Margaret Erlanger (1908–1975), professor and driving force behind the creation of the Department of Dance in the College of Fine and Applied Arts in 1968, commissioned her home from friend and colleague Jack Baker in 1964. She had lived in a West Urbana cottage and her new home was dramatically different, boldly breaking with the neighborhood’s character by introducing avant-garde modernist design.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Plan for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Sketch to show insulation installation to prevent tar dripping, July 19, 1965. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Plan for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Grate for fireplace. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Plan for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Revised walk layout showing change in length. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Plan for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Tying together the top of court wall and front exterior and rear door. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Plan for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Exterior doors. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Plan for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Skylight lighting. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Plan for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Steel bar railing horizontal and verticals for balcony and mailbox support. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Plan for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Sketch of sleeping pad. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Plan for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Mailbox. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Plan for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Plan of kitchen and kitchen elevation of furnace closet. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Plan for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Front steps to replace boulders. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Plan for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Stair hand rail—study. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Plan for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Landscape plan. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Plan for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Untitled (alternative landscape plan). Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Plan for the Margaret Erlanger House, September 8, 1975. Site plan and north elevation. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Plan for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Bedroom glass shelving and refrigerator. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Plan for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Garden storage. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Plan for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Foundation plan, south elevation, and west elevation. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Plan for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Foundation plan, south elevation, and west elevation. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Plan for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Plan for first, second, and third levels. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Plan for the Margaret Erlanger House, March 31, 1964. East and north elevations, north-south and east-west sections. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Plan for the Margaret Erlanger House, March 31, 1964. Elevation with court, plan and section closets, 12” brick veneer and cavity walls, and wall sections. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Plan for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Plan for first-level heating and air conditioning and plumbing, plan for second and third levels, plan for staircase, and section staircase. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Plan for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Plan for first-level electrical, bathroom, and kitchen elevation; plan for second- and third-level electrical; and fireplace detail. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Finished drawings for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Plot plan, plan pool, section pool, and pit detail. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Finished drawings for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Plot plan, plan pool, section pool, and pit detail. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Finished drawings for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Plan first level, plan second level, double joist and pier connection, and plan pier detail. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Finished drawings for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Plan foundation, section north-south, and section east-west. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Finished drawings for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. North, court, south, and west elevations and balcony details. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Finished drawings for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Section through concrete piers, scupper details, and shower pan. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Finished drawings for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Fireplace section; stair plan, section, and details; pantry and washroom door; and window and door details. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Finished drawings for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Plan first- and second-level electrical, kitchen elevation, shelf light detail, entry stair elevation looking west, typical hinge detail for closets, and bath dressing room closet plan and elevation. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Finished drawings for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Plan first- and second-level heating, air conditioning, and plumbing; room finish, door, and painting schedule. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Finished drawings for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Heating and air conditioning sections through closets. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Finished drawings for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Revisions of mullions; plan and elevation for utilities closet. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Finished drawings for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Plan of pit (showing cushions) and section of pit seat. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
Jack Baker (United States, 1920–2013), Finished drawings for the Margaret Erlanger House, 1964. Site and first-level plan. Ink on paper. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives, record series 12/2/38, box 24, folder 20.
This film of the Margaret Erlanger House, made in late 2024, gives a sense of how the spaces flow together and show adaptations for its use by the School of Architecture.
Dancers Pamela Ibsen Bedford, Jan Erkert, Patricia Knowles, and Rebecca Nettl-Fiol share their memories of the Margaret Erlanger House.
