Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio Tour

1. Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio Tour Rick McNees – Interpreter 630-983-1820 mail@mcnees.org April 2011, Revised April 2012

2. 0 – Rules Please help us protect this site and it contents and preserve it for future visitors – please use museum behavior while in the home and studio. • Backpacks, bags, parcels, and cameras must be checked before entering the museum. • There is no interior photography, so we do require that cameras be among the items checked at this time. • Food and beverages are not permitted inside the museum: please consume, discard, or check these items. Please also discard chewing gum before entering the building. • There is no smoking inside the museum or on our campus. • Do not touch or lean on walls, furnishings, or artifacts. • Turn off cell phones and other non-Wright-era communication devices. • Please stay with your group throughout your tour. Do not open closed doors or enter restricted areas. Transition – Walk down street to front of house – notice homes along Chicago Ave. Good neighbors. Rick McNees - Interpreter - 630-983-1820

3. 1 – Forest Avenue Front Historical Significant • FLW - Most significant Amer architect of all time – AIA 1991; • Wm Wright preacher, music teacher; Anna Lloyd Jones, teacher • FLW first complete work – own home & studio; • 1889-1909; w. Kitty Tobin raised six children; 1/3 of life’s works • experimental laboratory – constant renovation • Changes 1895 DR/gym, 1898 studio - restored to 1909 Home and Studio • Contrast with neighborhood - color, site, materials, shapes • Geometric shapes – triangular gabled roof; rectangular banded windows; deep eaves for shelter; sturdy base ties house/ground • ‘of the site’; organic architecture-in harmony w site & humanity; natural native materials/colors; tied to nature; set-back • Large porch – masonry grounded, lifestyle, nature, round shapes • Studio to left – flat roof, octagonal geometric shapes;tied to home by shingles,brick materials, construction Transition – Please have tickets ready as I’ll check for them at the front entrance. Rick McNees - Interpreter - 630-983-1820

4. 2 – Living Room Design creates the experience -Integrated architecture – function, furniture, ornamentation, arts • Open floor plan – break-box; flowing entry, living room, study, inglenook; earth colors; natural wood banding; horizontal • Central fireplace - Inglenook – intimate, built-ins • integrated architecture; built-in seating, cabinets, bookcases • Chairs, print table; authentic designs for house • Banded windows – window seats (side 95 renovation) • Light screens – banded, geo shapes, art design, privacy, plasticity of form – corner dissolves Decorative Arts • Entry way - Original plaster frieze - classical art, JS Bach • Japanese prints, sculpture, oriental rugs; piano pictured Transition – Pass thru study / original dining room; past connecting corridorpassageway between home & studio; note TREE; pass thru pantry to Dining Room . Rick McNees - Interpreter - 630-983-1820

5. 3 – Dining Room 1st room total environment— integrated architecture, interior design, furniture, lighting, heating, decorative arts • Lower ceiling; Sky(indirect) light carved oak grill (ash leaf) • ‘room within room’ dining table/chairs-ceiling symmetry; 1st furnituredesigns; original, designed for room • Fireplace – hearth tiles extend to entire floor • Walls – artists canvas in natural state (don’t lean) • 1895 addition extended bay (former kitchen) • Banded light screen windows – (center blocked for privacy) • Quarter-sawn red oak woodwork, cabinetry, heat register covers Transition – APPOINT last person – can use handrail – use care up-the-stairs. Rick McNees - Interpreter - 630-983-1820

6. 4 – Children’s Dormitory - Studio 1889 Wright’s studio while at Adler & Sullivan; “bootleg“ houses; converted to children’s bedrooms about 1893 (own downtown office) • Divided partition wall – restored • High Ceiling – reminiscent of Wisc farms barns legacy • Wood trim carries the eye up to the vaulted ceiling, simulate roof rafters, strength. • Opening vent to attic – flow through ventilation • Two-color paint scheme keeps room from being excessively vertical, unites the partition with end walls • Banded windows – from studio era • Built-in cabinets;hooks – coat hangar patented 1896- Mayer May • Electric lights Family/Lifestyle • Daughters, Catherine & Frances, south side; • youngest boys, David & Llewellyn, north side; older boys, Lloyd & John to Wisconsin @ aunts’ Hillside Home School, uncles’ farms Rick McNees - Interpreter - 630-983-1820

