Go to Frank Lloyd Wright Oak Park Tour!

Photo of statue in Oak Park, IL Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959)   When and where was Frank Lloyd Wright born? How did his career begin? What made his style unique? Why is Wright considered important? What did he design in his late years? Can I read a quote about Frank Lloyd Wright? What style of architecture was Wright most famous for? What are some of his famous buildings in the Chicago area?             When and where was Frank Lloyd Wright born?   Frank Lloyd Wright (born Frank Lincoln Wright) was born in Wisconsin in 1867, and lived there most of his life. Return to Top       How did his career begin? Wright studied engineering in Wisconsin, and then moved to Chicago. Wright first worked for J. Lyman Silsbee and Louis Sullivan when in Chicago. While working for Louis Sullivan, he began designing and building on his own. Return to Top       What made his style unique? Wright's view of architecture was beautifully simple. Wright's houses had low, sweeping rooflines hanging over walls with many windows. He had massive brick or stone fireplaces at the center of the house. His rooms were very open, one leading to another. His houses seemed to be reaching out toward some real or imagined prairie horizon. On the other hand, Wright's urban buildings tended to be walled in, but lit through skylights. Return to Top       Why is Wright important? Do you have a living room in your house? Or a carport? Does your house have an "open" floor plan? If so, then your surroundings were influenced by the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright. While most of his designs were single-family homes, he also designed houses of worship, skyscrapers, resorts, museums, government offices, gas stations, and bridges.  Return to Top       What did he design in his late years? During most of his life, Frank Lloyd Wright was a pioneer in the modern style of architecture. He designed houses, hotels, and buildings. Some of the most influential buildings of his late period included Tokyo's Imperial Hotel, Fallingwater (Mill Run, Pa.) the S.C. Johnson and Son West, and New York City's Guggenheim Museum. Return to Top     Can I read a quote about Frank Lloyd Wright? "The greatest artist this country has ever produced seems at last to be coming into his own. America's other great artists--our painters, sculptors, composers - don't really rank with the tops of all time. They're not Rembrandt or Michelangelo or Beethoven. Wright alone has that standing." --From the Taliesin Architects web site. Return to Top What style of architecture was Wright most famous for? Wright is most famous for the prairie style of architecture. One night at a party, Daniel Burnham took Wright aside and asked Wright to join his architectural firm. Frank Lloyd Wright knew that Burnham only used the classical style of architecture. Wright turned down the offer and said that prairie style homes had special meaning to him. Prairie style was a symbol of peace and freedom. He wanted the prairie style homes to give security to their owners. Prairie style homes were quite unique. The main living room opened up into a large space. The outside walls went beyond the home to the open outdoors. The homes also didn't have attics or basements. The materials that were used to design the homes were plain and simple. The roofs hung further away from the house than most normal homes.  Return to Top   What are some of his famous buildings in the Chicago area? Wright has designed many buildings in the Chicago area. He designed the F.W. Thomas House, the Willits House, his home and studio, the Robie House, and many other famous buildings. Return to Top   BUILDINGS | ARCHITECTS | BASICS | GAMES | LINKS | BIBLIOGRAPHY | ABOUT US | EMAIL | HOME