Prairie School

The Prairie School was influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement, a decorative and fine arts movement led by John Ruskin, William Morris, and others in late 19th century England. Along with the kindred American Craftsman movement, it embraced handcrafting and craftsman guilds as a reaction against the new assembly line mass production manufacturing techniques, which were felt to create inferior products and dehumanize workers. A major arbiter of this link was Joseph Twyman, who moved from England to Chicago and promoted Morris's work and philosophy by writing papers and delivering lectures to the Chicago Architectural Club. The most famous proponent of the style, Frank Lloyd Wright, promoted an idea of "organic architecture", asserting that a structure should look as if it naturally grew from the site; in Wright's words, buildings that appeared as if they were "married to the ground". Professor Nathan C. Ricker believed that students learned by doing and, being exposed to different architectural practices such as theater design, developed a cultural and technical understanding of architecture, which could help overcome the limitations of formal academic study and foster a sense of design. Early graduates like Clarence Blackall, Joseph Llewellyn, and Henry Bacon followed the more popular academic approach and historicist design aesthetic, but later graduates like William Drummond, William L. Steele, and Walter Burley Griffin contributed to the emerging Prairie School style. Ideas were shared by and with Prairie School architects in the Architectural League of America and the Chicago Architectural Club. These professional networks were important to architects' learning and development; their value was reflected by Sullivan's ideas in the essay collection Kindergarten Chats, devaluing formal education and lauding mentorship in architectural education. At a Chicago convention in 1900, Sullivan spoke about the power of mental logic and the study of nature to inspire stylish and logical buildings. One League convention introduced the idea of pure design – composing a building by analyzing parts that could be expressed as simple geometric shapes – to Wright, who incorporated the idea into his designs. By the early 1920s, "Tudor and Mediterranean Revivals became popular for suburban homes and shopping districts, and Georgian was favored for large city houses; even the middle-class Arts and Crafts bungalow had been dipped in Renaissance or Spanish Colonial frosting. Church and university architects employed the academic Gothic of Ralph Adams Cram” (p. 544). ==Architects and designers==

The Prairie School is mostly associated with a generation of architects employed or influenced by Wright or Sullivan. While the style originated in Chicago, some Prairie School architects spread its influence well beyond the Midwest, like Barry Byrne's church designs in Europe and Mahony's and Griffin's work in Australia and India. A Prairie School work considered harmony with interior decor and landscape architecture as part of the total design, so some architects, like Wright, also designed interiors, and sometimes partnered with craftspeople like Richard Walter Bock. A partial list of Prairie School architects and designers includes: • Percy Dwight Bentley • John S. Van Bergen • Parker N. Berry • Richard Walter Bock • Lawrence Buck • Ransom Buffalow • Barry Byrne • Alfred Caldwell • Arthur A. Carrara • Louis W. Claude • William Drummond • George Grant Elmslie • Hugh M. G. Garden • Marion Mahony Griffin • Walter Burley Griffin • Arthur Heun • John H. Howe • Jens Jensen • Henry John Klutho • George Washington Maher • Mason Maury • John Randal McDonald • Otto A. Merman • George Mann Niedecken (Interior) • Thomas Olson • Dwight Heald Perkins • William Gray Purcell • Purcell, Feick and Elmslie • Eben E. Roberts • Isabel Roberts • Richard E. Schmidt • Robert C. Spenser, Jr. • Claude and Starck • William LaBarthe Steele • Francis Conroy Sullivan • Taliesin associated architects • Thomas E. Tallmadge • Trost & Trost • Vernon S. Watson • Andrew Willatzen • Taylor Woolley • Frank Lloyd Wright • Lloyd Wright ==Influences==