7. 5 – Master Bedroom Integrated architecture - furniture, lighting, window openings, decorative arts to make a harmonious design. • High ceiling • Two closets, one w/ window, built-in drawers, shelves, unusual for then • Stairwell, west closet, bathroom - sound buffers for bedrooms. • Balcony cut back when Studio added – northerly view of virgin prairie • Birch and Basswood – master BR different, exotic wood • Murals - Orlando Giannini ~1900;stylized American Plains Indians exotic costumes - covered w/ 8 coats paint; removed by Art Institute restoration conservators • Hanging pendant lights designed by Wright part of mural design - • Lights, Indians’ robes are Egyptian feel; Egyptology popular at time BATHROOM • Bathroom – unique for time, shared by all • Horizontal board-and-batten walls – same quarter-sawn red oak, extravagant quantity ; Japanese character • Projecting right-angle window – affords privacy & ventilation. Transition –DIRECT VISITORS INTO CATHERINE’S DAYROOM. Rick McNees - Interpreter - 630-983-1820

8. 6 – Catherine’s Dayroom Wright made each room not just a box – high/low ceilings, woodwork and trim Architecture • Low ceiling bay end (1895 addition ala dining bay below) • Intimate space for reading and sewing – (room within a room). • Banded light screen windows • Built-in furniture (wardrobe, radiator cabinets • Clerestory window, southern sun, yellow reduce heat, healing • Stencil and wall color from the original nursery decoration – Contrast 1889 decoration with distinctly Prairie-like wood trim and linen fabric wall Family/Lifestyle • Spool crib original Tobin family, ca. 1850. • Wright family in 1909 photo collage. • Framed passports used on first trip to Japan in 1905 Transition –Note Low Ceiling – We’ll learn why! Note confined space of the long narrow corridor as we move to the DOWN THE HALL TO THE CHILDREN’S PLAYROOM. Rick McNees - Interpreter - 630-983-1820

9. 7 – Children’s Playroom/Family Room • Compress/release - contrasts low-high, dark-light, narrow-wide • Room expands visually in 5 directions: mural, gallery, bay windows; skylight. • Passage directed attention to MURAL - Fisherman & Genie – kid’s favstory, from Arabian Nights – by Charles Corwin , brother of architect protégé Cecil Corwin • Ceiling – real skylight, grilles soften natural light - prickly ash tree leaves – ala dining room • Wood carries eye up/length of room visually increasing space. Auditorium theatre – Sullivan • Scaled for children - bay windows; ceiling starts child’s height. Upper gallery too low for adult • Roman brick wall treatment, unusual for interior - withstand wear & tear of children. • Kitty conducted neighborhood kindergarten - principles Friedrich Froebel, “father of kgarten”. • Upper gallery expands into attic area – visual - play area – stage or gallery. • Features FLW’s 5 acknowledged influences –Nature (window vistas, skylight grille); Froebel Blocks (balusters, Kitty’s k-garten); Japanese Prints (displayed for children, side lights); Lou Sullivan; Music (e.g., piano, concerts) • Grand piano - under/above stairs conserve space - risers hinged; trap-door landing for sound • Lincoln logs – invented by architect son – John Lloyd Wright Transition - APPOINT Last Person – Caution – head/piano - Down stairs Note 1895 KITCHEN – period – not original. Ice boxes (6) • EXIT TO THE COURTYARD. Rick McNees - Interpreter - 630-983-1820

