Bruce Goff the man who designed gloriously disobedient buildings

On a Walk Through Graceland

On my walk this summer through Graceland Cemetery in Chicago, I stumbled upon something unexpected. Right beside the grave of baseball legend Ernie Banks stood an unusual monument that immediately caught my attention. It was the grave of Midwest architect Bruce Goff.

I had never heard of Bruce Goff before. But from the moment I saw his monument, I could tell he was no ordinary architect.

Goff designed daring, elaborately imagined homes. He used unusual shapes and made ample use of found materials — from industrial scraps to seashells and glass. Some describe his buildings as overly futuristic or even corny.

And his grave? It’s as futuristic and unconventional as the homes he once designed.

1904-1982