriscaping as one of our go-to solutions.

Xeriscaping in the simplest of terms is the practice of designing landscapes to reduce or eliminate the need for irrigation. This means xeriscaped landscapes need little or no water beyond what the natural climate provides. This way of landscaping can be traced back to the early 1980s, originating in Denver, Colorado, and has become widely popular in some areas because of its environmental and financial benefits.

The importance of xeriscaping lies in its power to nurture vegetation that can survive with little to no water. Trees such as myrtles, and flowers such as daffodils are known as “drought-tolerant” and can thrive in dry climates, making them appropriate for a landscaping system such as xeriscaping.

Xeriscaping can reduce water usage by 50 or 75 percent. This in turn saves literally tons of water and money for any given community. Another critical component of xeriscaping is installing better and more efficient irrigation methods. One way this can be achieved is through grouping different types of plants together with similar water needs.

Today, the Optima® team is focusing on the landscaping design for Optima McDowell Mountain Village®, with a focus on water conservation and a 210,00-gallon storm water tank that will repurpose captured water for irrigation. There will be much more to share on this topic in the months ahead!

Women in Architecture: Georgia Louise Harris Brown

Posted on March 13, 2023March 12, 2024 by Hunter

As a part of our ongoing “Women in Architecture” series, we’re spotlighting Georgia Louise Harris Brown, a visionary who was able to apply her extraordinary talents across the world. Although she rarely received credit for her outstanding contributions, Brown’s passion for building never diminished. Learn more about her impressive life and career below:

The Life of Georgia Louise Harris Brown

Georgia Louise Harris Brown was born on June 12, 1918, in Topeka, Kansas, to Carl Collins, a shipping clerk, and Georgia Watkins, a school teacher. As a child, her interests revolved around the arts and tinkering with cars and farm equipment with her brother. Brown distinguished herself from school as an exceptionally bright student, which led her to Washburn University, where she studied from 1936 until 1938.

After graduating, Brown traveled to Chicago to visit family but instead fell in love with the metropolitan atmosphere and presence of a strong Black community. Originally planning to stay for the summer, she enrolled in a course at the Armour Institute of Technology – now the Illinois Institute of Technology – taught by Mies van der Rohe and began taking flying lessons, which would become a lifelong passion.

However, her plans changed when she enrolled in the school’s engineering and architecture program in the fall of 1938. Brown continued her studies in architecture but moved back to Kansas in 1942. She completed her degrees at the University of Kansas in 1944 and was the first Black woman to do so at the school.

Notable Works and Achievements

Brown returned to Chicago in 1945, where she found a job working for Kenneth Roderick O’Neal, a confidant of Mies and a leading architect at the time. In Chicago, she acquainted herself with other aspiring Black architects, including Beverly Lorraine Green and John Moutoussamy. In 1949, while working for O’Neal, Brown finally received her architecture license, and in the same year, she began working for Frank J. Kornacker Associates, Inc.

At Kornacker Associates, Brown developed many structural calculations, including those for the apartment building at 860 Lake Shore Drive. During her time there, she also worked on many side projects for Woodrow B Dolphin, including various churches, houses and office buildings around Chicago. Although, after realizing that her race and gender would hold her back from many opportunities in America, she became interested in moving to Brazil, where she believed she would be held back less.

In 1953, Brown relocated to Brazil but didn’t receive an architecture license for the country until 1970. However, shortly after arriving, she found work with Charles Bosworth, another American who had moved to Brazil to open his own firm. While living in Brazil, Brown contributed designs and managed the completion of several significant builds. Along with various personal homes, many of her projects included large-scale plants and factories, including one for Ford Motors, Pfizer and Kodak.

Kodak Factory, São José, Brazil, 1971, Georgia Louise Harris Brown, Courtesy of University of Rochester Library

While Brown’s contributions to architectural design have often been unrecognized, her expansive knowledge of structural engineering and design always drove her to the leading firm of the time. And while she contended with feeling like an “other” wherever she went, she never held back from challenging the status quo and pursuing her lifelong passion for architecture.

How Rainwater Harvesting Heals The Earth

Posted on March 8, 2023November 4, 2024 by Hunter

Efforts across the country are underway to bolster aging water infrastructure in order to reduce stormwater impacts, shrink carbon footprints, and mitigate the heat island effect. In keeping with this focus on the environment and our commitment to the 2030 challenge of fostering sustainability, Optima McDowell Mountain® breaks ground in spring/summer 2023 with the distinction of being the largest private rainwater harvesting site in the United States to-date. On the cusp of this exciting and important initiative, we’re sharing insights into how rainwater harvesting heals the Earth and some of the many benefits.

