FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT, ARCHITECT PLUS

Frank Lloyd Wright (1885-1959) spent nearly 70 years creating designs that revolutionized the architecture and art of the 20th century. Many innovations in today’s buildings are products of his imagination. In all, he designed about 1,000 structures – including houses, offices, churches, schools, libraries, bridges, and museums.

However, Wright’s creative mind was not confined to architecture. He also designed furniture, fabrics, art glass, lamps, dinnerware, silver, linens and graphic arts. It is an interesting fact that throughout his life, his creative work was greatly influenced by nature. During the summers spent on his uncle’s farm, he learned to look at the patterns and rhythms found in nature – the branch of a tree, limestone jetting out from a ridge, and the ever-changing sandbars. Wright later advised his apprentices to “study nature, love nature, stay close to nature.”

In addition, he was a prolific writer, an educator and a philosopher. He developed a remarkable plan for decentralizing urban America (Broadacre City) that continues to be studied by scholars and writers to this day, over sixty years later. As a pioneer whose ideas were well ahead of his time, Wright had to fight for acceptance of every new design – perhaps the ultimate sign of his creativity. His creativity has contributed significantly to progress in many fields of thought and endeavor.

This material is published by the Faith Committee of the Character Council of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Reproduction and Adaptation is encouraged.