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Louis Netzel Residence - 1924
141 S. Blackstone Ave. - LaGrange, Illinois

          Although this house is another variation of the much used "square" plan, it is also one-of-a-kind.  Van Bergen seems to have used this commission to experiment with various decorative textures and forms.  He would use most of these elements individually later on.  A receptive client and the boom time of the 1920s are surely what enabled Van Bergen the luxury of adding this extra ornamentation.
           But the high quality of the building's construction was not just an experiment.  Van Bergen continued to insist on the highest quality of construction throughout his career.
The exterior is composed using a variety of surface textures.  This, along with a variety of geometrical forms - rectangles, diagonals (the leaded glass windows) and arches (the front entry and fireplace) make the Netzel Residence a unique study in balance and composition.
          Another first here for Van Bergen was incorporating the original garage into the structure of the house.  (The original garage has now been turned into living space, and an attached garage added).
          Copies of the original drawings still exist.

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