Avriel Shull

Avriel Shull (1933–1976) was a famous Indiana architect best known for her stunning mid-century modern designs, especially revolutionary given the predominantly traditional tastes of mid-century Indiana.

Shull was born Avriel Joy Christie in Carmel, IN. Her family owned a large parcel of land just West of what is now downtown Carmel, hence a large concentration of her strikingly designed homes in this area.

Shull attended Butler University and the John Herron School of Art. While being a female architect was unique for the time, even more so was her lack of formal architectural training. She began her creative business endeavors by designing and producing stationery but, given the recent end of WWII, most families were tired of letter writing. Her artistic skills were quickly devoted to larger scale projects.

She is perhaps best known for a spectacular apartment community at the intersection of Emerson Way and Ladywood Drive in Indianapolis. This community, called Ladywood Estates, was recently converted into condominiums. True to Shull's design, the architecture of the community is a wonderful example of mid-century Modern.

References

source: Manuscript Collections DepartmentWilliam Henry Smith Memorial LibraryIndiana Historical Society450 West Ohio StreetIndianapolis, IN 46202-3269 [www.ladywoodestates.com]