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Did you know that in America, Frank Lloyd Wright is celebrated as one of the country's
most famous architects? He designed commercial buildings, apartment buildings, religious
structures, and houses. Wright drew more than a thousand designs, half of which were built.
Frank Lloyd Wright was born in 1867 in the state of Wisconsin. He studied at the University
of Wisconsin, but left school to pursue work as an architect in Chicago. His Midwestern upbringing heavily influenced
his designs as he tried to create a unique North American style of architecture.
Wright was instrumental in the formation of a style of design now known as the Prairie
School style. Common attributes of Prairie School design include elongated houses that
resemble Midwestern prairies, horizontal design elements, and indigenous construction materials.
One of Wright's most famous houses, named Fallingwater, is located in rural Western
Pennsylvania. The vacation home was built for the Kaufmann family, owners of a prominent
department store in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After four years of construction and a cost
of $155,000, Fallingwater was ready for the Kaufmann family. The house is significant
for its unification with nature. Its position over a waterfall, natural color palette, and
large open spaces around a central fireplace supported Wright's belief that buildings should
become part of nature and encourage family togetherness.
If you travel in America, you are certain to encounter Wright's architectural designs,
especially the so-called Usonian houses. The term Usonian comes from the initials "US"
for the United States and represents Wright's desire to build low-cost suburban homes for
American families. Usonian houses were single-story structures built with local materials and
situated on small plots of land. They often included a small carport that extended from
the home and covered the family's vehicle. Today many of Wright's buildings are open
to tourists. Located all over the country, these homes are excellent destinations for
those interested in learning about Wright's talents and his forward-thinking designs.