JUNE 8

Just as Frank Lloyd Wright was leaving the Adler & Sullivan architecture firm in 1893 (I lived across from one of their buildings when I lived in Chicago), the World's Columbian Exposition was just beginning. This World's Fair brough architects from all over the world to Chicago to build buildings for people to explore the places and cultures from around the globe. Frank Lloyd Wright went to this exposition and was struck by the Japanese government building, as it was so different from the Western buildings. He went on to study Japanese architecture, and incorporated many of the style elements into his buildings.

There are many Wright buildings that you can visit throughout the world, most being in the United States. Falling Water is located in Pennsylvania - there is a waterfall that was incorporated into the design of the house! The Guggenheim Museum in New York City was the last project that he worked on, and sadly died six months before it opened. The Chicagoland area is home to the largest concentration of Wright homes, specifically in Oak Park, IL, where his studio is located and can be toured. The Robie House is located in the city of Chicago, and is the backdrop for the book The Wright 3, by Blue Balliet.

Late in Wright's career, he began working on a cluster of lower-cost houses that were efficient and detail oriented. He called the neighborhood Usonia, and it is located in the Town of Mount Pleasant, NY, just outside of New York City. The podcast 99% Invisible did a series of episodes about the Usonia houses that are fascinating to listen to and learn about the design.

A few years ago, Lego released a series of Frank Lloyd Wright building kits under their Architecture series. They included the Guggenheim Museum, Falling Water, the Robie House, and others.

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