R. Harold Zook
Encyclopedia
Roscoe Harold Zook was born in Valparaiso, Indiana
in 1889. He received a degree in architecture from the Armour Institute of Technology (now Illinois Institute of Technology, or IIT
) in 1914. In 1916 Zook married his first wife, Mildred. They divorced in the late 1930s. They had one son, Harold B. Zook, who followed in his father's footsteps to become an architect in Corona del Mar, California
. In the early 1940s, Zook married his second wife, Florence, whom he met through mutual friends (and clients). Zook died in April 1949, just short of his 60th birthday.
Zook started his career working with Howard Van Doren Shaw
in Chicago. Later, he opened his own office on the 17th floor of the Marquette Building
. During the depression, he moved twenty miles west of Chicago to Hinsdale, Illinois
and designed thirty-four homes and buildings from 1922-1953. Twenty-eight houses in the neighborhood are still occupied. He also worked in Iowa, Wisconsin and Virginia.
He is known for the "Cotswold
style cottages" he designed which use details from Tudor architecture
including timber framing, exposed beams, diamond-shaped window panes, and intricate brick or stonework
. He developed a roofing technique that came to be known as the "Zook roof", with wood shingles laid out in an undulating pattern across the surface to recreate the appearance of a thatched roof
. The roofers used "rolled eaves" at the edges of the roof to make a curved transition into the wall below. Zook designed ornamental ironwork
for several of these houses using a trademark spider web
pattern.
In partnership with architect William F. McCaughey, Zook designed the 1928 art deco
style Pickwick Theatre
in Park Ridge, Illinois
. This was their only theater design, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. The theater features a 100 feet (30.5 m) tower and lantern, a unique marquee
and one of the original installations of a Mighty Wurlitzer theater organ.
Valparaiso, Indiana
Valparaiso is a city in and the county seat of Porter County, Indiana, United States. The population was 31,730 at the 2010 census, making it the 2nd largest city in Porter County.-History:...
in 1889. He received a degree in architecture from the Armour Institute of Technology (now Illinois Institute of Technology, or IIT
Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology, commonly called Illinois Tech or IIT, is a private Ph.D.-granting university located in Chicago, Illinois, with programs in engineering, science, psychology, architecture, business, communications, industrial technology, information technology, design, and law...
) in 1914. In 1916 Zook married his first wife, Mildred. They divorced in the late 1930s. They had one son, Harold B. Zook, who followed in his father's footsteps to become an architect in Corona del Mar, California
Corona del Mar, Newport Beach, California
Corona del Mar or CdM is a neighborhood in the affluent city of Newport Beach, California. It generally consists of all land on the seaward face of the San Joaquin Hills south of Avocado Avenue to the city limits, as well as the development of Irvine Terrace, just north of Avocado...
. In the early 1940s, Zook married his second wife, Florence, whom he met through mutual friends (and clients). Zook died in April 1949, just short of his 60th birthday.
Zook started his career working with Howard Van Doren Shaw
Howard Van Doren Shaw
Howard Van Doren Shaw was an American architect. He became one of the best-known architects of his generation in the Chicago area.-Early life and career:...
in Chicago. Later, he opened his own office on the 17th floor of the Marquette Building
Marquette Building (Chicago)
The Marquette Building, completed in 1895, is a Chicago, Illinois landmark that was built by the George A. Fuller Company and designed by architects Holabird & Roche. The building is currently owned by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation...
. During the depression, he moved twenty miles west of Chicago to Hinsdale, Illinois
Hinsdale, Illinois
Hinsdale is a suburb of Chicago, Illinois; it is located partly in Cook County and mainly in DuPage County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 17,349 at the 2000 census. The town's ZIP code is 60521. The town has a rolling, wooded topography, with a quaint downtown and is a 30-minute...
and designed thirty-four homes and buildings from 1922-1953. Twenty-eight houses in the neighborhood are still occupied. He also worked in Iowa, Wisconsin and Virginia.
