Sixty years ago on April 9, 1959, Frank Lloyd Wright passed away in Phoenix, Arizona, at the age of 91. Although the world lost an incredible architect, his work and principles still make this world better and more beautiful.

Chances are, if you ask someone to name a famous architect, they will immediately respond with Frank Lloyd Wright. As one of the most famous architects both nationally and globally, his work and ideas have influenced American architecture for almost a century. Known for embracing change and pushing conceptual and technological boundaries in his field, Wright desired to create truly original American architecture.

The Early Years

As a preacher’s kid, Wright traveled quite a bit growing up. His father moved from one ministry position to another for many years. When Wright was 18 his parents divorced, forcing him to help provide for his family financially. He began studying at the University of Wisconsin and took a job working for the dean of the engineering school. When his studies were complete, Wright moved to Chicago and began working for a prestigious architecture firm.

New Styles of Design

At 22, Wright was married. Excited to build his family home, Wright negotiated a contract with his employer to gain the necessary money. This home in suburban Chicago was modest, yet imaginative, as Wright began experimenting with geometric shapes in its design. Wright began taking residential commissions outside of his normal architectural work, which enabled him to leave his job with the firm and set out on his own.

Home on the Range

Resolute in his mission to create homegrown American architecture, Wright spent sixteen years setting the standards for what became known as the “Prairie Style.” These homes echoed the long, low horizontal prairie on which they were built. With low-pitched roofs, deep overhangs, no attics or basements, and long rows of casement windows, these Prairie Style homes became some of Wright’s most important work.

In Response to the Great Depression

With a deep financial crisis waging war on the American economy, Wright saw the need for more affordable housing. In response to this need, Wright began designing homes that would address both economic trends and cultural changes. This design became known as “Usonian”. With Usonian homes, Americans were able to buy and enjoy homes that were both beautiful and affordable. Wright spent the rest of his career designing Usonian homes for clients with varying budgets.

Architecture that Nourishes Everyman

What made Wright such a notable architect was his passion for creating homes that were “functional, eloquent, and humane”. In addition, Wright felt strongly that architecture was not simply about buildings. Architecture is about nourishing the lives of the people in them. His belief that every person should live a beautiful life in beautiful circumstances led him to create the affordable architecture he is most known for.

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Living through the Depression Era in full effect, Frank Lloyd Wright reimagined city life in a way that would allow its residents to truly survive. Based on the automobile, Broadacre City was a new, democratic city that focused on the growth of the individual.

“[A] city is not an arrangement of roads, buildings and spaces, it is a society in action. The city is a process, rather than a form.” Lionel March on Frank Lloyd Wright’s vision for Broadacre City

Urban Development Problems Persist

Urban development has experienced difficulties. Even as Broadacre City was being dreamt up, urban America was deteriorating. Presently, many of our large cities are declining and being abandoned. According to Dean John Meunier, urban life is being destroyed by the lack of meaningful theory of urban land use and unrestrained private development. Meunier says, “What is needed more than theory is a reintroduction of value, and it was in just that area that Broadacre City had its strength. As Wright well knew, only when values are put first will technology become a tool rather than master.”

Broadacre City Values

Evidently, Wright wanted to give architectural and urban form to the ideas of his contemporaries. Along with these economists, pragmatists and political progressives, Wright believed democracy to be a way of life more than a form of government. Value should be placed on the individual, not the government.

“The Old City”, with its pockets of undeserved power and privilege, was being reorganized. A new democratic city, one that would utilize modern technology to its advantage, was coming. Instead of absentee ownership, residents of Broadacre City would own their home, land, and place of work. Also, things like utilities and transportation would be owned by the public, not corporations.

Land and Freedom for All

One feature of Broadacre City was that each freestanding home would have some land attached to it. Every family would have a plot to garden and grow their own food, which was very much at the top of their minds during the Great Depression. Another interesting fact to note is that Wright knew the importance of families spending as much time together as possible. In Broadacre City, many of the residents would work from home. In this aspect, Wright’s vision is coming to life with many jobs now being done remotely.

A Vision Never Completely Realized

Even though Broadacre City ever came to fruition, Wright was able to complete individual projects that addressed his concepts.  Until his death in 1959, Wright worked to add what would have been the exemplification of the new city to his work. This included moderate cost housing, community, and public facilities, commercial and manufacturing buildings, which were all designed to enhance life and showcase beauty and excellence.

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