Prairie School architecture is characterized by open floor plans creating a sense of spaciousness, continuous horizontal lines punctuated by short vertical accents, and indigenous materials together contributing to a sense of the building belonging to the landscape. These were related to the American Arts and Crafts movement and its emphasis on hand craftsmanship, simplicity, and function. Both were alternatives to the then-dominant Classical Revival Style of Greco-Roman forms. The Arts and Crafts movement led to a medieval cottage revival in England, but the Prairie School embraced modernity more. Some firms, such as Purcell & Elmslie, which accepted the honest presence of machine worked surfaces, consciously rejected the term "Arts and Crafts" for their work. The Prairie School was also influenced by the Idealistic Romantics who believed better homes would create better people, and the Transcendentalist philosophy of Ralph Waldo Emerson in its focus on nature. Architecturally, horizontal continuity and spatial openness were seen in the earlier shingle style, elements like overhanging eaves and horizontal accents of leaded windows were seen in the Queen Anne style, and the proportions and open plans were similar to bungalows. Prairie School houses often adhered to the suburban ethos of the centering of a single family household through attention to spaces like dining rooms and fireplaces where family could gather. Existing mainly in suburbs, the prairie is alluded to as a symbol of the history of the setting, not something that was always visible and surrounding the houses. Many Prairie School architects were influenced by Louis Sullivan, who was part of the Chicago School. His lessons that form follows function, that artists humanize modern materials and techniques, and that rhythm was an important aspect of design are integral to the Prairie School. Maher, Irving Pond, Garden, Spencer, and Elmslie wrote about the concept of rhythm in architecture, and Maher developed the "motive-rhythm theory," about a work as a composition guided by a motif. They generally believed that historical styles arose naturally from the sprit of their settings and therefore rejected historical revivalism. Elmslie wrote that architecture should be inspired by its specific local context, in contrast to the International Style that he saw as cold and impersonal. Architects also designed for practicality in their regional setting; the low shape helps maintain temperature and the overhangs protect from sun and snow piling. Early Prairie Style houses omitted attics and cellars to enhance the low proportions, and the Usonian house of the late 1930s went farther to reduce extra space above, below, and between key spaces. The Midwest influenced the prairie-like forms and natural imagery in Prairie School designs, and also provided a unique context philosophically. Unlike the East Coast, which had stronger European cultural ties, the Midwest could be more intuitively inspired by itself. Designers looked to the form of the prairie, local wildlife, indigenous American art, and the philosophy that the prairie "represented newness, and a sense of experimentation, like a broad, unwritten page”. The rhetoric of prosperity represented by the prairie also resonated well with banks, a major type of Prairie School building. The sense of openness and attention to nature were also influenced by Japanese architecture and ukiyo-e prints, which Prairie School figures like Wright and Marion Mahoney Griffin studied. The Midwest's contrasting industrial and rural landscapes may also have influenced the Prairie School's acceptance of machine production alongside natural forms and images. == Reception ==

The Prairie School was one of many international movements toward architectural modernism, sharing philosophies of "form following function," the "less is more" ethos of Minimalists, emphasis on the structure and its building materials, and other elements seen in Bauhaus, Expressionist, and Constructivist architecture. at the time and echoed by Brooks in the 1970s. By the late 1920s, the Prairie School architects had informally disbanded, working on other types of projects or adapting their styles in ways that didn't contribute to the wider movement of "the Prairie School," sharing common ideals like they used to. Wright especially moved on higher-profile projects and expressed an attitude toward other architects "stealing his ideas," (p. 235) and doing a poor job generally. The Prairie School lost popularity between the World Wars, when the vales of conformity overtook those of individual expression, and when attention and sympathy were focused on Europe. Interest renewed after 1945, "when public taste again favored a low, small-scale, anti-monumental architecture, an architecture rooted in the earth," (p. 348) but by then the architects and their influences had died or dispersed. Elements of the style live on in the more recent popularity of ranch-style houses – both designing for a sense of spaciousness as smaller homes became economically necessary. ==Buildings==

