The Schweikher House: Prairie Modernism
The Schweikher House, showing one portion of the elongated profile.
I took a tour of The Schweikher House in early November. It lasted for about an hour and 15-minutes and was one of the more informative and interesting architectural tours I have taken recently.
The Schweikher House served both as a residence and working studio for mid-century architect Paul Schweikher, it was his personal manifesto in redwood, Douglas fir, brick, and glass.
Me, in front of the house. The architectural studio is to the left, breezeway to the right runs parallel to living area.
Hidden off of busy Meacham Road in Schaumburg, Illinois, the Schweikher House was designed in 1938 by architect Paul Schweikher for himself and his wife, Dorothy.
In style, the home represents a seamless fusion of Japanese restraint, Prairie School horizontality, and early modernist clarity.
When it was first built the landscape was farmland - spare with long vistas. Today, nature has grown up around it and plant-life has become an integral part of the home’s beauty and drama. In particular a row of (sorry I can’t remember the type) bush-trees have emerged as a sculptural divider between courtyard and field. A hovering Ginkgo tree adds color with its bright yellow leaves - at least in early November. And a large tree with sprawling limbs guards the main lawn.
A ginkgo tree is almost ready to drop its bright leaves.
The Architect and His Vision
Paul Schweikher was part of the vibrant Chicago architectural scene of the 1930s, working under David Adler and George Fred Keck before establishing his own practice. While many of his contemporaries, including Mies van der Rohe, pursued sleek international forms, Schweikher remained rooted in craftsmanship, material honesty, and a reverence for nature. This is very apparent in the house. Almost all of the materials are unfinished. Despite this, the house has weathered well, especially if you consider the elements to which it is exposed - harsh mid-western winters.
Long, leading lines made from brick, redwood, glass, draw visitors in and around.
Design in Harmony with the Land
The house unfolds quietly across its wooded lot, its low horizontal profile echoing the open landscape. Schweikher aligned the rooms to capture the movement of sunlight throughout the day and used deep overhangs to temper the Midwestern seasons. From the outside, long brick walls and wooden screens create a rhythm of light and shadow; inside, floor-to-ceiling glass dissolves the divide between architecture and prairie.
Note: Using just my phone camera, it was hard to capture the complete picture of the house in one photograph.
To the left is a detail of some of the mottled brick. To the right is main room which includes a dining nook, and this looks into the kitchen. Note the extensive built in shelving and drawers.
Material Poetry
Every surface of the Schweikher House tells a story of touch. The walls are built of Chicago common brick, the ceilings lined in redwood, and the floors laid with brick and wood in alternating tones. Nothing is decorative for its own sake.
Schweikher believed in letting the materials speak, in the soft sheen of worn wood, or the textural quality of the brick made more interesting by varying the pattern in which it was used - especially over the fireplaces. Speaking of which, the fireplace in the main gathering room is quite dramatic in its size. It’s probably about the length of 4 fireplaces laid side to side.
This view is from inside looking out to the rock garden. Built-in desk with more than enough counter space.
The Modernist Interior
Much of the furniture was designed by Schweikher himself: built-in benches, low tables, and modular shelving that merge seamlessly with the structure. The great brick fireplace anchors the main living area, while clerestory windows invite daylight to slide gently across the beams. The result is a rare combination of architectural discipline and emotional calm—a home that feels “alive” in every season.
The main room with the extra, extra wide fireplace. This room looks out onto the courtyard with rock zen-type garden.
The main bedroom, which was an addition, is located in the cantilevered section.
Legacy and Preservation
The Schweikher House is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and open for tours by appointment through the Schweikher House Preservation Trust.
After the Schweikhers, the house was occupied by the Langsdorfs, a couple that included prominent artist and designer, Martyl* who used the former architectural office for her own art studio.
*The Langsdorfs actually lived in the house longer than the Schweikhers. When Paul Schweikher was offered the position of chairman of the Yale School of Architecture in 1953, he leased his house to the Langsdorfs before ultimately selling it to them. Martyl is most famous for designing the Doomsday Clock, her husband, Alexander, worked on the Manhattan Project.
Part of the studio of the house. This is where artist, Martyl, worked but before that it would have been Shweikher’s architectural office/studio. Windows and desk on opposite side.
The photo to the left shows the built-in closets and storage that ran the length of the wall. To the right is a Japanese-style soaking tub which is very deep.
Today, the house remains an active conversation between generations of modernists who shared Schweikher’s belief that good architecture is an act of listening—to materials, to landscape, and to light.
This is the cantilevered addition to the Schweikher House. On the right end would be the Schweikher’s bedroom and below is a guest room.
Inside the guest room.
A Last Note:
In the quiet balance of brick and wood, the Schweikher House reminds me that modernism need not be cold or severe. It can be as warm as a handmade pot or a line of poetry. For those who love design, this house is a living artifact—a meditation on how architecture, art, and the natural world might exist in peaceful accord.
After doing the initial tour of the house, my husband and I attended a concert and saw the house in a different light. This time with a gathering of about 35 people in the main room. It was lovely - the acoustical guitar being featured was a perfect match for the house and atmosphere.
To the left, a long wood counter leading to the master bathroom. To the right, a detail of the wood slats used throughout the house for dividing spaces, etc.
A stack of vintage architectural magazines in the studio. Today, almost all of the furnishing such as pictures, art, studio materials, belonged to Martyl. She was someone who led a colorful life, having pursued interests in art, archeology and design.
Visitor Guide: The Schweikher House
Modernist Masterwork in Schaumburg, Illinois
Architect: Paul Schweikher (1903–1997)
Date Built: 1938
Location: 645 S. Meacham Road, Schaumburg, Illinois
Architectural Style: Prairie Modernism / Early American Modernism
Status: National Register of Historic Places
Design Overview
A fusion of Prairie School horizontality, Japanese minimalism, and International Style clarity, the Schweikher House embodies simplicity, craftsmanship, and harmony with nature.
Structure: Long, low profile integrated with the surrounding prairie landscape
Layout: Asymmetrical plan with private and studio wings centered around a brick hearth
Lighting: Expanses of floor-to-ceiling glass and clerestory windows admit shifting daylight
Materials & Craft
Primary Materials: Chicago common brick, redwood, douglas fir, plywood, glass
Interior Elements: Brick and wood floors, open beams, built-in shelving and seating
Furnishings: Custom-designed by Paul Schweikher
Notable Feature: Central brick fireplace wall that unites living and working spaces, unfinished materials, cantilevered addition, sculptural plantings around zen garden-like courtyard.
Influences
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie School – emphasis on horizontality and landscape connection
Japanese Architecture – sliding panels, simplicity, and natural materials
Arts & Crafts Movement – craftsmanship, honesty of materials
Modernist Functionalism – clean geometry and light-filled interiors
Preservation & Tours
The house is maintained by the Schweikher House Preservation Trust and open for guided tours by appointment.
www.schweikherhouse.org
Tips for Visitors:
Photography is permitted and encouraged
Visit in spring or autumn to see how the light interacts with redwood and brick.
Be sure to check out the ‘Events’ page on the Schweikher House website, they have a salon series that includes musical concerts in an intimate setting.
Additionally, I mentioned that most of the furnishings that are not build-ins, belonged to the house’s last owner, Martyl. However, if you visit the official Schweikher website, there are photos from the time that the Schweikher’s were in residence.