The Whilldin Building is the former office of Alabama architect
David Oliver Whilldin. Located on 21st Street North, now Richard Arrington Junior Boulevard North, in
Birmingham, Alabama, the building was designed and built by Whilldin during 1923 and 1924
and added to the
National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
The site is now the office of the Wininger Law Firm.
Whilldin designed the structure to appear as two separate buildings. The larger, white half of the building is covered with a smooth limestone and features four Tuscan
pilasters
In classical architecture, a pilaster is an architectural element used to give the appearance of a supporting column and to articulate an extent of wall, with only an ornamental function. It consists of a flat surface raised from the main wall ...
that carry an
entablature
An entablature (; nativization of Italian , from "in" and "table") is the superstructure of moldings and bands which lies horizontally above columns, resting on their capitals. Entablatures are major elements of classical architecture, and ...
and the
cornice
In architecture, a cornice (from the Italian ''cornice'' meaning "ledge") is generally any horizontal decorative moulding that crowns a building or furniture element—for example, the cornice over a door or window, around the top edge of a ...
.
The smaller, left half of the building, held Whilldin's personal office. It is set slightly back from the street and faced in dark brick with
terra cotta and stone detailing. The most remarkable aspect of the left facade is the entrance. Full-sized drawings detail the ring of
acanthus leaves, the beribboned wreath panel, and the consoles that support the arched hood over the entry
vestibule
Vestibule or Vestibulum can have the following meanings, each primarily based upon a common origin, from early 17th century French, derived from Latin ''vestibulum, -i n.'' "entrance court".
Anatomy
In general, vestibule is a small space or cavity ...
. A band of yellow terra cotta continues across the facade from the lintel of the door to the space above the windows. Within this band appears the inscription "D.O. WHILLDIN, ARCHITECT".
In 2012, David Wininger, the current owner of the building, commissioned a
New York Yankees themed
mural on the side of the structure.
Depicted are:
Babe Ruth,
Lou Gehrig,
Joe DiMaggio,
Mickey Mantle,
Derek Jeter
Derek Sanderson Jeter ( ; born June 26, 1974) is an American former professional baseball shortstop, businessman, and baseball executive. As a player, Jeter spent his entire 20-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the New York Yankees ...
, and
Yogi Berra
File:Yankees Mural.jpg, New York Yankees Mural
References
External links
{{commons category, Whilldin Building
Birmingham Historical Society
Buildings and structures completed in 1923
Buildings and structures in Birmingham, Alabama
National Register of Historic Places in Birmingham, Alabama