The Wright Stuff

Frank Lloyd Wright is undoubtedly one of America's greatest figures in the world of architecture. From his Prairie Style to his philosophy of organic architecture, Wright's signature is decidely modern yet earthy at the same time. His use of clean lines and geometric patterns stamp his work -- buildings that are unmistakably his, both inside and out. With a lengthy career spanning decades, examples of Wright's work can be found throughout the United States.

One hotspot of Wright's work is Oak Park, Illinois, where seemingly at almost every turn you run into a building touched by Wright. The Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust offers tours of his Oak Park home and studio, where he spent the first 20 years of his career, and serves as a great starting point when visiting Oak Park. But in addition, Oak Park contains a number of private homes he designed as well as Unity Temple, his first major public building.

Seen here, Unity Temple is one of my favorite Wright works. The juxtaposition of the stark concrete outside and the natural interior is striking. I am a great fan of modern style, but often its failing is producing a feeling of being cold, icy and unforgiving. Wright's combination of modern style with natural elements is what makes his work so inviting -- in a stroke of genius, he turns modern into homey and comfortable.