A System of Architectural Ornament: Facsimile Edition and Reader’s Guide

The first full-scale facsimile of Louis H. Sullivan’s landmark publication, featuring his stunning illustrations, accompanied by a reader’s guide. Widely credited as the father of the skyscraper, Louis H. Sullivan (1856–1924) remains a key figure in architectural history. Celebrating his legacy, this is the first full-scale facsimile of Sullivan’s landmark work, A System of Architectural Ornament According with a Philosophy of Man’s Powers. Commissioned by the Art Institute of Chicago and published by the American Institute of Architects in the year of Sullivan’s death, the book presents his highly influential ideas about the role of ornament in architecture. Exploring the relationship between the organic and inorganic in Sullivan’s approach to decoration, System includes the architect’s intricate, hand-drawn illustrations of geometric patterns and examples of his trademark organic forms. The oversized format allows readers to appreciate the fine details of Sullivan’s labyrinthine designs. This edition presents a faithful facsimile of the original 1924 volume, accompanied by an illustrated reader’s guide featuring an essay by Art Institute of Chicago architecture and design curator Alison Fisher, who contextualizes the book’s contemporary reception and the continued relevance of Sullivan’s theory of architectural ornament. Shedding new light on Sullivan’s final work, this will be essential for lovers of architecture and of its unique history in Chicago. This edition is published in association with Designers & Books.