10 Great Architectural Lessons from Frank Lloyd Wright

Born on June 8, 1867 Frank Lloyd Wright is not only one of the worlds greatest architects, but he was
also the most prolific, controversial as well as inspiring. He was a writer, an art collector a philosopher as
well as a visionary and these all inspired his approach to his craft. He is widely known for four styles of
building. He conceived of the Prairie Style which was born out of his belief that we needed fewer, larger
rooms which flowed more easily, his antithesis to the rigid Victorian era architecture. From there the Textile
Style was born, which led way to the Organic Style and then the Usonian Style. His belief that buildings
should be made from the land and benefit the land inspired most of his work. These beliefs, avant garde
for his time, are still practiced and revered today.

1. The architect must be a prophet a prophet in the true sense of the term if he cant see
at least ten years ahead dont call him an architect.
Frank Lloyd Wright was clearly a man ahead of his time. The design of many of his homes once seemed
light-years ahead of their time, and people often had trouble understanding his vision, yet almost all of our
modern construction puts to use the ideals he thought to be so important.

Frank Lloyd Wright Portrait Photo

2. Every great architect is necessarily a great poet. He must be a great original interpreter
of his time, his day, his age.
Frank Lloyd Wright first became known for his Prairie Style of architecture which incorporated low pitched
roofs, overhanging eaves, a central chimney, and open floor plans which, he believed was the antidote to
the confined, closed-in architecture of the Victorian era. From there he went on to establish the Textile style
which took on an even more linear approach, combined with influences from Mayan architecture, this
would lead the way to what, perhaps, Wright is best known for Organic Architecture which drew from
natural resources combined with the influence of Japanese architecture. The Organic style then led way to
the Usonian style. It is clear to see how each style has grown and evolved from its predecessor.

The Frederic C. Robie House by Frank Lloyd Wright

3. There should be as many (styles) of houses as there are kinds (styles) of people and as
many differentiations as there are different individuals. A man who has individuality has a
right to its expression and his own environment.
The works of Frank Lloyd Wright have a uniquely individual style. Of his varied styles, no two homes or
buildings look alike.

Frank Lloyd Wright home and studio oak park

4. A building should appear to grow easily from its site and be shaped to harmonize with its
surroundings if Nature is manifest there.

It should be noticed that the buildings the architect built in the Middle Western part of the United States
are vastly different in nature, style and material than the buildings he designed in Arizona, Los Angeles and
Pennsylvania. Each style is as unique as the make-up of the land is different.

Frank Lloyd Wrights own home in Arizon, Taliesin

5. No house should ever be on a hill or on anything. It should be of the hill. Belonging to it.
Hill and house should live together each the happier for the other.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in his Organic Architecture. Perhaps this is most especially true of the
home Fallingwater, where house and land truly have merged to become one.

Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright

6. The mother art is architecture. Without an architecture of our own we have no soul of our
own civilization.
Frank Lloyd Wright built according to his vision of what the future would be. He saw the need for homes to
be more fluid, more open, more livable, and less restrained. He foresaw the need to build from the earth
and for the earth. His architecture both documented a time in history and yet managed to push the
envelope with his modern philosophical approach to the future of building.

Fallingwater Details
7. The following was told to Mike Wallace, American newscaster and television reporter, in 1957: Id like
to have a free architecture. Id like to have an architecture that belonged to where you see it
standing, and was a grace to the landscape instead of a disgrace. And the letters we receive
from our clients tell us how those buildings we built for them have changed the character of
their whole life, and their whole existence. And its different now than it was before. Well, Id
like to do that for the country.
And he most certainly did. Mike Wallace didnt understand the term organic and Wright had to explain that
this term meant from nature, that organic architecture was indeed a natural architecture. Today, fifty-five
years later, we finally understand what the architect spoke of so passionately half a century ago.

Taliesin West House

8. The good building is not one that hurts the landscape, but one which makes the landscape
more beautiful than it was before the building was built.
Wright stood for clean lines and simplicity. He believed that a well built building complemented its
environment and surrounding. He disliked the intricate detail and fussiness of the architectural styles that
preceded him.

Walter H. Gale House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

9.Architecture is life, or at least it is life itself taking form and therefore it is the truest record
of life as it was lived in the world yesterday, as it is lived today or ever will be lived.
Architecture is perhaps the truest documentation of how a civilization has lived and evolved. Art tells the
story of a moment in time. Architecture tells the story of a past, a present and a future. We take from it,
evolve, grow and move forward. Look at todays modern houses. Look at their straight lines, their wide
open spaces, the lower roofs and how they seamlessly are integrated with the varied geographies and
landscapes. No doubt we see a little bit of Frank Lloyd Wright in each of these edifices.

Jacobs House by Frank Lloyd Wright

10. The mother art is architecture. Without an architecture of our own we have no soul of our
own civilization.
Frank Lloyd Wrights most important contribution to architecture as well as to the arts and society is
arguably The Guggenheim Museum in New York City. In this building a history of people, of time, of art and
of architecture are all united. In this modern edifice that will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year,
art, science, nature, architecture and anthropology co-exist peacefully. In this building, Wright pioneered
trends that architects today continue to embrace. A true visionary, Wright was an architect of his time, well
ahead of his time.

Guggenheim Museum New York

Frank Lloyd Wright was a visionary and controversial. He was famous for his beliefs and convictions. His
ideals, words and foresight continue to be used as inspiration for all artists and artisans today. Looking at
todays modern buildings, cant you see the Frank Lloyd Wright influence? Which ones do you think bear
the most striking similarities?