Charles R. Larrabee House, Chicago, Illinois, Attic Plan

Art Historical Context

Step into the architectural heart of mid-19th-century Chicago Edward Burling's *Charles R. Larrabee, Chicago, Illinois, Attic Plan* (c. 1863/64). This precise working drawing, housed in the Art Institute of's Architecture and Design department depicts the attic layout for a residential commission by Charles R. Larr, a prominent Chicagoan. Created amid the city's explosive growth during the Civil War, it captures the meticulous planning essential for urban expansion, when Chicago was transforming from frontier town to industrial powerhouse. As a working drawing, this ink-on-linen blueprint served practical purposes on construction sites—its compact dimensions (48.1 × 26.8 cm) allowed for easy transport and reference. Linen's durability made it ideal for repeated use, outperforming fragile paper in the field. Burling, an influential Chicago architect known for his contributions to the city's early skyline, employed fine ink lines to convey structural details, rooms, and spatial flow with technical precision. This artifact highlights the era's shift toward formalized architectural documentation, bridging design vision and builder execution. Today, it offers a window into domestic life in antebellum Chicago, revealing how attics—often utilitarian spaces for storage or servants—were thoughtfully integrated into upscale homes. A testament to American ingenuity, it reminds us how such humble plans shaped the Windy City's enduring legacy.