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Here's A Look Inside The Astounding Pink Edgewater Beach Apartments

By Linze Rice | October 19, 2015 6:15am | Updated on February 14, 2016 4:23pm
 A look inside the Edgewater Beach Apartments, 5500 N. Sheridan Road, from the 2015 Chicago Open House tour.
Edgewater Beach Apartments
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EDGEWATER — Ever wonder what that big pink building near the northern end of Lake Shore Drive looks like inside?

The Chicago Architecture Foundation's Open House Chicago tour recently allowed the public to tour more than 200 little-known and architecturally significant sites throughout the city for free — including the Edgewater Beach Apartments.

RELATED: Miss Open House Chicago? Look Inside City's Coolest Buildings Here

The "sunset pink" building at 5500 N. Sheridan Road, often mistakenly identified as the former Edgewater Beach Hotel, was completed in 1928 as a complement to the historic "sunrise yellow" hotel down the block.

Linze Rice discusses the background of the apartment complex:

In 1994, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and also belongs in the Bryn Mawr Historic District.

Take a rare look inside the meticulously detailed and manicured building, complete with heart-shaped hedges, private shopping, a lush green yard and much more.

The foyer of the Edgewater Beach Apartments, including a chandelier and a second-floor look-out area that leads to a private garden and residential apartments. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]

Off the foyer is a row of private stores for residents and other community members to use, including a cleaners, dentist, arcade, cafe and more. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]

Across the hall from the interior shopping is a semi-enclosed garden. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]

The powder room of a restroom on the first floor. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]

A vacant space on the first floor of the building, currently available for rent. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]

A small library and reading room are to the left of the foyer and open to residents. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]

A map on the second floor shows a detailed look at the building, highlighting its famous "X" shape. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]

Looking into the indoor pool room from a second floor hallway. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]

The stunning indoor pool. Many years ago, a restaurant used to serve food on the other side of the pool. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]

An old photo showing the pool. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]

The banister leading out to the private garden and backyard. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]

The expansive back deck shows off other nearby buildings and is surrounded by finely manicured and shaped hedges. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]

The hedges are straight out of "Alice In Wonderland." [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]

A look down at the garden and yard from the deck. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]

A look at the whole building from the southernmost point of the yard. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]

A look straight up at the building and its stairwell from the door leading back into the second floor. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]

A gazebo in the backyard. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]

A semi-enclosed driveway near the entrance looking out at Bryn Mawr Avenue and leading out to Lake Shore Drive. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]

A plaque signifying the building's national landmark status in the entrance. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]

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