by Debbie Paulsen

Created on: November 17, 2008   Last Updated: January 07, 2009

During the industrial revolution in America, times were changing at a rapid pace. New advancements in technology brought about new tools, and new building products were coming available to a hungry construction industry faster than ever before. When speaking of the industial revolution and the effects of new building materials, one of the greatest and most innovative architects to ever live was Franklin Lloyd Wright. The man is most likely the most well known of all architects.

Franklin Wright had a career that not only spanned the great depression, but the resulting rebound that came to be known as the industrial revolution. He was born in 1867, and the story goes that his mother said he was going to be an architect, and build great things(Secrest. 2007). He was an innovative man, with a lot of ideas. Wright wanted a different style from the heavy victorian style, popular in his day, he wanted to develop a unique American style of architecture. Franklin Wright, (Secrest 1998) "was of the opinion that a home should be in harmony with the landscape surrounding it". Mr.Wright believed that the buildings should blend into their setting. Not invisible, more like very visible only it would look like the building was there because it belonged in the place that it was, because it was part of the surroundings. He favored a form of architecture known as organic, that was described by Gluek(2007) as, " architecture that promotes harmony, between humans and the natural world"(N.Y.times).

Mr. Wright was was always in search of new materials, and new ideas to incorporate into his designs. The industrial revolution was a time of advances in technology for a man with the creative genius and knowledge of engineering to try new techniques. Mr. Wright made full use of the new products as they became available.

It was during his era that concrete became a brand new product on the market. The beautiful Unity Church, located in Wisconsin, according to Delmar (2005) was the " one of the first significant American architectural statements created in poured concrete".

Plywood was another product that came out new in Mr. Wright's time, and he experimented with many design ideas using it. He is famous for his "light screen" creations. The Bernard Schwartz house in Two Rivers, Wisconsin was one of his more notable designs, using plywood for his light screens. Secrest (1998) explains " by sandwiching clear glass between the two layers of plywood, he would then cut shapes and patterns in the plywood. This would then allow the glass to let through patterns of light onto indoor surfaces of the home(p.58).

In 1901. his prairie house idea took hold. He used a lot of plywood and glass in the construction of these low slung, horizontal line homes. There were minimal wall partitions for openness, and plywood was key to the abundance of built in accessories that became very popular. Wright felt the home should be built and centered around the family unit. The Frederick Robie house in Chicago in 1908 is an excellent example of his prairie houses. Wright incorporated glass and plywood in many of his open homes, to create open space floor plans.

Throughout the seventy years his career spanned, when Franklin Lloyd Wright was devoted to architecture, he created over 1000 design plans, over 400 developed into the final phase construction. Mr. Wright has also had the honor of seventeen of the buildings that he created, designated by the (AIA)American Institute of Architects to be preserved as an example of his architectural contribution to American culture" (Delmar. 2005), and the industrial revolution.

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