in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Built between 1908 and 1909, this Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home is considered "Michigan's Prairie masterpiece." Frank Lloyd Wright's Wisconsin home and estate, Taliesin, was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1976 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019. The aptly named "The Prairie School," a private day school in Racine, Wisconsin, designed by Taliesin Associates (an architectural firm originated by Wright), and located almost adjacent to Wright's Wingspread Conference Center, exemplifies Prairie School architecture. Mahony's and Griffin's work in Australia and India, notably the collection of homes at Castlecrag, New South Wales, and Barry Byrne's churches in Europe demonstrate the Prairie School’s reach far from its Chicago roots, The House at 8 Berkley Drive at Lockport, New York was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. The Oak Circle Historic District in Wilmette, Illinois primarily consists of fifteen single-family homes representative of the Prairie School and Craftsman styles constructed between 1917 and 1929. The Oak Circle Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 21, 2001; it was the first historic district to be designated in Wilmette. The Rock Crest–Rock Glen Historic District in Mason City, Iowa, designed by Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahoney Griffith circa 1912, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. All of the houses part of a planned development and adjacent commercial buildings – The Historic Park Inn Hotel and City National Bank – were designed in the Prairie School style. Completed in 1910, the Historic Park Inn Hotel is the last remaining Wright-designed hotel in the world, of the six for which he was the architect of record. The Dr. G.C. Stockman House is another example of Wright's Prairie School style found in Mason City. Built in 1908, the Stockman House was the first Wright-designed Prairie School-style house in Iowa. Today, the house functions as a museum welcoming visitors and architectural enthusiasts from all around the world. A partial list of Prairie School buildings includes: • McDermott House, Glencoe, Illinois, 1928 – Barry Byrne • Christ the King, Cork, Ireland, 1928–1931 – Byrne • First Congregational Church, Chicago, Illinois, 1908 – William E. Drummond • William E. Drummond's house, River Forest, Illinois, 1910 – Drummond • Rock Crest–Rock Glen Historic District – Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahoney Griffin • William H. Emery Jr. House, 1903 – Walter Burley Griffin • Frederick Carter House, Evanston, Illinois, 1910 – Griffin • J. G. Melson house, Mason City, Iowa, 1912 – Griffin • Stinson Memorial Library, Anna, Illinois, 1913–14 – Griffin • Morocco Temple, Jacksonville, Florida, 1910 – Henry John Klutho • First Reformed Church, Toledo, Ohio, 1900s – Langdon and Hohly, architects • House at 8 Berkley Drive – Duane Lyman • James A. Patten house, Evanston, Illinois, 1901 – George W. Maher • Henry Schultz House, Winnetka, Illinois, 1907 – Maher • The Kenilworth Club entrance, Kenilworth, Illinois, 1907 – Maher • Cafe Brauer, Chicago, Illinois, 1908, – Dwight Heald Perkins • House in LaSalle, Illinois – Irving K. Pond and Allen B. Pond • Merchants National Bank, Winona, Minnesota, 1912, – Purcell and Elmslie • Purcell House, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1913 – Purcell and Elmslie • Parish House, First Congregational Church, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 1913 – Purcell and Elmslie • Veterans' Memorial Library – Isabel Roberts • August Magnus house, Winnetka, Illinois, 1905 – Robert C. Spencer, Jr. • Teller's Wicket from the National Farmers Bank, Owatonna, Minnesota – Louis Sullivan • The Prairie School – Taliesin Associates • Vernon Watson House, Oak Park, Illinois, 1904 – Vernon S. Watson • Avery Coonley Playhouse, Riverside, Illinois, 1912 – Frank Lloyd Wright • Larkin Administration Building, Buffalo, New York – Wright • Taliesin – Wright • The Historic Park Inn Hotel and City National Bank – Wright • Dr. G.C. Stockman House – Wright • Meyer May House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1908–1909 – Wright • Ward Willits House, Highland Park, Illinois, 1901 – Wright • Darwin Martin House, Buffalo, New York, 1903–1905 – Wright • Robie House, Chicago, Illinois, 1908 – Wright • Unity Temple, Oak Park, Illinois, 1905–1908 – Wright • Larkin Administration Building, Buffalo, New York, 1906 – Wright • Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, Madison, Wisconsin, 1938 – Wright • Herbert F. Johnson House, (Wingspread), Wind Point, Wisconsin, 1939 – Wright ==Modern interest==

