Issue Sep 18th 2024 September 18th 2024

The Headlines

Frank Lloyd Wright Home And Studio: Everything You Need To Know About The Architect's First Home

For many architecture buffs, the very first stop on a trip to Oak Park, Illinois, is the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio, the architect’s primary residence from 1889 until 1909. Everyday, visitors from across the world travel to the quiet Chicago suburb, which today has the highest concentration of Wright buildings. While in the area, a visit to Wright’s own Oak Park home and studio offers the opportunity to see where many of these structures were designed and how the legendary architect himself lived. Before setting up shop at Taliesin in Wisconsin and later Taliesin West in Arizona, Wright was at work establishing himself and figuring out his distinctive architectural eye in Oak Park.

The fascinating history of Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio, a landmark in architectural design, is how Wright's innovative ideas and unique style came to life in this space, showcasing his talent for blending architecture with nature. The home's role was as a creative hub where many of his famous designs were born. This iconic site influenced modern architecture.

In 1974, the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Foundation and the National Trust for Historic Preservation bought the property and set to work restoring the structure. The organizations strived to bring it back to the state it was in 1909 before it had been subdivided. According to the Chicago Tribune, the process took 13 years and $2.5 million, not adjusted for inflation. The project involved removing modern updates, like shag carpeting, and restoring water-damaged walls, among other adjustments. The studio’s foundation was stabilized and a basement was dug out, providing a space to store the Trust’s archive and collections.

“There is no question in my mind that, of all of my grandfather’s buildings that have been restored, the Home and Studio has received the finest restoration,” the late Eric Lloyd Wright, architect and grandson of Frank Lloyd Wright, wrote in the foreword to Building A Legacy: The Restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Home and Studio.

Academia Hernando: "Living In A Work of Art: A Frank Lloyd Wright House"

Academia Hernando’s Fall 2024 series offers intellectually stimulating programs exploring the intersections of history, art and culture. With each lecture, attendees can broaden their understanding of the world and immerse themselves in captivating stories and expert insights. Academia Hernando is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to encourage lifelong learning for adults. Weekly lectures are held at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Spring Hill, FL.

On September 20, Academia Hernando welcomes Mark Tlachac for his presentation, “Living in a Work of Art: A Frank Lloyd Wright House.” A former director of the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitors Center at Florida Southern College, Tlachac brings immense expertise and passion for Wright’s architectural philosophy. His lecture will explore Wright’s iconic concept of organic architecture, which is a design approach that seeks harmony between human habitation and the natural world. For Wright, the vision wasn’t just aesthetic; it embodied a uniquely American spirit that resonated with the landscape and cultural identity of the United States.

Mark is particularly moved by one of Wright’s famous beliefs: that the ideal home should be “a complete work of art, in itself as expressive and beautiful and more intimately related to life, than anything detached such as sculpture or painting.” This philosophy resonated with Mark throughout his career. Mark’s connection to Wright’s legacy deepened when he joined Florida Southern College, home to the largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world. In 2012, the Florida Southern College Historic District was designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service, a distinction that underscored the site’s architectural significance.

For a decade, Mark served as the director of the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitors Center at Florida Southern College, where he developed the visitor program and gift shop. In that role, he encountered fascinating people and gained extensive insight into Wright’s work. Mark credits his enduring passion for architecture as the key to his fulfillment in the position, finding joy in every moment of his work. Mark Tlachac’s upcoming presentation will not only shed light on the technical brilliance of Wright’s architecture but also offer a glimpse into what it feels like to live within one of his creations—a true work of art.

Wright This Way: Tune In To The First Episode Of "Greater Lakeland"

We all know Frank Lloyd Wright iconically designed thirteen Florida Southern College buildings — but did you know that students helped built them?

The personal stories behind the world’s largest collection of Wright buildings is the topic of the first episode of “Greater Lakeland” — a new Lakeland-focused series that debuted on WEDU PBS last week.

Stream anytime to learn how Florida Southern became a lasting tribute to the famous architect.

An Eco-Warrior’s Studio In An Iconic Lloyd Wright Design

It seems not only fitting but poetic that Los Angeles–based designer and eco-preneur Vicki von Holzhausen chose architect Lloyd Wright’s own 1927 studio and residence as the symbolic headquarters of her namesake company, von Holzhausen, a pioneer in the development of high-performance plant-based materials. With its signature concrete blocks of abstracted Joshua trees, the idiosyncratic landmark, designed by the son of the illustrious Frank Lloyd Wright, represents a fusion of structural innovation and reverence for nature. “The design is an homage to the plant, so it’s the perfect spot for us,” says von Holzhausen, who utilizes the space as a showroom, meeting center, and incubator for new ideas. “Here, we use our products to tell the story of material innovation.”

Vicki, known for her eco-friendly designs, has turned her space into a model of green living by using plant-based materials and practices. Her home not only looks stylish but also highlights her commitment to a sustainable lifestyle.

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