Following the devastation of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, attributed largely to a combination of drought and woodframe construction, local building codes were changed, narrowly defining acceptable materials for adjacent structures. As such, masonry or stone walls were mandated for neighboring buildings in high-density areas and typically were set parallel to property lines.

After 130-plus years, Chicago's masonry wall tradition has been thrown a curve. The “football house” — a name coined by its architect, Reginald Wilson — is a two-story, 2,300-sq.-ft. masonry residence perched on 45 ft. of its 180-ft.-deep lot in Chicago's southside Bronzeville neighborhood. Its novel appearance is the culmination of a quest by the owners for their dream house that sparked the ingenuity of an unconventional designer. Though Wilson is adamant about strict adherence to the architect's plans, owner Sebrina Jennings claims credit for the elliptical concept. Nevertheless, the masonry structure was presaged by another city home of Wilson's design featuring a curved wall pocked by high windows, as writer Grant Pick notes in the May 14 edition of the Chicago Reader.

For masonry builders, the elliptical shape presented a considerable challenge. Contractor Jerzy Ucinski reports that every block had to be laid with a level, requiring about double the time overall of conventional CMU construction. Northfield Block of Mundelein, Ill., supplied the split-face block. According to Wilson, the producer's White Gray color was selected to complement existing limestone buildings in the immediate vicinity. Nearly eight months after breaking ground last September, the owners occupied their house in April.

The architect emphasizes that he prefers to design concrete homes for both practical and aesthetic reasons: the appearance of substantiality reflects premium temperature- and sound-insulation properties. Permitting for the “football house” was routine. However, Wilson observes that CMU construction has become sufficiently widespread that permitting in prime Chicago neighborhoods has begun to curtail masonry in favor of the predominant brick motif.