Photo from Wikipedia.org
Frank Lloyd Wright revolutionized architecture, reacting to the Victorian style housing which he despised. His influence reformed modern architecture in ways that are still with us today.
“I soon became susceptible to constructive pattern evolving in everything I saw. I learned to 'see' this way and when I did, I did not care to draw casual incidentals to Nature. I wanted to design.” - Frank Lloyd Wright
Introduction
He was born the eldest of three children. His father, William Wright, was a minister and music teacher. His mother, Anna Wright, was a local school teacher. When he was young, she bought him Froebel Blocks, which were small wooden blocks, shaped as spheres, cubes, and cylinders. His mother also pasted pictures of English cathedrals on his walls, hoping that it would inspire him to be an architect. At age 18, Wright enrolled at University of Wisconsin to study engineering, but eager to follow his dream, dropped out and moved to Chicago to find work in architecture. He soon got a job working at the architectural firm Adler and Sullivan. He often took private clients even when he was still working for the firm, which was frowned upon, and he eventually lost his job. He then started his own practice.
In 1887, Wright was living with Joseph Silsbee, his employer at the time. Silsbee’s cousin, Ernest Fenollosa, was an American expert on Japanese art. When Wright arrived in Chicago to stay with Silsbee for the holiday, Wright met Fenollosa, and fell in love with the beautiful art prints. In 1905, Wright spent his money and bought a ticket to Japan, where he stayed for three months. Over those three months, he was influenced by the natural materials and designs of buildings while touring Japanese landmarks, both natural and historical. His Prairie Style buildings reflect some of the principles of Japanese architecture.
“I soon became susceptible to constructive pattern evolving in everything I saw. I learned to 'see' this way and when I did, I did not care to draw casual incidentals to Nature. I wanted to design.” - Frank Lloyd Wright
Introduction
He was born the eldest of three children. His father, William Wright, was a minister and music teacher. His mother, Anna Wright, was a local school teacher. When he was young, she bought him Froebel Blocks, which were small wooden blocks, shaped as spheres, cubes, and cylinders. His mother also pasted pictures of English cathedrals on his walls, hoping that it would inspire him to be an architect. At age 18, Wright enrolled at University of Wisconsin to study engineering, but eager to follow his dream, dropped out and moved to Chicago to find work in architecture. He soon got a job working at the architectural firm Adler and Sullivan. He often took private clients even when he was still working for the firm, which was frowned upon, and he eventually lost his job. He then started his own practice.
In 1887, Wright was living with Joseph Silsbee, his employer at the time. Silsbee’s cousin, Ernest Fenollosa, was an American expert on Japanese art. When Wright arrived in Chicago to stay with Silsbee for the holiday, Wright met Fenollosa, and fell in love with the beautiful art prints. In 1905, Wright spent his money and bought a ticket to Japan, where he stayed for three months. Over those three months, he was influenced by the natural materials and designs of buildings while touring Japanese landmarks, both natural and historical. His Prairie Style buildings reflect some of the principles of Japanese architecture.
Organic Architecture
The definition of Organic architecture is for the structure to follow the lines of the environment, and be in harmony with nature. Organic buildings are constructed from natural materials found where they are built.
Video from YouTube.
"Wright destroyed the traditional architectural concept of the box, by creating rooms that were open, and free-flowing. His structures were not built on the land, but of the land. They were built not to be looked at, but lived in."
"Wright destroyed the traditional architectural concept of the box, by creating rooms that were open, and free-flowing. His structures were not built on the land, but of the land. They were built not to be looked at, but lived in."
The McArthur House was one of Wright's first buildings
Photos from Wikimedia.org, thefranklloydwrighttour.com, and The Frank Lloyd Wright Companion.
Audio from prairiemod.typepad.com
Daniel Josefchak
Individual Website
Junior Division
If you do not already have Adobe Flash Player, click Here to download it.
Word Count: 1,143
Individual Website
Junior Division
If you do not already have Adobe Flash Player, click Here to download it.
Word Count: 1,143