June 1867 brought about a birth of a baby boy named Frank Lincoln Wright; whom later became a famous architect in Richland Center, Wisconsin known as Frank Lloyd Wright. Frank led a regular life with his parents, William Cary and Anna Lloyd. Following his parent's tragic divorce, Frank changed his name to Frank Lloyd. Once reaching 12 years of age, Frank and his family moved to Madison, where he spent his summers working at his uncle's farm. This is where Frank first gathered the notion that he wanted to be an architect. In 1885, Frank left Madison High school without finishing and began working for the Dean of Wisconsin's University Engineering Departmentand studying civil engineering before moving to Chicago in 1887.
Chicago brought Frank a new job working with architect Joseph Silsbee. Here Frank managed to draft the construction of his very first building, which he entitled the Lloyd-Jones family chapel which is sometimes referred to as Unity Chapel. After just one year, Frank left Silsbee and began to work with Adler and Sullivan's firm, working directly under Louis Sullivan. Frank claims that Sullivan was one of his primary influences. Most influential was Sullivan's theory that American architecture should be based on American lifestyle, NOT European traditions.
While working with Sullivan, Frank fell in love with Catherine Tobin, whom he moved to Illinois with and later raised together 5 children. In 1893, Frank and Sullivan stopped working together and Wright opened his own firm in Chicago, where he ran it in operation for 5 years before transferring it to his home in Illinois.
Frank's original houses displayed a special technique in the young man's ability. They took on the impression of a horizontal plane, with no basements or attics, his buildings were made of natural materials and not once were painted. Frank used low roof lines with deep overhangs and walls full of windows to make the buildings look as if they fit into their environments better. Most often, his homes included a large stone or brick fireplace in the home's center and also made the rooms open to each other without the complexity of hallways. These relaxed style homes proved to be an inspiration to the the 'Prairie School', a group of architectures of which Frank later became on of their chief practitioners.
In 1909, problems arose in Frank's home, which made him leave to Germany with a woman named Mamah Cheney. They returned in 1911, to Spring Green, Wisconsin where Frank's mother had given him a portion of land. The land he acquired was upon the same farm, where his dream of becoming an architect began. Frank created 'Taliesin', where he and Mamah lived until 1914 when tragedy struck and Mamah was brutally murdered by an insane servant, whom then set fire to the home. It was believed that this tragedy would end Frank's career but he strived to prove them wrong.
Throughout the next 20 years, Frank's architectural influence raised in popularity across the United States and Europe. Within time, his style became familiar over seas. In 1915, Frank was commissioned to design the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. During this time, Frank became devoted to developing and refining his architectural and sociological philosophies. Frank immensely disliked the urban environment, therefor his style became quite different from other architects. Frank used natural materials, skylights and many many windows to embrace the natural environment. Frank even built skyscrapers that resembled trees in many ways. They withheld a central 'trunk' and branches that projected outwards. Frank stated that shapes in the environment should be integrated and become the basis of American architecture. An example of this style can be found at Larkin Company Administration Building in Buffalo, NY.
1932 brought about a sort of change for Frank. He opened the Taliesin as a fellowship where students could pay to learn from him. Through this fellowship, Frank created buildings such as "Falling Water" in Pennsylvania and the "SC Johnson and Son Wax Company Administration Center" in Wisconsin. During this time, Frank also progressed through yet another marriage and divorce, and than met Olivanna Milanoff. The two lived at the Taliesin for another 5 years and raised a child. As the couple aged, the winters became too much for them and they moved to Arizona in 1937. Here, Frank built Taliesin West and spent the final 20 years of his life.
Taliesin West again proved to be a new experiment for Frank, as with the year round climate, he was able to integrate the outdoors with his indoor space. He incorporated high sloping roofs with translucent ceilings, and large open doors and windows to provide a slight distinction between the environment and the home. As the fellowship grew, Frank continued to add on to both Taliesin and Taliesin West making them constant projects of development.
April 1959, brought about the death of Frank Lloyd Wright. Frank's work had become internationally recognized for its innovative style and contemporary designs. He had created 1,141 designs of which only 532 were completed. His name was closely tied to meaning great design, not just because of the form but also the function. He left our world, showing not what to live in but he influenced the nature of HOW we live.