He is known for the "Cotswold
Cotswolds
The Cotswolds are a range of hills in west-central England, sometimes called the Heart of England, an area across and long. The area has been designated as the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
style cottages" he designed which use details from Tudor architecture
Tudor style architecture
The Tudor architectural style is the final development of medieval architecture during the Tudor period and even beyond, for conservative college patrons...
including timber framing, exposed beams, diamond-shaped window panes, and intricate brick or stonework
Stonemasonry
The craft of stonemasonry has existed since the dawn of civilization - creating buildings, structures, and sculpture using stone from the earth. These materials have been used to construct many of the long-lasting, ancient monuments, artifacts, cathedrals, and cities in a wide variety of cultures...
. He developed a roofing technique that came to be known as the "Zook roof", with wood shingles laid out in an undulating pattern across the surface to recreate the appearance of a thatched roof
Thatching
Thatching is the craft of building a roof with dry vegetation such as straw, water reed, sedge , rushes, or heather, layering the vegetation so as to shed water away from the inner roof. It is a very old roofing method and has been used in both tropical and temperate climates...
. The roofers used "rolled eaves" at the edges of the roof to make a curved transition into the wall below. Zook designed ornamental ironwork
Ironwork
Ironwork is any weapon, artwork, utensil or architectural feature made of iron especially used for decoration. There are two main types of ironwork wrought iron and cast iron. While the use of iron dates as far back as 4000BC, it was the Hittites who first knew how to extract it and develop weapons...
for several of these houses using a trademark spider web
Spider web
A spider web, spiderweb, spider's web or cobweb is a device built by a spider out of proteinaceous spider silk extruded from its spinnerets....
pattern.
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
style Pickwick Theatre
Pickwick Theatre
The Pickwick Theatre is an Art Deco movie palace located in Park Ridge, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.Designed by Roscoe Harold Zook, William F. McCaughey, and Alfonso Iannelli, the Pickwick opened in 1928 as a vaudeville stage and movie theatre. It is widely recognized for its marquee and...
in Park Ridge, Illinois
Park Ridge, Illinois
-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 37,775 people, 14,219 households, and 10,465 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,374.6 people per square mile . There were 14,646 housing units at an average density of 2,083.8 per square mile...
. This was their only theater design, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The theater features a 100 feet (30.5 m) tower and lantern, a unique marquee
Marquee (sign)
A marquee is most commonly a structure placed over the entrance to a hotel or theatre. It has signage stating either the name of the establishment or, in the case of theatres, the play or movie and the artist appearing at that venue...
and one of the original installations of a Mighty Wurlitzer theater organ.
Buildings
- 1924 - Harold Zook Home & Studio - Hinsdale, Illinois
- 1928 - Jensen House (or W. W. Thompson Home), 325 East Eighth Street, Hinsdale, Du Page County, IL
- 1928 - Pickwick Theater - Park Ridge, IllinoisPark Ridge, Illinois-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 37,775 people, 14,219 households, and 10,465 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,374.6 people per square mile . There were 14,646 housing units at an average density of 2,083.8 per square mile...
- 1934 - Burns Field Shelter
- 1940 - St. Charles Municipal BuildingSt. Charles Municipal BuildingThe St. Charles Municipal Building is a Registered Historic Place located on the east bank of the Fox River in St. Charles, Illinois.-History:...
- St. Charles, IllinoisSt. Charles, IllinoisSt. Charles is a Chicago suburb in Kane and DuPage counties of Illinois, United States, and is roughly west of Chicago on Illinois Route 64. According to a 2004 census estimate, the city has a total population of 32,134. The official city slogan is Pride of the Fox, after the Fox River that runs... - 1948 - Aichinger Residence, 371 Kent Road, Riverside, IllinoisRiverside, IllinoisRiverside is an affluent suburban village in Cook County, Illinois. A significant portion of the village is in the Riverside Landscape Architecture District, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970. The population was 8,895 at the 2000 census...
External links
- "Zook Houses" Photo gallery and list of all remaining Zook houses in the area of Hinsdale, IllinoisHinsdale, IllinoisHinsdale is a suburb of Chicago, Illinois; it is located partly in Cook County and mainly in DuPage County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 17,349 at the 2000 census. The town's ZIP code is 60521. The town has a rolling, wooded topography, with a quaint downtown and is a 30-minute...
. - "Selected Bibliography on R. Harold Zook" Hinsdale Public Library.
- "R. Harold Zook Cottage" Slideshow showing the relocation of the Harold Zook Home and Studio.