Great Architects Of The World: Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank Lloyd Wright is widely considered to be one of the greatest architects of the 20th century and the greatest American architect of all time. He was not only an architect, but a writer, educator and interior designer who designed and completed more than 532 structures.

Wright originally enrolled at the University of Wisconsin studying civil engineering, however in order to help pay tuition he ended up working for acclaimed architect Joseph Silsbee. The experience convinced Wright to drop out and work for Silsbee full time.

Eventually Wright began an apprenticeship with Chicago architectural firm Adler & Sullivan, working under some of the greatest American architects of the time. It was during this time that he was influenced by the 'father of skyscrapers' Louis Sullivan, sharing his dislike for the ornate European aesthetics of the time. His style would become known as distinctly American, famous for his emphasis on simplicity, later dubbed "organic architecture".

The same year after leaving Adler & Sullivan, Wright formed his own architecture firm building up his expansive portfolio.

The Imperial Hotel, Tokyo (1923)

Dwight D. Martin House, Chicago (1903)

The Dwight D. Martin House is considered by many scholars to be one of Wright's most important works. It was commission for Dwight D. Martin, a wealthy Chicago businessman, who after being so impressed with his work, became one of Wright's principle financial supporters during the early years of his career.

Taliesin, Wisconsin (1911) 

Taliesin became Wright's primary studio and his summer house, where Wright designed some of his most famous projects. Taliesin however was marred with tragedy, with the site burning down twice in his lifetime, along with several deaths on the property.

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Fallingwater, Pennsylvania (1936)

Wright's Fallingwater house is considered one of his greatest masterpieces and one of his most recognisable projects. It was designed for the Kaufmann family, with Edgar Kaufmann Sr. the President of Kaufmann's Department Store at the time. Wright managed to convince Kaufmann Sr. that his current residence wasn't worthy, and started designing the family home Fallingwater in Bear Run.

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York (1959)

Commissioned by Guggenheim, the museum took Wright 16 years to complete and settle on a design, which didn't open until six months after his death. While originally criticised for taking away from the art housed in the building, it is now considered one of the most important pieces of architecture in American history.