April 9, 2008...10:33 pm

Forest of Walls

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Drops out of Madison High.1885
Works for Allan Conover, the University of Wisconsin.
Swallows two semesters of civil engineering.
Chicago beckons.1887
Drafts the construction of Unity Chapel, the first building.
Apprentices under Louis Sullivan.
Theorizes. “Form and Function Are One.”
Marries Catherine Tobin. Raises 5 children.
Unleashes his firm. Chicago. 1893
Early works spew unique style:
Horizontal. Basement-less attic-free
Natural materials never painted
Low-pitched rooflines, yawning overhangs
Unbroken walls of window devouring the outside.

Emerges as fresh epiphany to Prairie School
Becomes a chief practitioner
Creates: Robie House, Chicago. Martin House, Buffalo.
Germany beckons. 1909.
Leaves with Mamah Borthwick Cheney
Returns with Mamah Borthwick Cheney. Taliesin. 1911.
Psychotic slave ends Mamah, six others, and sets Taliesin ablaze. 1914.
Critics predict his dissolution.
But mimics the phoenix and rebuilds Taliesin.
Influence continues to branch in United States and Europe.
Commissioned to design the Imperial Hotel. Tokyo. 1915.
Develops defines refines architectural and sociological philosophies
Utilizes natural materials, skylights and walls of window
Skyscrapers ape trees, a central trunk and branches.
Kneads shapes in the mould of Ameri-tecture.
Guggenheim Museum. NYC. 1943.

Assembles architectural fellowship. Taliesin.
30 apprentices. 1932
Marries Miriam Noel.
Leaves Miriam Noel.
Marries Olivanna Milanoff. Raises a child.
Wisconsin winters turn cruel
Family and fellowship fly to Phoenix. 1937
Builds Taliesin West.
Correct comfortable year-round climate.
Fallingwater, Bear Run.
Marries outdoors with indoor spaces.
High sloped roofs translucent ceilings large exposed doors.
Dies at home. Phoenix, Arizona. April 9, 1959
1,141 designs.
Age 92. Frank Lloyd Wright.

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