Frank Lloyd Wright
The Greatest American Architect of all Time:Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright (1867,1959) who had influenced the entire course of
American Architecture, is no doubt one of the most influential American
architects of the 21st century. Even during his lifetime, Wright was
considered a legend. It might be true that, as some claim, this was due
to Wright's a natural ability for self promotion and his scandal-laden
personal life (the failure of his first two marriages and for the 1914
fire and murders at his Taliesin studio). However, Wright's creativity
and originality played a greater role in the creation of the Wright
legend.
Not only Wright was an architect, he also was an interior designer,
writer, educator, and philosopher. Wright designed more than 1,000
projects, but only 500 of them were built.
Wright is also well known for promoting organic architecture, and
developing the concept of the Usonian home. He is also noted for
designing many of interior elements such as furniture and stained glass
accents in buildings he desgined.
Frank
Lloyd Wright, who was born in 1867, attended a Madison high school but
it's not documented that he ever graduated. He was admitted to the
University of Wisconsin in 1886, but his record there was not an
inspiring one. While attending classes at the university, he joined the
Fraternity of Phi Delta Theta, took classes part-time for two
semesters, and worked with a professor of civil engineering, Allan D.
Conover. In 1887, Wright left the school without completing a degree.
However, in 1955, four years before he died, he was granted an honorary
Doctorate of Fine Arts from the University.
In 1887 he moved to Chicago and there he joined the architectural firm
of Joseph Lyman Silsbee. Later, and in less than a year, he had left
Silsbee to work for the firm of Adler & Sullivan as a draftsman.
Later in 1890, he was assigned all residential design work for the firm. However, in 1893 he was fired by Sullivan because Sullivan discovered that Wright had been accepting private commissions. That Wright was Sullivan's favored employee, he felt betrayed and asked Wright to leave the firm. It was after leaving Sullivan, when Wright established his own practice at his home.
To be continued.....
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