Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio: A modern architecture mecca
Modern architecture may be all the rage, but its origins can be traced to a rather surprising place, a humble home west of downtown Chicago. In Oak Park, the Home and Studio of visionary 20th century architect Frank Lloyd Wright welcomes visitors to explore how his innovative ideas changed architectural history.
The unimposing west suburban house was home to Frank Lloyd Wright, his wife and children from 1889 to 1909, the first twenty years of his illustrious career. It was in this home that Wright first experimented with what would later become his signature, the Prairie style of architecture that would be seen in 125 of his famous structures.
Built by Wright in 1889, the home went through several additions and remodels over the years. In 1895, the architect added a two story polygonal Bay on the south side of the home. An additional extension included Wright’s famed light-filled dining room and children’s playroom, with rows of art glass windows and overhead skylights.
Though a room at the front of the home served as his drafting area for a time, in 1898 Wright added on the Studio Annex and did much of his work there. The annex includes a reception area, drafting room and presentation library.
Wright moved out of the home in 1909, and subsequent owners remodeled and divided the house into six rental units. The home deteriorated until 1974 when the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Foundation was established and had it declared a National Historic Landmark. A full restoration of the home to 1909 conditions was completed in 1987 at a cost of more than $3 million.
Today, the historic site attracts more than 100,000 visitors annually. Guests can take guided tours through the famed architect’s living and work space, and see the birthplace of his groundbreaking ideas that would influence generations to come. After all, the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio isn’t just a part of history, it’s the beginning of the modern architecture we see all around us today.
Posted by D.J. Siegel
