art deco

When the Flame is Blue

Gas Light Building, Doors Open Milwaukee

When the flame is red, it’s warm weather ahead!
When the flame is gold, watch out for cold!
When the flame is blue, there’s no change in view!
When there’s a flickering flame, expect snow or rain!

Since 1956, downtown Milwaukeeans have only needed to look to the rooftop of the Milwaukee Gas Light Building for their next day’s forecast. See that flame-shaped dome at the top of this magnificent, 20-floor, Art Deo skyscraper? It’s the gift of the Wisconsin Gas Company (owners of the building at the time) to Milwaukee—a color-changing beacon along with a cute rhyme of explanation. It’s iconic treasures such as this that instill a hometown in the hearts of its people.

DoorsOpen2014_Gas_2

After decades of Victorian extremism, imagine how, in 1930 when the Gas Light Building was completed, its simplicity was noticeably distinct. That’s kind of how we felt as we stepped inside for Doors Open Milwaukee. It’s obviously different than the previous buildings we’d toured, but we thought it beautiful nonetheless.

Wisconsin Gas Light Building, Doors Open Milwaukee

Who says Art Deco isn’t ornate? Don’t you just love this jazzy sunburst?

Apparently in the 1960s (oh, those architecturally dreadful ’60s), the gas company “modernized” the building. Along with removing granite ornamentation and other characteristic elements, they did away with the deco bronze sunburst. However in 2002, the Paul Weise Real Estate Corporation purchased the building and restored it to its original luster, including a duplicated sunburst.

Milwaukee Gas Light Building, Doors Open Milwaukee

Once again, design is in the details. Even the street address is done in Art Deco. Such a classy typeface!

Gas Light Weather, Milwaukee, WI

And to close of this lovely autumn day, maybe you want a little Art Deco, weather-predicting, Milwaukee-flame excitement for your iPhone. Here’s a Gas Light app. Don’t worry if you don’t live in Milwaukee, it will forecast weather no matter where you are. Milwaukeeans are really nice like that.

Next stop? Check in tomorrow for Milwaukee City Hall!

‘Doors Open Milwaukee’ Offers Access to History

Public Service Building, Doors Open Milwaukee

This past weekend more than 150 architectural gems of Milwaukee threw open their doors and let us, the inquisitive public, meander inside for a peek. They were all part of Doors Open Milwaukee, a Historic Milwaukee 2-day event that was loads of fun. There were so many interesting buildings on the list, I would have loved to stay in town and tour both days!

Here’s one of the five we toured.

WE Energies Public Service Building, Doors Open Milwaukee

Public Service Building

So if your husband is a line mechanic for WE Energies, you for sure have to visit the Public Service Building. Well, you should no matter where you or your husband works just because it’s an absolutely gorgeous building. Completed in 1905 by the Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company, it’s an interesting blend of neoclassical and art deco design.

WE Energies Public Service Building, Doors Open Milwaukee

WE Energies Public Service Building, Doors Open Milwaukee

As they say, design is in the details. Here, two elements consistently carry the design throughout the building: archways and the icon of a fist holding lightening bolts (it is a power company after all). Imagine using this elevator for your work days.

WE Energies Public Service Building, Doors Open Milwaukee

The chandelier mirrors the ornate Victorian details of the lobby.

WE Energies Public Service Building, Doors Open Milwaukee

Another consistent element were the architectural keystones above the main archways. The informative and not-too-wordy guide pointed out how the marble is cut so each piece is mirrored to the one next to it.

WE Energies Public Service Building, Doors Open Milwaukee

How’s this for a ceiling? This room is the auditorium, complete with a balcony and stage. In the 1940s the company, by then known as Wisconsin Electric Power Company, gave much of the building an art deco makeover to go with the moderne style of the day. Yes, it’s a bit of contrasting ‘wow’ when you walk into this room. But it’s interesting nonetheless. WE Energies had a display set up here with their annual cookie books, a tradition they’ve kept since 1932. I’m proud to say I have nearly all of them from 1991-2013!

DoorsOpen2014_PublicServiceBuilding_9

I love how the designers married the art deco to the original style simply by bringing in the fist and lightening bolts. Consistency is key, even in contrast, yes?

WE Energies Public Service Building, Doors Open, Milwaukee

The Public Service Building was originally used as an interurban passenger depot and trains came right into the building through these doors. Nowadays trains are no longer part of Milwaukee’s public transportation and the building is used for WE Energy corporate offices. These doors are replicas of the original depot doors.

So there you have it, a sneak peak into one of Milwaukee’s notable buildings! Stay tuned for our next stop: the Pfister!