Frank Lloyd Wright Studio- Oak Park, IL

For those that love the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, a visit to Oak Park is a required pilgrimage. A trip to the place where many of his early works were created, to the studio where the Prairie style was born. What awaits is a beautiful Shingle style house, built for his first wife, paid for with a five thousand dollar loan from architectural icon Louis Sullivan. Things didn’t end so well with Sullivan, or his first wife, but architecturally, Wright flourished in Oak Park.

Completed in 1889, the Oak Park house embodies many of Wright’s iconic architectural principles. Constructed of brick and cedar shingles, with olive green trim, the house was designed to blend into its surrounding environment. Outside, it was defined by geometric shapes, including a large triangular gable set atop a rectangular base, a circular veranda wall, and polygonal window bays. Inside, it boasted an open floor plan, with built in seating and a prominent inglenook in the living room. Leaded glass was used throughout, creating a lovely, muted atmosphere.

Wright expanded the original house in 1895, redesigning the dining room, as well as adding a substantial barrel vaulted playroom for his children, essentially doubling the size of the home. The original dining room became a study, with the new dining space replacing the former kitchen. The second floor playroom, constructed for Wright’s six children, is considered to be one of the greatest spaces of Wright’s early career. I imagine it also sufficiently contained the chaos created by six children, making it worth whatever it cost to build.

The gymnasium-like space consists of a large barrel vault ceiling, resting on a wall of Roman brick; overhead, an arc skylight, shielded by wooden grills depicting stylized blossoms and seedpods. Large leaded glass windows line the room, complete with built in window seats. Above the fireplace, a Wright designed illustration from The Arabian Nights, painted by Charles Corwin. Following a 1905 trip to Japan, Wright added cantilevered light fixtures of oak and glass to the space, adding a warm glow to the somewhat cavernous room.

In 1898, Wright completed his architectural studio, which consisted of a two story drafting room with suspended balcony, an office, an octagonal library, and a reception room. Although attached to his home, there was a separate entrance to the studio from the street for use by clients. While it is constructed of the same materials as his house, the studio has a low slung, horizontal profile, which would later become a key feature of many of Wright’s buildings.

The studio is a magnificent space, where many of his early works were designed. An inspirational workplace for sure, it is easy to imagine the creative energy that buzzed through the room, and all the wonderful designs that were safely tucked away each night in the massive safe. As in his home, the space was decorated with eclectic artwork, including Japanese prints and classic sculptures, as well as architectural models created in the studio.

Wright worked out of the Oak Park studio for about a decade, before spending a year in Europe promoting his work. Interestingly enough, he spent his time there with a neighbor’s wife, for whom he had designed a house. Upon his return in 1910, he closed the Oak Park studio and began work on his new home and studio in Wisconsin, Taliesin. When he relocated, his wife and children remained in Chicago. Things didn’t work out so well with him and his mistress in Wisconsin, but that is a story for another time and another property.

The studio was eventually sold, and unceremoniously carved into several rental units. It suffered from deferred maintenance and neglect, before being acquired by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1974. Following a 13 year restoration, the property was returned to its 1909 appearance, and opened to the public.

Today, there are several tour options available at the studio; for those that want more, there is an annual architectural housewalk around Oak Park, which includes tours of several privately owned homes designed by Wright. Even if you don’t attend the tour, Oak Park is a fabulous place to explore on foot, and an easy train ride from downtown Chicago. For those visiting the city for its architecture, it is absolutely not to be missed.

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