There’s no denying it. Aging water infrastructure is expensive to update — especially when you look at our nation’s drinking water report card — groundwater and reservoirs are most often at the bottom of the class. However, by conserving and supplying a portion of water from the rain, you drastically reduce your draw on stressed systems.

In a natural landscape, approximately 50% of storm water infiltrates the ground, hydrating soils and recharging groundwater. Around 40% evaporates and 10% runs off.

By contrast, in developed landscapes (i.e our cities and neighborhoods), only 15% filters into the soil and a whopping 55% runs off! This is because water can’t penetrate roads, rooftops, parking lots, etc. And to make matters worse, the runoff rainwater travels along impervious surfaces toward storm drains, carrying the pollutants that were left behind. Things such as: sediment, litter (like cigarette butts), fertilizers, pet waste, yard debris, oils, and many other contaminants.

Have you ever heard the mantra: “Slow it, Spread it, Sink it, Store it”? Well, when you collect rainwater, you reduce stormwater impacts by holding water on-site rather than letting it run off.

As water gets released, it sinks back into the ground, hydrating soils, nourishing plants, and recharging the groundwater beneath us. In other words, the broken infiltration link in the hydrologic cycle is repaired.

Rain Water Harvesting Steel Tanks. Photo: © 2023 Protank

There is a strong nexus between energy and water in our modern world. Hydroelectricity is the most obvious link, using the water stored in dams to provide renewable energy. In the state of California, for example, heating, treating, and transporting water accounts for nearly 20% of per-capita energy use! By reducing reliance on pumped water sources, we contribute to a collective savings in energy at the same time. Not to mention that rainwater harvesting will help individuals save on their water bills and cut costs for entire communities. The cost to supply overall water services can be substantially reduced when many people in one community use rainwater.

Optima McDowell Mountain Village® — Optima McDowell Mountain®

By tapping into an otherwise-wasted water source, we can create abundance in our own backyards and communities. If others do the same, we collectively have the power to bring vitality back to an ailing environment.

As we break ground on Optima McDowell Mountain® we will share fascinating details about how rainwater harvesting is front and center in the community’s design and construction.

The Oak Circle Historic District

Posted on March 6, 2023March 6, 2023 by Hunter

How A 156 Year-Old Chicago Suburb Withstood The Test of Time

Nestled in a corner of Wilmette, IL the 156-year old suburb north of Chicago and located on the Lake Michigan shore, stands the Oak Circle Historic District. It is a small grouping of 15 early twentieth-century houses. Each built primarily in the Craftsmen style with magnificent detailing from the Prairie School of Architecture, both which were born from the Arts and Crafts movement.

Amazingly, the original integrity of 14 of the houses have survived the onslaught of time, enabling them to join the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.

Walking through the peace and tranquility of the Oak Circle Historic District leaves one bewildered of how graceful the path is. The curvature of the street adds considerable charm and status to Wilmette’s signature brick-paved streets. Venturing deeper, the houses reveal themselves — similar in style while each remains wonderfully and amazingly varied. The Prairie style motifs unabashedly present themselves from one home to the next — horizontal planes, leaded glass windows, the use of brick and wood — all coexisting in aesthetic harmony.

Red vitrified brick. Photo: Historic Pavements

Twelve of the houses on Oak Circle are bungalows, the house type most closely associated with the Arts and Crafts Movement in America. The bungalows, along with the other homes on the block, showcase a variety of features found in Craftsman architecture, as well as the distinctive bands of windows with geometric patterns of small-pane glazing associated with the Prairie style.

The 12 bungalows also exhibit a variety of floor plans. Some are one-story, some one-and-a-half, but no two are exactly alike. True to the Arts and Crafts ideal of being close to nature, the bungalows share a distinctive horizontal emphasis in tandem with the midwestern landscape.

Oak Circle is a treasure trove of sights waiting to be explored. Just only blocks away from the Wilmette public library and a 7-minute walk from Optima Verdana®, it’s a delightful architectural and historical landmark with boundless charm that reminds both residents and visitors why Wilmette remains a vibrant, delightful community!

hidden h1

Author: Hunter