Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | 9400 West Congress Street, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin |
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| Built | 1959 |
| Architect | Frank Lloyd Wright |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000100 |
| Added to NRHP | December 19, 1974 |
The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church is a special building in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, United States. It was designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1956. The church was finished in 1961, after Wright had passed away. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site.
This church is one of the last buildings Wright ever designed. Its unique look is inspired by old Byzantine styles, but Wright gave it a modern twist. The church's round, shallow dome looks a bit like the dome he designed for the Marin County Civic Center.
How It Was Designed
Frank Lloyd Wright wanted to include important symbols of the Greek Orthodox faith in his design. He asked his wife, who grew up in that faith, what the main symbols were. She told him: "The cross and the dome." These two shapes are very important to the church's design.
The church's floor plan is shaped like a Greek cross. This means it has four arms of equal length. Big, wide arches hold up the upper level, which is like a balcony. The main roof dome sits on top of an upside-down dome, which looks like a large bowl.
Wright took these old shapes from the Byzantine Empire and made them new and modern. He used a special gold-colored aluminum for much of the building. This was a new material at the time. Over the years, the church has had some repairs, including replacing the outside of the dome.
Wright's design was inspired by old Byzantine buildings, especially the Hagia Sophia. But he didn't just copy them. He wanted to update and rethink these old styles for today's world. In 1958, Wright wrote that the church was "a complete work of modern art and science belonging to today but dedicated to ancient tradition." This means it's a new building that still respects old ideas.
Gallery
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia ortodoxa griega de la Anunciación (Wauwatosa) para niños
- List of Frank Lloyd Wright works
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
