Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank Lloyd Wright was an architect who was a pioneer in modern style,

and he is considered one of the greatest figures in architecture in the

20th-century.

In Richland Center, Wisconsin on June 8, 1867 Wright was born.

17 years latter at the University of Wisconsin his interest in

architecture had already shown itself. He enrolled in civil

engineering because the university didn^t offer any classes for

his chosen field. He gained some practical experience by

working on a construction project for the university part

time. He left school and went to work for the firm of Adler

and Sullivan in 1887. Louis Sullivan from the firm had a

profound in Wright work. He left the firm and went to make his

own office in Chicago in 1893.

Organic architecture was a philosophy created by Wright. It

means that a building should be developed out of it^s natural

surroundings. Originality was shown in his designs for public

and private structures. The ornate neoclassic and Victorian

styles favored by conventional architects was the kind of thing

Wright rebelled against. Wright was opposed to the mechanical

imposition of preconceived styles. The particular function of

the building, it^s environment, and the type of materials

employed in the structure should be the things that ultimately

determined the architechtual form is what Wright believed in.

One of the many fundamental contributions was the use of

building materials for their natural colors s well as

structural characteristics. With the open planning of one room

flowing into another his interiors emphasize the sense of

spaciousness.

Precast concrete blocks reinforced with steel rods was one of

the many new techniques Wright initiated. Air conditioning,

indirect lighting, and panel heating were a few of the numerous

innovations Wright invented. One of Wright big feats was to

make the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. The building was made to

withstand earthquakes. One year after being completed it

suffered no damage from a disastrous earthquake.

Architects who were more conventional then Wright were against

his different ways all thorough out his career. He went into

exile for a year in Europe because of personal difficulties and

professional antagonisms. Upon his return he began a new

career of ever widing-achivments. Some of his later works are

the Millard House; the Kaufmann House; called Falling Water;

The Johnson Wax Company Administration Building; the First

Unitarian Church; the V.C. Morris gift shop; and the Price