Oak Park

People from Chicago love Chicago. The food is bigger, better and cheaper. The entertainment is more entertaining, the sites are more fantastic. I hate Chicago. I’m from St. Louis so I’m obligated to think all the same things of my hometown they think of theirs.

But it's also the city that houses the most Frank Lloyd Wright history. It was on that basis I was willing to take a weekend trip to the Chicago suburb, Oak Park.

That Americans will promote their hometown, no matter how dreary, I'd always taken to be a sign of idiocy.

—Philip Greenspun, Travels with Samantha

Homes

Frank Lloyd Wright moved to Oak Park in 1889 into a shingle style home of his own design using money borrowed from his employer, Louis Sullivan. Shortly thereafter he began designing houses for his neighbors in violation of his agreement with Sullivan. The result was several so-called bootleg houses just a block from Wright's home. When Sullivan discovered his chief draftsman's deceit he fired him. In turn, Wright added a studio to his home and began developing a uniquely American style of residential architecture, the Prairie style.

During the next two decades Wright designed and oversaw construction of several Prairie homes within walking distance of his home and studio. The houses ranged from modest homes for middle class clients to large and impressive showplaces.

Unity Temple

In 1905 the original Unity Church of Oak Park was destroyed by fire. Frank Lloyd Wright was commissioned to create a new building with a budget of $40,000. Wright chose concrete as the primary material because it was inexpensive, fireproof and blocked the noise from the nearby streets. It was the beginning of a career-long fascination with concrete — a naturally boring and ugly material that Wright sculpted into fantastic organic and geometric patterns.

Perhaps the most exciting thing about touring the Unity Template is the foundation that maintains the building and runs the tours allows you to freely roam while the guide is talking. There are no restrictions on photography so for the first time I was able to take photos of the interior of a Wright designed building. The building is in remarkable condition given its age but there were obvious signs of water damage, especially in the ceiling above the choir loft, where during our tour a professional cinematographer was shooting a timelapse of the windows.

The Home & Studio

Wright had an affair with the wife of a former client and in 1909 he left Oak Park after his wife refused his request for a divorce. His wife continued to live in the Oak Park home for several years and Wright did not sell the home for another 16 years. The building was converted to apartments and many of the original details were removed or covered by drop ceilings, paint and partition walls.

Restoration

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