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A System of Architectural Ornament by Louis H. Sullivan

The first full-scale facsimile of Louis H. Sullivan’s landmark 1924 publication

By Designers & Books Staff October 13, 2026

Our latest, a co-publication with the University of Chicago Press, is the first full-scale facsimile of Louis H. Sullivan’s landmark 1924 publication A System of Architectural Ornament, featuring Sullivan’s stunning illustrations.

Widely credited as the father of the skyscraper, Louis H. Sullivan (1856–1924) remains a key figure in architectural history. Celebrating his legacy, this is the first full-scale facsimile of Sullivan’s masterwork, A System of Architectural Ornament According with a Philosophy of Man’s Powers. Commissioned by the Art Institute of Chicago and published by the American Institute of Architects in the year of Sullivan’s death, the book presents his highly influential ideas about the role of ornament in architecture.

Exploring the relationship between the organic and inorganic in Sullivan’s approach to decoration, A System of Architectural Ornament showcases the architect’s intricate, hand-drawn illustrations of geometric patterns and examples of his trademark organic forms. The oversized format allows readers to appreciate the fine details of Sullivan’s labyrinthine designs.

In this edition a faithful facsimile of the original 1924 volume is accompanied by an illustrated reader’s guide featuring an essay by Art Institute of Chicago architecture and design curator Alison Fisher, who contextualizes the book’s contemporary reception and the continued relevance of Sullivan’s theory of architectural ornament.

Now available for pre-order (publishing December 2026)

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