We consider Chicago-style gourmet popcorn to be one of our city’s great treasures, but Chicago has a wealth of beautiful architecture, too. Frank Lloyd Wright is arguably the most recognizable name in architecture and design in the United States, and some of his most influential work was created while he lived in the city and suburbs of Chicago.
When visiting or living in Chicago, a tour of the great architect’s work is a great learning experience and will introduce you to various neighborhoods of the city. As we cover all the best attractions of our home city, the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright can’t be overlooked!
Charnley-Persky House
One of Wright’s first projects in Chicago was the James Charnley House, now the Charnley-Persky House, which he created in partnership with Louis Sullivan, his mentor and first employer. The mansion still stands in Chicago’s Gold Coast, and you can tour the property and see its three-story atrium. As Wright’s work developed, his interiors became as important to the homes he designed as the architecture of the buildings. You can see him just getting his start in the atrium of the Charnley-Persky home.
The Rookery Building
Another famous Chicago building that displays Wright’s work is the Rookery Building. It became one of the few downtown properties where you can see his design when he remodeled the interior in 1905. Wright opened up the famous “Light Court” lobby to more natural light with his remodel and added the white marble and double staircase that make the room a popular spot for weddings and events now.
Oak Park’s Prairie Homes
Wright moved to the suburb of Oak Park in 1889. It was there between 1889 and 1913 that he developed his most recognizable style of design, the Prairie home. Prairie homes are created to embody the landscape of Illinois, and they are usually open plan homes with sloping roofs, clean sky lines and unfinished materials.
Many prairie homes designed by Wright are scattered throughout the suburbs of Chicago, but the main concentration is Oak Park, where Wright’s own home and studio are located. Along with viewing his own workspace and personal home, you can take walking tours, bike tours or themed tours (like “Wine & Wright”) of all of the Oak Park Wright homes. You’ll experience the architecture of the homes along with the famous interior details like stained glass and furniture designed by Wright that became his trademark.
Other Chicago Wright Buildings
Along with the private homes he designed in Oak Park, the famous architect has placed his fingerprints all over the city. The Unity Temple in Oak Park is a demonstration of what Wright could do with institutional interiors, creating awe and inspiration in a house of worship.
The Coonley House in the Riverside neighborhood shows what Wright could do with an unlimited budget. Designed for Avery Coonley, an heir to an industrial fortune and a huge admirer of Wright, the home basically allowed Wright to pursue his best work with freedom.
In another historic Chicago neighborhood, Hyde Park, there is his famous Robie House, featuring Wright’s signature overhanging roofs and outdoor terraces. It was the last home he designed from his studio in Oak Park and is generally considered the epitome of the Prairie style.
Chicago is known for its elegant architecture, and all of these properties add to the beauty of the city. Frank Lloyd Wright’s work enriches our home city, and we’re proud to share Chicago with such famous structures!
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