Frank Lloyd Wright and the Prairie [Hardcover]

Frank Lloyd Wright Home/Studio (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 1998

Frank Lloyd Wright's residential architecture in and around Oak Park, Illinois, in the early part of this century constitutes some of the architect's most recognizable and distinctive work. From the Oak Park Home and Studio itself, where Wright lived and practiced during this time, to the signature Robie House in Chicago, the extraordinary work from Wright's Prairie period embodies the intense creativity of his early career. Taking his cue from the vast, virgin grasslands that surrounded the Chicago area, Wright produced homes that reflect the land upon which they were built-- with unbroken roof planes, sheltering eaves, and dramatic, sweeping lines. This volume offers a succinct, site-by-site showcase of Wright's first major contribution to American design: the Prairie House.

Among the homes selected are the Frederick C. Robie House, the Mrs. Thomas Gale House, the William H. Winslow House, and the Dana-Thomas House. Exceptional color photography of Wright's finely wrought interiors-- including his own drafting room at the Home and Studio-- as well as bold exterior perspectives offer readers an inspiring view of Wright's unique architectural mission. With an informative introduction, excerpts from Wright's own writings, and rarely seen archival photographs, Frank Lloyd Wright and the Prairie is a must for all those interested in Wright's work and this definitive period in American architecture.

"We of the Middle West are living on the prairie. The prairie has a beauty of its own and we should recognize and accentuate this natural beauty, its quiet level."--Frank Lloyd Wright, 1908

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that operates two Wright-designed landmarks as museums: the architect's own residence and studio in Oak Park, Illinois, and his renowned Prairie Style design, the Frederick C. Robie House on the campus of the University of Chicago. The Foundation also manages collections of Wright furnishings, objects, and artifacts, offers educational programs, and operates a research center on Wright and the Prairie School of architecture. Its mission is to educate a worldwide audience in the architectural and artistic principles of Frank Lloyd Wright, to restore and preserve the Wright-designed structures entrusted to its care, and to present those structures and their collections to the public. The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio and the Robie House are sites of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Melanie Birk is the publications director of the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Foundation. She has written professionally on the subject of Wright's work for eight years and served as editor of a number of publications, including the book, Frank Lloyd Wright's Fifty Views of Japan. A specialist in writing about the field of historic preservation, she holds a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: Universe (April 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789301407
• ISBN-13: 978-0789301406
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 7.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,296,096 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Melanie Birk is an author specializing in the subjects of architecture and historic preservation. She wrote the book, Frank Lloyd Wright and the Prairie, which showcases Wright's first major contribution to American design: the Prairie House. As publications director at the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust for nearly 10 years, she served as editor for many titles, including Frank Lloyd Wright's Fifty Views of Japan. This book assembled for the first time the photographs Wright took during his seminal trip to Japan, reproductions of his extraordinary Japanese print collection, and scholarly essays interpreting the influence of Japanese art and culture on his work.

Melanie Birk holds a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University. Her career includes posts as a freelance writer and at other non-profit groups, including the Main Street Program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. After studying fiction writing at the University of Chicago, she began work on a children's book and on a collection of short stories. She is now a freelance editor and fine artist living in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with her husband and three children. For information on Melanie's artwork, please visit her website www.melaniebirk.com.

Customer Reviews

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5.0 out of 5 stars FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT, June 20, 2011

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This review is from: Frank Lloyd Wright and the Prairie (Hardcover)

NICE BOOK. I PROBABLY OWN ABOUT TEN BOOKS ON HIM. MANY HAVE BEEN PURCHASED FROM AMAZON .LOT OF THEM WILL HAVE SOME OF THE SAME PICTURES, BUT YOU ALWAYS SEEM TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW WITH EVERY BOOK.I KEEP A COUPLE ON MY COFFEE TABLE AND THEY ALWAYS GET PICKED UP.