Prairie School architecture exemplifies changes in both the fields of fine arts and cultural history in the early 20th century. National Historic Landmark and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Frank Lloyd Wright's Wisconsin home and estate, Taliesin, remains a popular tourist destination near Spring Green, Wisconsin, as well as a Frank Lloyd Wright Trail guiding visitors to notable cites. Several not-for-profit organizations and online communities have been formed to educate people about the Prairie School movement and help preserve the designs associated with it. Some of these organizations and sites are listed in the External links section below. ==Gallery==

File:Darwin D. Martin House.jpg|The Darwin Martin House, Buffalo, New York, 1903–1905, Frank Lloyd Wright File:UnityTempleOakHill.jpg|Unity Temple, Oak Park, Illinois, 1905–1908, Frank Lloyd Wright File:LarkinAdministrationBuilding1906.jpg|Larkin Administration Building, Buffalo, New York, 1906, Frank Lloyd Wright File:Merchants National Bank Winona.jpg|Merchants National Bank, Winona, Minnesota, 1912, Purcell and Elmslie File:Purcell-Cutts House.jpg|Purcell House, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1913, Purcell and Elmslie File:Henry Schultz House.jpg|Henry Schultz House, Winnetka, Illinois, 1907, George W. Maher File:Magerstadt House HABS.jpg|The Ernest J. Magerstadt House, Chicago, Illinois, 1908, George W. Maher File:Kenilworth club entrance.jpg|The Kenilworth Club entrance, Kenilworth, Illinois, 1907, George W. Maher File:Ralph Griffin House.jpg|Ralph Griffin House, Edwardsville, Illinois, 1913, Walter Burley Griffin File:Frederick Carter House.jpg|Frederick Carter House, Evanston, Illinois, 1910, Walter Burley Griffin File:William E. Drummond House.jpg|Architect William E. Drummond's own house, River Forest, Illinois, 1910 File:Elevation view - Morocco Temple, 219 Newnan Street, Jacksonville, Duval County, FL HABS FLA,16-JACK,11-1.tif|Morocco Temple, Jacksonville, Florida, 1910, Henry John Klutho File:First Reformed Church, Toledo, Ohio - DPLA - 7c9599a7334ce48b103d645ecef86228 (page 1).jpg|First Reformed Church, Toledo, Ohio, 1900s, Langdon and Hohly, architects File:WingspreadFrankLloydWrightKenoshaWisconsin.jpg|Herbert F. Johnson House, (Wingspread), Wind Point, Wisconsin, 1939, Frank Lloyd Wright. File:Joseph J Walser Jr House 2.jpg|J. J. Walser Jr. House, Chicago, Illinois, 1903, Frank Lloyd Wright File:Ward Winfield Willits House (8702672773).jpg|Ward Willits House, Highland Park, Illinois, 1901, one of the first Prairie Houses by Frank Lloyd Wright File:Cafe Brauer in Chicago.jpg|Cafe Brauer, Chicago, Illinois, 1908, Dwight Heald Perkins File:William H. Emery, Jr. House.JPG|William H. Emery Jr. House, 1903, Walter Burley Griffin File:First Congregational Church of Austin, 5701 West Midway Park, Chicago (Cook County, Illinois).jpg|First Congregational Church, Chicago, Illinois, 1908, William E. Drummond ==See also==

• Brooks, H. Allen, Frank Lloyd Wright and the Prairie School, Braziller (in association with the Cooper-Hewitt Museum), New York 1984; • Brooks, H. Allen, The Prairie School, W.W. Norton, New York 2006; • Brooks, H. Allen (editor), Prairie School Architecture: Studies from "The Western Architect", University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Buffalo 1975; • Brooks, H. Allen, The Prairie School: Frank Lloyd Wright and his Midwest Contemporaries, University of Toronto Press, Toronto 1972; • Brooks, H. Allen (editor), Writings on Wright: Selected Comment on Frank Lloyd Wright, MIT Press, Cambridge MA and London 1981; • Visser, Kristin, Frank Lloyd Wright & the Prairie School in Wisconsin: An Architectural Touring Guide, Trails Media Group; 2nd Rev edition (June, 1998). . ==External links==