A new article at the home advice website BobVila.com describing “The 12 Most Controversial Buildings in America” includes one from the 1893 World’s Fair.
The article by Jamie Birdwell Branson lists the Woman’s Building, designed by architect Sophia Hayden. Branson notes that the controversy occurred because the building design “underwent contentious changes during construction, and many architectural journals gave it negative reviews upon completion” and also observes that the criticism may be been “reactions to the fact that the architect was a woman.”
Joining the Woman’s Building on the controversy list are the White House, the Empire State Building and the Guggenheim Museum in New York, two more Chicago structures, and several others–all but one still standing. Another controversial building from the 1893 World’s Fair worthy of consideration was Louis Sullivan’s Transportation Building.