Prairie School
1900-1930
The Prairie School style, flourishing primarily in the United States, found its most significant presence in the Midwest, states like Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The style can be traced to the work of American architect Louis Sullivan, often called the "father of skyscrapers." Sullivan's emphasis on organic ornamentation and his concept of "form follows function" laid the groundwork for the Prairie School. Frank Lloyd Wright, who worked in Sullivan's firm, became a key figure in developing this style.
Led by visionaries like Frank Lloyd Wright, this movement rejected European influences in favor of a unique American identity. Wright and notable architects such as Marion Mahony Griffin and Walter Burley Griffin drew inspiration from the American Midwest's expansive prairie landscape. The style departed from traditional vertical designs and influenced the modernist movements with its commitment to simplicity and functionality.
Led by visionaries like Frank Lloyd Wright, this movement rejected European influences in favor of a unique American identity. Wright and notable architects such as Marion Mahony Griffin and Walter Burley Griffin drew inspiration from the American Midwest's expansive prairie landscape. The style departed from traditional vertical designs and influenced the modernist movements with its commitment to simplicity and functionality.
Important Features
Horizontal Emphasis
Prairie School Architecture champions a distinctive emphasis on horizontal lines over vertical ones. This intentional emphasis creates a sense of continuity with the expansive, flat landscapes of the American Midwest. This departure from traditional vertical designs fosters a harmonious relationship between the structure and its natural surroundings, echoing the vastness of the prairie with their low, flat roofs, long bands of windows, and horizontal detailing.
Integration with Nature
Integration with nature in Prairie School Architecture manifests through deliberate design choices that seamlessly blend structures with their surroundings. With natural materials like stone and wood, these buildings often feature open floor plans and extended sheltered eaves. Flat or low-pitched roofs emphasize a connection to the landscape, while large windows invite natural light and frame outdoor views. The architectural intention is to dissolve boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces, creating a harmonious relationship with the environment.
Open Floor Plans
Open floor plans, characterized by the intentional absence of traditional interior walls, create expansive, interconnected living spaces. This design eliminates compartmentalization, allowing for fluid movement and unity within the home. Large, uninterrupted areas facilitate an open, flexible layout, enhancing social interaction and room connectivity. The emphasis on open floor plans reflects the Prairie School's commitment to simplicity and functionality while fostering a harmonious relationship between the built environment and the natural surroundings.
Ornamentation
Though favoring simplicity, Prairie School Architecture adopts subtle yet distinctive decorative ornamentation, showcasing craftsmanship. Architectural details like stained glass windows, intricate brickwork, and custom tiles serve as adornments, adding a touch of artistry to the structures. Contrary to the ornate European styles of the time, Prairie School's ornamentation aligns with the movement's ethos of simplicity. These embellishments, though understated, contribute to the overall aesthetic appeal, reflecting the architects' dedication to marrying functionality with artistic expression.
Flat or Low-Pitched Roofs
A defining feature of Prairie School buildings is their flat or low-pitched roofs. The design, departing from traditional steep roofs, provides a clean and modern profile emphasizing the horizontal continuity with the expansive American prairie. This architectural choice complements the emphasis on horizontal lines and creates sheltered, overhanging eaves that contribute to the integration with nature. Beyond aesthetics, these roofs serve as practical elements, contributing to the movement's functional and innovative approach to design, which is characteristic of Prairie School Architecture.