Frank Lloyd Wright and the prairie

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.