10. 8 – Studio Exterior – Chicago Ave • Bold geometric shapes – express space within • Same natural materials, colors,textures as home; - concrete foundation ties structure to ground;- brick base wainscotties studio/home together; - design windows • Originally broad steps, wall added; privacy; created Path of Discovery –(ala Japanese garden) each turn different views, features; door search – five turns to interior • Wright Logo – Cross/circle/square – urns • Decorative arts – Bouldersby Richard Bock • Stork Capitals – concept by FLW, sculpted by Richard Bock: - Tree of life, books of knowledge and architectural specs; - pendant scroll embossed with plan (the architects “work”); - storks standing guard representing fertility & wisdom • Clear window panels reveal elegant interior spaces Transition –Enter, turn right, then left thru glass doors to multi-story atrium drafting room. Rick McNees - Interpreter - 630-983-1820

11. 9 – Drafting Room Here FLW & Associates produced Prairie Style • Ornament integrated w/ function; octagonal ceiling, • windows, chains, balcony, furniture, fireplace • open multi story vertical space - balcony, light from above; - (Larkin Bldg, Unity Temple, Johnson Wax Bldg, Guggenheim) • Chains - horizontal counteract outward forces – vertical support mezzanine • Clarestory light-screen windows • Balcony arts - sculpture, drawing, art glass - Shelf ala beams • Ground floor; architects’ drafting tables, print cabinets ala pillars, windows • Vault – storage of architectural drawings as well as Japanese prints • Fireplace – central feature like in a home – Hellar Maidens by Bock • Associates - MarionMahony, William Drummond, Walter Burley Griffin, Barry Byrne, OrlandoGiannini – associates went on to distinguished careers • Buildings created here: Unity Temple; Thomas, Heurtley,Gale,MamahBorthwick & Edwin Cheney Residence; RobieHouse – AIA most significant of 20th century Transition –- Exit past / note Robie House model – Pass thru Wrights Office to Reception Rick McNees - Interpreter - 630-983-1820

12. 9a – Reception Room OFFICE • Business office, only telephone; Isabel Roberts • Wood trim , ceiling, linear quality wood enlivens space • Shelfat door-top height for photos, fresh/dried foliage, art • Lay light art glass and art glass windows. RECEPTION ROOM • Low-ceiling – contrast to drafting room and library • Lay light panels (1904–05) of most intricate Wright designed • Detailed elegance – rich colors, warm wood • Plan desk for contractors - check blueprints with draftsmen • Separation from busy noisy Chicago Avenue Transition – Follow into Library. Rick McNees - Interpreter - 630-983-1820

13. 10 – Library One of Wright’s favorite rooms – form fitted to function— private reading room; client consultation / presentation space • “library“ - original intent “free, circulating fine arts library“ to neighborhood • Octagonal form rotates several times – table legs • Skylight - frosted glass – diffused light • High windows - tree tops – best natural light • High cabinets - building samples (bricks, stone, wood trim) • Drawing display panels • Furniture – designed purpose built • Fireplace– offset flu/chimney; Magnesite floor- sawdust, concrete Transition – LEAD THE GROUP OUT THE WEST DOOR OF THE STUDIO. HOLD DOOR OPEN. CLOSE THE DOOR - BE SURE IT IS LOCKED. PROCEED TO THE GINGKO TREE. Rick McNees - Interpreter - 630-983-1820

14. 11 – Close – Gingko Tree • H&S restored to 1909 • Anna’s house – 1860’s – Mother & Sister - Admin for FLWPT • Gingko tree – Blair property – amateur horticulturist • Garage – 1911 after return – apartment income • Gift shop – more materials – tour, mentioned people, bldgs • Stay involved – Support FLWPT – • Sign up • Join FLWPT – savings on purchases – tour (s) • Tour Unity – Robie House – Rookery Building • Volunteer • Financial support - $3.5mm FLW H&S - $10mm Robie • Thank you • Questions Retrieve checked items – Visit Gift Shop Rick McNees - Interpreter - 630-983-1820