History

The Thierman Apartments are an outstanding example of early twentieth century architecture which utilizes “Arts-and-crafts” motifs. The structure is related to the highly personal and imaginative style of J.J. Gaffney. Gaffney, a Louisville architect, was responsible for the design of St. James Roman Catholic Church, Adath Jeshurm Tempe,Caron Directory of the City of Louisville, Holy Name Roman Catholic Church and the Bosler garage.

Description

The Thierman Apartments is a three-story, orange-glazed brick building on a raised stone foundation. The building is U-shaped with a central courtyard. The courtyard has a center walk with a period lamp post as the focal point. The ends of the wings which face Breckenridge have a pair of French doors with transoms on each floor. The door is topped by brick voussoirs on the first and second floor and lintel on the third. The first floor has an iron balconet of the doors with iron flowerpot holders. The second and third floors have full balconies with the same railing and iron braces supporting the balconies. The section is capped a stepped brick parapet with a stone coping and stylized geometric stone decorations. Between these end facades is an iron fence with four incised stone piers. Two of the pieces are capped by orbs and two with circular glass globes. The walls of the side facades facing the court contain three bays each which extend for the full heigh of the building. The front plane of the bay continues the three French door treatments with balconies. The chamfered walls have double-hung windows. The bays are capped by a small gabled roof support by arched wood braces, with a bulls’ eye window under each roof eave.

The wall between the first and second projecting bays contain an entry with a stone surround. The two floors above the entry each contain two stained-glass windows placed in a stepped arrangement. The rear wall of the building, which is parallel to the front fence, consists of two bays articulated by a chimney. Each floor has a continuous balcony with an iron rail and flowerpot holders and two pairs of French doors per bay.