Schiller, Alfred A.,House
Why it's listed
Often described as a square doughnut or a house without windows, this single-story brick residence at 734 Lenox Road in Glen Ellyn was designed by Paul Schweikher in 1953 for Dr. and Mrs. Alfred A. Schiller. It sits far back on its narrow lot and turns away from the street, with no exterior windows apart from a narrow sidelight at the door. Light and views come from a central glass-walled courtyard, which divides the plan into four wings. Interiors feature terrazzo floors, African mahogany paneling, and a cylindrical brick fireplace. Keck and Keck added a brick wing in 1964 that connected the house to its garage and matched the original materials and proportions. The property was listed for its architecture. It represents two prominent Chicago-area modernist firms and combines International Style design with Japanese-inspired elements and the textured modernism of the Prairie School, an unusual presence in an established traditional neighborhood.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an excellent example of post-World War II residential work by two renowned Chicago-area modernist firms, Schweikher and Elting and Keck and Keck. It is unusual for its windowless exterior and central atrium in an established, traditional neighborhood. It blends the International Style with Japanese design and Prairie School influences, and qualifies under Criterion C.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 08000326, listed September 3, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 734 Lenox Rd., Glen Ellyn |
|---|---|
| County | DuPage County |
| Listed | September 3, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08000326 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1954; 1964 |
| Architect / builder | Paul Schweikher & Winston Elting; George Fred Keck & William Keck |
| Architectural style | International Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a single-family dwelling; some original interior features such as sliding doors and screens have been lost or altered by the current owner. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Lake Ellyn Park |
| Coordinates | 41.88661, -88.06046 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 08000326.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4722198
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.