DISTRIKT : Frank Lloyd Wright in Wisconsin/Illinois

Oak Park is home to the world’s largest collection of buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It’s a good idea to start by this place and explore its picturesque historic neighborhoods on a guided bicycle tour or by foot. You’ll see around 21 Wright-designed structures and will start to understand his architecture spirit. http://cal.flwright.org/tours/wrightaroundoakpark Pour commencer à appréhender l’œuvre de ce grand architecte, commencez par vous promener dans ce quartier pour découvrir plus d’une vingtaine de maisons qu’il a dessiné. Tours en vélo ou à pied proposés. Carte 4$ à acheter pour faire le tour vous même, magnifique pour une première approche !

Looking for a week-end getaway ? Enjoy the countryside along the Wisconsin river and visit the former summer retreat of Frank Lloyd Wright. Discover the hillside studio, the theater but also the house, surroundings and all the other estate. Tours from May to September. Children under 10 are not allowed in some tours. https://www.taliesinpreservation.org/ Pour ceux qui cherchent à s’évader le temps d’un week-end, venez découvrir la magnifique région de Spring Green autour de la rivière Wisconsin. L’occasion au passage de visiter l’endroit où Frank Lloyd Wright aimait passer ces étés. Le studio, le théatre, la maison et les alentours se visitent de mai à septembre. Attention, les enfants de moins de 10 ans ne sont pas acceptés sur tous les tours. Photos courtesy of Taliesin

Frank Lloyd Wright used his first home to experiment with design concepts that contain the seeds of his architectural philosophy. In his adjacent studio, Wright and his associates developed a new American architecture – the Prairie style. Tours are available. http://cal.flwright.org/tours/homeandstudio Sa maison et son studio lui ont servis de laboratoire d’expérimentation qui a notamment donné naissance au style “Prairie”. Profitez de guides expérimentés pendant les tours.

Frank Lloyd Wright was a good friend of the Johnson family. He designed for them their headquarter in Racine, futuristic, avant-garde, modern, bold, brilliant, you shouldn’t miss this place. Free tours all year long. https://reservations.scjohnson.com/Info.aspx?EventID=8 Ces bâtiments futuristes, audacieux, avant-garde ne vous laisseront pas de marbre. Frank Lloyd Wright, grand ami de la famille Johnson a construit leur siège social à Racine. Visites gratuites organisées toute l’année. A ne pas manquer ! Some photos are courtesy of SC Johnson

The one I’ve missed. On a road trip to Philadelphia, we passed by the house but missed the exit… Too bad ! http://www.fallingwater.org/ Photos courtesy of Fallingwater

Frank Lloyd Wright and a friend Richards bought this parcel (corner of West Burnham & Layton Blvd) to build the first American System-Built houses. Tours are offered the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month. http://wrightinwisconsin.org/ Une petite parcelle de quelques maisons, dessinées par Frank Lloyd Wright fait l’angle de West Burnham et de Layton Blvd. Elles sont les premières constructions dans le style American System-built houses pour plus petits revenus. Tours organisés les 2d et 4ème samedi de chaque mois.

When you arrive in Madison, you are of course stunned by the Capitol replica but the Monona Convention Center facing the lake is an architectural masterpiece you must see too. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright but build after his death. Tours available. http://www.mononaterrace.com/frank-lloyd-wrights/chronology http://www.mononaterrace.com/frank-lloyd-wrights/guided-tours Photos courtesy of Monona center

Excellent article from Valérie, the friend that made me love Frank Lloyd Wright about one the most beautiful house he designed. To be seen in Mirror Lake. http://monpetitwisconsin.com/2015/09/13/frank-llyod-wright-into-the-wild/ Photo from Valérie

Very futuristic Greek Orthodox Church designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Group tours on Tuesday and Friday but you are also welcome to the mass at 9.30am on Sunday to discover the inside. http://www.annunciationwi.org/ Approche de nouveau très futuriste pour cette église orthodoxe qui m’a rappellé le théatre rondelle du siège social de SC Johnson. Les tours en groupe sont proposés le mardi et vendredi sur rdv. En revanche, quiconque le souhaite peut s’inviter à la messe du dimanche à 9h30.

The Rookery is one of the oldest building in Chicago, build by Burnham and Root right after the great fire and is located in LaSalle Street, considered by many as “the Wall Street of Chicago”. The building was nicknamed the Rookery not only in reference to the crows and pigeons that inhabited its exterior walls, but also because of the shady politicians it housed (former City Hall). By mixing modern building techniques, such as metal framing, fireproofing, elevators and plate glass, together with traditional ones, such as brick facades and elaborate ornamentation, Burnham and Root created a bold architectural statement.

As a local reporter, when I had the opportunity to visit the Robie House even during a week-end, I couldn’t say no, I was so blessed to be guided inside this “Prairie-style masterpiece”… Thanks FLW Trust !

The Rookery is a Chicago landmark historical building, containing one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most dramatic interior compositions. Do you remember that it was featured in The Untouchables movie as the police headquarters of Eliot Ness ?

Among Wright’s most significant alterations was the addition of white marble with Persian-style ornamentation to cover Root’s elaborate wrought iron finishes. It brought enhanced status to the building. Some of Wright’s other changes included incorporating simplified ironwork and adding his trademark style planters and light fixtures. Wright’s work on the Rookery recast the entryway in his Prairie style and added a sense of modernity through his simple but effective lighting design

A double set of curving, heavily ornamented stairs wind upward from the lobby’s second floor into the building’s interior. A wrap-around balcony on the second floor enhances the feeling of being within the interior of a “clockwork”. Stunning…

Making prodigious use of light and ornamentation, Root and Burnham designed a central light court to serve as the focal point for the entire building and provide daylight to interior offices. It’s trully a jewel… It’s this part that Frank Lloyd Wright was asked to redesign from 1905 to 1907