Frank Lloyd Wright’s work had captivated an architecture enthusiast long before they visited the Frederick C. Robie House on Chicago’s South Side. The house’s art-glass windows fill the space with natural light, and the expansive living area on the second floor highlights the structural transparency Wright integrated into his designs. This visit deepened their admiration for Wright, but time constraints prevented further exploration. They had to return to New York the next day.
This year, the individual returned to Chicago and took the opportunity to explore more of Wright’s buildings. They traveled by elevated train to Oak Park, a village near Chicago’s western edge with a population of 52,000. Oak Park is home to 25 buildings either designed or remodeled by Wright, the largest such collection worldwide.
Wright, originally from Richland Center, Wisconsin, lived in Oak Park from 1889 to 1909, a formative period in his career. During this time, Wright and a group of architects in the Chicago area developed the Prairie School style, characterized by horizontal, low-sloping roofs reflecting the flat Midwestern prairies, and the use of natural materials in open spaces to connect the structures with their environment.
The individual opted for the “Wright Around Oak Park Tour,” a three-hour guided walking tour available daily from April through October for $60. The tours are limited to about 10 people, allowing for unrestricted photography and detailed explanations of each Wright home in the Forest Avenue area.
Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
A 15-minute walk from the train, the Wright Home and Studio are the only buildings accessible to the public; other Wright structures in the area are private homes. The home, built by Wright in 1889 for his family, features shingle-style architecture that contrasts with the Victorian rigidity popular at the time. The home blends seamlessly with its surroundings.
Inside, a quote inscribed above the Roman brick fireplace in the living room emphasizes the value of respect: “Truth Is life. Good friend, around these hearth-stones, speak no evil word of any creature.” This phrase is Wright’s adaptation of a motto from the Lloyd Jones family, his maternal Welsh ancestors.
In 1895, Wright remodeled the home, converting the kitchen to a dining room and adding a new kitchen and children’s playroom. The playroom, the largest room in the house, receives light from art-glass windows and a skylight. The room also features a hidden piano under the stairway leading to a balcony. Wright, who had six children with his first wife, Catherine (Kitty) Wright, designed the addition to provide more space for his family.
The studio, built in 1898, provided Wright with a professional workspace. Located on Chicago Avenue, the studio includes an octagonal drafting room with a balcony. The space is open and grand, with green and gold stained glass in the waiting area bringing in natural light. Wright’s later buildings were influenced by the designs created in this space.
Thomas H. Gale House
Built in 1892, the Thomas H. Gale House is a Queen Anne-style home with a turret roof. It is known as a “bootleg” structure because Wright designed it independently while still working under his mentor, Louis Sullivan. The home is located at 1027 Chicago Avenue.
Forest Avenue Homes
Forest Avenue features several key examples of Prairie School architecture. The Dr. William H. Copeland House, located at 400 Forest Avenue, was originally an Italianate structure from the 1870s. Wright remodeled the home in 1909, adding a wraparound porch and subtle Prairie influences.
The Nathan G. Moore House, at 333 Forest Avenue, is a Tudor Revival home designed by Wright in 1895. Despite suffering a fire in 1922 that destroyed the top floor and roof, the house retains its original garage. Adjacent to the Moore House is the Edward R. Hills House at 313 Forest Avenue, which was remodeled by Wright in 1906. The house, influenced by pagoda design, was rebuilt after a 1976 fire using Wright’s original plans.
The Arthur Heurtley House at 318 Forest Avenue, designed by Wright in 1902, is notable for its balance with the surrounding environment. The house features a gently sloping roof and outdoor terraces, with the brick extension that creates some ambiguity about the location of the entrance, which is marked by a large arch.
The Frank W. Thomas House at 210 Forest Avenue and the Peter A. Beachy House at 238 Forest Avenue are further examples of Wright’s architectural development in Oak Park. The Thomas House, built without a basement or attic, was the first Wright designed with Prairie-style principles in mind. The Beachy House, remodeled in 1906, features distinct gables and a combination of wood, stucco, concrete, and brick.
The Laura Gale House
The tour guide encouraged participants to identify the next Wright-designed house, which they unanimously recognized as the Laura Gale House. Situated between two Victorian homes at 6 Elizabeth Court, the house was commissioned by the Gale family after Thomas H. Gale’s death for his widow, Laura. The house features a cantilevered balcony and horizontal elements typical of Prairie design, with a hidden entrance on the side.
As the tour concluded along Forest Avenue, it became clear how revolutionary the Prairie School was for its time. Wright and his colleagues developed a style based on innovative interpretations of living spaces. Elements such as raised floors and extended roofs were bold yet simple. Although Wright left Oak Park after 20 years, his influence extended throughout the Chicago area and eventually across the world. Visiting Oak Park offers a glimpse into the origins of Wright’s enduring architectural legacy.
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Location
Address: Oak Park Township, Illinois, United States
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
