Frank Lloyd Wright is one of the most notable and accomplished American architects of the twentieth century. Throughout his career, Wright designed over one thousand structures, predominantly in the Midwest. He was the pioneer of “organic architecture” and the Prairie School of American architecture.
Wright’s “Organic Architecture” Philosophy
“Organic architecture” was Wright’s philosophy that harmonized humanity with a sustainably built environment. As a result, Wright’s designs are known for their use of natural materials such as wood and stone.
In a paper titled the Language of Organic Architecture, Wright stated, “organic architecture is the free architecture of ideal democracy.” His philosophy emphasized these characteristics:
- nature
- form follows function
- romance
- tradition
- ornamentation
- spirit
- third dimension
- space
Prairie Architecture & The Taliesin Fellowship
Prairie Style architecture was born around 1900 as a group of young architects, including Frank Lloyd Wright, creatively collaborated by embracing the theories, work, and writings of Louis Sullivan. Wright and his fellow architects merged Sullivan’s ideas with the earlier Arts and Crafts movement.
Prairie style architecture is original to America and incorporated modern elements with natural motifs that complemented the openness of the Midwestern plains.
To fit in with the expansive, open landscape of the Midwest, Wright noted that Prairie structures are “married to the ground.” By 1915, the popularity of pure Prairie style faded, but its influence remains in Modernist architecture and in Mid-Century ranches. The highest concentration of Prairie style buildings are located in Chicago’s suburb of Oak Park.
Later in life, Wright founded the Taliesin Fellowship where he educated hundreds of apprentices in the Prairie School movement. The Taliesin Fellowship was private and located on his 800-acre agricultural estate in the Wisconsin River Valley, which included a home, a studio, and a school.
Notable Prairie Style Homes & Structures
Below you will find examples of notable Prairie style homes and buildings. Included with each building are architectural drawings, floor plans, and photographs - all help showcase the quintessential elements indicative of Wright’s architectural sensibilities and of the Prairie style he helped develop.
