Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio facts for kids

Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Location	428 Forest Ave. (house), 951 Chicago Ave. (studio), Oak Park, Illinois
Area	0.4 acres (0.16 ha)
Built	1889
Architect	Frank Lloyd Wright
Architectural style	Shingle Style
NRHP reference No.	72000456
Quick facts for kids Significant dates
Added to NRHP	September 14, 1972
Designated NHL	January 7, 1976

The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio is a special house and design studio in Oak Park, Illinois. It was designed and owned by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

The house was first built in 1889. Over the years, more parts were added to it. Today, the home and studio are filled with furniture and fabrics that Wright himself designed.

The Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust has restored the building. It now looks just like it did in 1909. That was the last year Wright lived there with his family. This is where Wright developed his unique style. He became one of the most important architects of the 20th century.

This property is very important to history. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Four years later, it was named a National Historic Landmark. It is also part of the Frank Lloyd Wright–Prairie School of Architecture Historic District. This district has many of his other buildings.

The Story of the Home and Studio

Frank Lloyd Wright was only 22 years old when he bought this property. He built the first part of the house in 1889. He got a $5,000 loan from his boss, Louis Sullivan, to help pay for it. Wright had just married Catherine Tobin, who was 18. They raised six children in this home.

The original house from 1889 was quite small. In 1895, Wright made many changes to it. The kitchen became a dining room. The upstairs nursery was made bigger for his wife, Catherine. A new playroom for the children and a new kitchen were added to the back of the house. Between 1890 and 1903, the Wrights had all six of their children: Frank Lloyd Wright Jr., John Lloyd Wright, Catherine, David Samuel Wright, Frances, and Robert.

In 1898, Wright added a large studio and a connecting hallway. In this studio, Frank Lloyd Wright and other architects worked together. They developed the "Prairie School of Architecture" style. This style focused on buildings that fit well with the flat landscape of the American Midwest. Many famous buildings were designed here. These include the Robie House, Unity Temple, the Laura Gale home, and the Larkin building. After 1909, Wright changed the studio into a home for his wife and younger children.

Later, the Home and Studio became an apartment building. In the 1960s, the building started to fall apart. The owners had money problems and couldn't take care of it. However, they did start offering public tours of some parts of the property. In 1974, the building was given to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. A 13-year project began to restore it.

In 1976, the Home and Studio was officially named a National Historic Landmark. Today, the National Trust for Historic Preservation owns it. The Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust takes care of it and runs it as a museum. Every May, the Trust holds a special event. People can tour the home and studio, and also visit other private homes designed by Wright.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Home and Studio is in one of three historic areas in Oak Park, Illinois. It is part of the Frank Lloyd Wright-Prairie School of Architecture Historic District. This district has 27 buildings designed by Wright. It also includes other important historical buildings.

Wright's Design Ideas

In his first house, Wright wanted to create an "open living space." This meant that rooms flowed into each other. For example, there was no door between the hallway and the living room. He believed families should live together in these open spaces. Even though he often worked alone in his drawing room, this was his ideal.

The house was very modern for its time. It had electricity and a telephone. Many people thought the playroom was the most beautiful room. Some say this shows that Wright wanted to give his children a wonderful space. Perhaps it was something he felt he couldn't give them as a father.

Art and Sculptures

Many of the sculptures on the outside of the Home and Studio were made by Wright's friend, Richard Bock. For example, there are two large stone figures near the studio entrance. They show a man breaking free from the ground. Bock also designed the stork sculptures on the studio's outdoor porch. These storks represent the tree of life, knowledge, architecture, wisdom, and new beginnings.

Inside the house, Wright also had many sculptures. These artworks added to the unique style of the home. They were different from the popular Victorian style of the time. Some of these pieces included a part of a frieze (a decorative band) from the Pergamon Altar. He also had several copies of the famous Winged Victory of Samothrace statue. There was also a statue of the composer Beethoven.

Gallery

See also

In Spanish: Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio para niños

• Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy
• Frank Lloyd Wright-Prairie School of Architecture Historic District
• List of Frank Lloyd Wright works, a list of buildings and other designs by Frank Lloyd Wright.
• List of Frank Lloyd Wright works by location, showing where Wright's buildings are located around the world.