9.4 Midwestern and Prairie architecture

Midwestern and Prairie architecture emerged as a unique response to the region's landscape and culture. Characterized by horizontal lines, open floor plans, and natural materials, this style emphasized harmony with the environment and craftsmanship.

Frank Lloyd Wright pioneered the Prairie style, developing organic architecture principles that influenced generations. Other architects like George Elmslie and William Gray Purcell contributed to its spread, creating iconic buildings that showcased the style's key features.

Midwestern and Prairie Architecture

Key Features and Principles

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  Robie House by Frank Lloyd Wright, Hyde Park, IL | Naotake Murayama | Flickr View original

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  Robie House by Frank Lloyd Wright, Hyde Park, IL | Naotake Murayama | Flickr View original

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Top images from around the web for Key Features and Principles

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  Robie House by Frank Lloyd Wright, Hyde Park, IL | Naotake Murayama | Flickr View original

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  Hillside House a Modernn Prairie Style Home | by WEST STUDIO… | Flickr View original

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  3400 Park Avenue | A massive Prairie style home. Though the … | Flickr View original

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  Robie House by Frank Lloyd Wright, Hyde Park, IL | Naotake Murayama | Flickr View original

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  Hillside House a Modernn Prairie Style Home | by WEST STUDIO… | Flickr View original

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• Emerged in late 19th and early 20th centuries as response to unique Midwestern landscape and cultural context
• Characterized by horizontal lines, flat or hipped roofs with broad overhanging eaves, and windows grouped in horizontal bands
• Emphasizes open floor plans and craftsmanship
• Utilizes natural materials (wood, stone)
• Incorporates geometric shapes, particularly squares and rectangles
• Creates strong connection between interior and exterior spaces through large windows and transitional areas (porches, terraces)
• Integrates design with surrounding landscape
• Features low-profile designs inspired by flat Midwestern terrain
• Employs earth-toned color palettes reflecting natural hues of the region

Prominent Architects and Designs

• Frank Lloyd Wright pioneered Prairie style architecture
  • Developed philosophy of organic architecture harmonizing human habitation with nature
  • Introduced concept of "breaking the box" to open up interior spaces
  • Utilized clerestory windows for natural lighting
  • Employed "compression and release" in spatial design for dramatic effect
• Other notable Prairie School architects
  • George Elmslie further developed and popularized the style
  • William Gray Purcell contributed to spreading Prairie style throughout the Midwest
• Examples of iconic Prairie style buildings
  • Robie House in Chicago, Illinois (Frank Lloyd Wright)
  • Unity Temple in Oak Park, Illinois (Frank Lloyd Wright)
  • Purcell-Cutts House in Minneapolis, Minnesota (William Gray Purcell and George Elmslie)

Regional Variations and Influences

• Midwestern architecture often incorporates Prairie style elements
• May include features from other regional vernacular styles
• Influenced by harsh Midwestern climate
  • Central hearths or fireplaces symbolize shelter and warmth
  • Designs prioritize protection from extreme weather conditions
• Landscaping plays crucial role in extending architectural lines
  • Gardens and plantings create seamless transition between built and natural environments
  • Native plants often used to complement architectural design
• Regional materials prominently featured
  • Limestone quarried from local sources
  • Locally-sourced wood species (oak, maple)
  • Brick manufactured in the region

Arts and Crafts Influence on Regional Styles

Arts and Crafts Movement Impact

• Originated in England, significantly influenced Midwestern and Prairie architecture
• Emphasized craftsmanship, simplicity, and use of natural materials
• Promoted integration of art and architecture
  • Influenced development of total design concepts in modern architecture
  • Architects often designed both buildings and furnishings (Gamble House by Greene and Greene)
• Encouraged use of local materials and traditional building techniques
• Valued handcrafted details and custom-made elements
• Rejected mass-produced, ornate Victorian styles in favor of simpler aesthetics
• Examples of Arts and Crafts influence in Midwest
  • Gustav Stickley furniture designs
  • Craftsman-style bungalows in cities like Chicago and Detroit

Frank Lloyd Wright's Contributions

• Developed concept of organic architecture
  • Sought to create harmony between human habitation and natural environment
  • Influenced by principles of Arts and Crafts movement
• Revolutionized residential architecture by opening up interior spaces
• Created strong horizontal emphasis inspired by flat Midwestern landscape
• Incorporated Japanese architectural influences
  • Emphasized simplicity and integration with nature
  • Used sliding screens and modular design principles
• Developed "Usonian" homes as affordable housing solution
  • Incorporated many Prairie style elements on smaller scale
  • Examples include Jacobs House in Madison, Wisconsin
• Influenced generations of architects through his principles and designs
  • Taliesin Fellowship trained many prominent architects
  • Wright's work studied in architectural schools worldwide

Landscape and Midwestern Design

Natural Environment Integration

• Vast, open prairies directly inspired horizontal emphasis and low-profile designs
• Large windows and glass walls blur boundaries between interior and exterior
• Use of natural materials creates strong connection to local environment
  • Stone foundations often blend with surrounding terrain
  • Wood siding weathers naturally to match landscape
• Designs respond to Midwestern climate challenges
  • Deep roof overhangs provide shade in summer and protect from rain
  • Strategic window placement allows for natural ventilation
• Examples of landscape integration
  • Fallingwater in Pennsylvania showcases integration with natural water feature
  • Taliesin in Wisconsin built using local limestone and designed to follow contours of hillside

Functional Design Elements

• Open floor plans reflect spaciousness of Midwestern landscape
• Central hearths serve as focal points and practical heating solutions
• Built-in furniture and storage maximize efficiency in smaller homes
• Emphasis on horizontal lines echoes flat terrain
  • Long, low-slung rooflines mimic horizon
  • Ribbon windows reinforce horizontal aesthetic
• Use of natural light through clerestory windows and skylights
  • Reduces need for artificial lighting
  • Creates connection to daily and seasonal light cycles
• Integration of indoor and outdoor living spaces
  • Covered porches and patios extend living areas
  • Terraces and balconies provide elevated outdoor spaces

Regional Styles and Modern American Architecture

Influence on Residential Design

• Open floor plans significantly impacted modern home layouts
• Integration of indoor and outdoor spaces became fundamental principle
  • Popularized use of floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding glass doors
  • Influenced development of California Modern style (Case Study Houses)
• Horizontal emphasis and low-profile designs influenced mid-century ranch houses
  • Cliff May's California ranch homes show clear Prairie style influence
  • Post-war suburban developments adopted simplified Prairie style elements
• Use of natural materials inspired organic modernism
  • Architects like Alvar Aalto incorporated wood and stone in modernist designs
  • Eero Saarinen's Miller House showcases blend of modernism and natural materials

Broader Architectural Impact

• Frank Lloyd Wright's principles influenced architectural education and practice globally
• Regional focus contributed to development of critical regionalism
  • Emphasized importance of local context and vernacular traditions
  • Architects like Luis Barragán in Mexico incorporated regional elements into modernist designs
• Integration of art and architecture influenced total design concepts
  • Eames House in California exemplifies unified approach to architecture and furnishings
• Sustainable design principles trace roots to Prairie style's connection with nature
  • Passive solar design concepts evident in Wright's solar hemicycle houses
  • Green roofs and living walls extend Prairie style's integration with landscape
• Influence on commercial and institutional architecture
  • Mies van der Rohe's horizontal emphasis in buildings like Farnsworth House
  • Frank Lloyd Wright's Larkin Administration Building set precedent for open-plan offices