Page 38 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guides - Chicago

36 ❯❯ Top 10 Chicago Highlights

Frank Lloyd Wright’s
Oak Park

This suburb, 7 miles (11 km) west of downtown Chicago, contains
the world’s largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed
buildings. It was here that Wright developed his Prairie style
(inspired by the flat lines of the Midwestern plains). His work was
initially considered radical compared to the typical styles of the day.
Walking through Oak Park’s quaint,
tree-lined streets, it’s evident that
Wright’s architecture stands out from
the norm – but in all the right ways.
Unity Temple
FRANK LLOYD This compact 2
WRIGHT church (1908) superbly
After moving to Oak demon strates Wright’s
Park in 1889, Wright use of poured concrete
(1867–1959) appeared for both structural
to lead the perfect and decorative
suburban life. But in the purposes (right).
early 20th cen tury he
caused scandal by
gallivanting with
mar ried women and
wear ing flamboyant
clothes. During the
Depression, he changed
into a res pected social
vision ary, and later
redefined himself as
Charles
a quick-witted sage. 5
Ultimately, he established Matthews
Frank Lloyd
himself as the first 3 House
celebrity architect. Wright Home Chicago architects
and Studio Thomas Eddy Tallmadge
Built when the famous and Vernon S. Watson
Beachy House
1 architect moved to designed this elegant
This impressive
Oak Park (1889), this
1909 Prairie-style
1906 home contradicts house (above) is where residence for a wealthy
many of Wright’s Wright designed over pharmacist. Among the
trademarks. Instead of 150 structures. The notable interior details
just stucco and wood children’s playroom is are Prairie-inspired
or brick and concrete, luminous with signature light fixtures and folding
he used them all: it art-glass windows. art-glass doors.
also has a seven-
Pleasant Home
gabled, rather than 4
a hipped, roof. This 30-room Prairie-style 1897 home (left)
built by George Maher, was Oak Park’s
first to have electricity. The 30-room
architectural gem holds a small
history museum, with exhibits
relating to Tarzan creator
and former local resident,
Edgar Rice Burroughs.
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