Frank Lloyd Wright
During his life, Frank Lloyd Wright designed and produced as many as six hundred buildings (“Frank Lloyd Wright”). Among these, some of his most influential works were made during the 1920s. These works included new, innovative buildings and styles that would mark the turning point between old and modern architecture. Frank Lloyd Wright’s works in the 1920s greatly influenced architecture to come.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s early life was essential to him becoming a famous architect in his later years. Wright was born on June 8, 1867 in Richland Center, Wisconsin (“Frank Lloyd Wright”). He was described as having an “unshakable optimism, messianic zeal and pragmatic resilience” (Lubow). His mother was from a family of Welsh immigrants …show more content…
In 1887, Wright got a job with the influential architect Louis Sullivan (“Architecture, Interior Design”). When he first started his career, Wright was a part of Sullivan’s Prairie School group, which aimed to create more modern buildings (“Frank Lloyd Wright Talks”). However, he quickly left the group in order to start his own architecture practice and discover his own style (“Frank Lloyd Wright”). His style was described as “quintessentially American” (Lubow). During the 1920s, Wright’s most groundbreaking design was the prairie style home. It was developed in 1919 and reached its peak of influence in the mid-1920s. Prairie style homes still continue to be built today. Prairie houses encompassed many of his strongest beliefs about what a home should be. As opposed to the harsh vertical lines of previous designs, Wright’s prairie houses used flat, stretching horizontal lines. They had wide, overhanging eaves and an ample porch and garden area. The houses were meant to seem as if they were rising out of the natural landscape of the Midwest, thus their name. Not just the exterior fit in to its environment, however, as the interior was also very reminiscent of the open scene. There were many windows that allowed for lots of lighting and the rooms would flow into each other smoothly. The house was sparsely furnished in order to …show more content…
Aside from designing his own buildings, Wright taught architecture students and wrote about his work. By the 1920s, Wright was already regarded as a genius and his masterpieces continued being made throughout the rest of his life (“Frank Lloyd Wright Talks”). He set a great precedent for architecture to come and because of this, he is known as a father of modern architecture (“Frank Lloyd Wright: a Precursor”). In 1949, Wright won the Gold Medal of the American Institute of Architects. He was eighty years old (“Wright, Frank Lloyd”). Many of his innovations, such as the vertical filing cabinet, are still commonly used today (“Architecture, Interior Design”). Wright left such a lasting impression on architecture that several institutions have been founded to teach others about him, as well as to preserve his work (“Architecture, Interior Design”). He founded the Taliesin Fellowship in 1932. The members of this foundation were students who lived and worked with Wright in Taliesin and Taliesin West. Taliesin and its western counterpart later merged to form the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture (Roth). The home that Wright built for his first wife, Home and Studio, is also an attraction for many aspiring architects. It is located in Oak Park, Illinois. Home and Studio was bought in 1974 by volunteers. It was given to the National
During his life, Frank Lloyd Wright designed and produced as many as six hundred buildings (“Frank Lloyd Wright”). Among these, some of his most influential works were made during the 1920s. These works included new, innovative buildings and styles that would mark the turning point between old and modern architecture. Frank Lloyd Wright’s works in the 1920s greatly influenced architecture to come.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s early life was essential to him becoming a famous architect in his later years. Wright was born on June 8, 1867 in Richland Center, Wisconsin (“Frank Lloyd Wright”). He was described as having an “unshakable optimism, messianic zeal and pragmatic resilience” (Lubow). His mother was from a family of Welsh immigrants …show more content…
In 1887, Wright got a job with the influential architect Louis Sullivan (“Architecture, Interior Design”). When he first started his career, Wright was a part of Sullivan’s Prairie School group, which aimed to create more modern buildings (“Frank Lloyd Wright Talks”). However, he quickly left the group in order to start his own architecture practice and discover his own style (“Frank Lloyd Wright”). His style was described as “quintessentially American” (Lubow). During the 1920s, Wright’s most groundbreaking design was the prairie style home. It was developed in 1919 and reached its peak of influence in the mid-1920s. Prairie style homes still continue to be built today. Prairie houses encompassed many of his strongest beliefs about what a home should be. As opposed to the harsh vertical lines of previous designs, Wright’s prairie houses used flat, stretching horizontal lines. They had wide, overhanging eaves and an ample porch and garden area. The houses were meant to seem as if they were rising out of the natural landscape of the Midwest, thus their name. Not just the exterior fit in to its environment, however, as the interior was also very reminiscent of the open scene. There were many windows that allowed for lots of lighting and the rooms would flow into each other smoothly. The house was sparsely furnished in order to …show more content…
Aside from designing his own buildings, Wright taught architecture students and wrote about his work. By the 1920s, Wright was already regarded as a genius and his masterpieces continued being made throughout the rest of his life (“Frank Lloyd Wright Talks”). He set a great precedent for architecture to come and because of this, he is known as a father of modern architecture (“Frank Lloyd Wright: a Precursor”). In 1949, Wright won the Gold Medal of the American Institute of Architects. He was eighty years old (“Wright, Frank Lloyd”). Many of his innovations, such as the vertical filing cabinet, are still commonly used today (“Architecture, Interior Design”). Wright left such a lasting impression on architecture that several institutions have been founded to teach others about him, as well as to preserve his work (“Architecture, Interior Design”). He founded the Taliesin Fellowship in 1932. The members of this foundation were students who lived and worked with Wright in Taliesin and Taliesin West. Taliesin and its western counterpart later merged to form the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture (Roth). The home that Wright built for his first wife, Home and Studio, is also an attraction for many aspiring architects. It is located in Oak Park, Illinois. Home and Studio was bought in 1974 by volunteers. It was given to the National