Frank Lloyd Wright: Key Concepts in Modern Architecture

These flashcards cover significant terms and concepts related to Frank Lloyd Wright and his architectural work, aimed at enhancing understanding and retention of the material for exam preparation.

Frank Lloyd Wright

(1867 - 1959) An American architect known for his innovative contributions to modern architecture.

Le Corbusier

A Swiss-French architect who is also regarded as a modern architecture master.

Modern Masters

A term used to describe prominent architects like Wright, Le Corbusier, and Mies van der Rohe.

Prairie Houses

Wright's early architectural style known for horizontal lines, built from 1900 to 1920.

Usonian Houses

Affordable, energy-efficient homes designed by Wright aimed at the American middle class, built between 1930 and 1959.

Art and Craft of the Machine

Wright’s theoretical work presented as a lecture text at Hull House in Chicago in 1903.

Organic Architecture

Wright's design philosophy that promotes harmony between human habitation and the natural world.

Changes in American architecture

Refers to the evolution in style and design principles influenced by Wright's work.

Unity Temple

A building designed by Wright in Oak Park, Illinois, representing a shift towards modernist expressions in religious architecture.

Robie House

Completed in 1909, this house exemplifies Wright's Prairie style and his concepts of organic architecture.

Fallingwater

A renowned house designed by Wright in 1935, notable for its incorporation over a waterfall.

Hearth

Significant in Wright's domestic architecture, symbolizing home and domesticity.

Cantilever

A structural element fixed at only one end, notably used by Wright in his designs.

Textile Block Houses

A series of houses designed by Wright using decorative concrete blocks.

The Great Room

A term used for the central living space in Wright's domestic architecture, emphasizing open plan layouts.

S. C. Johnson Wax Building

An administrative building in Racine, Wisconsin, designed by Wright using innovative materials like polycarbonate.

Taliesin

Wright’s home and architectural school located in Wisconsin, representing his architectural philosophy.

Usonian design

A term for the distinct style associated with Wright's affordable housing concepts.

Critique of Wright

Refers to various opinions on his work, suggesting he was isolated in his architectural views.

Art Deco

An influential visual arts design style that Wright's work occasionally intersected with.

Biospheric design

An approach in architecture that emphasizes harmony with the environment, similar to Wright's philosophies.

Geometric ornamentation

Wright’s use of geometric shapes and motifs in his designs as an expression of organic architecture.

The Ennis House

Wright's 1923 textile block house in Los Angeles, recognized for its unique architectural form.

Taliesin West

Wright's Arizona architectural school and winter home, reflecting his design principles.

Beth Sholom Synagogue

The only synagogue design by Wright, notable for its striking modernist architecture.

Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium

A performance venue in Arizona, designed in Wright's iconic style.

Wright's legacy

The lasting impact of Wright’s architectural philosophy and designs on modern architecture.

Spatial flow

The seamless integration of spaces in Wright's designs, facilitating movement and interaction.

Aesthetic principles

The guiding values that influence artistic and architectural design, as established by Wright.

Harmonization with nature

Wright's principle of designing buildings that blend and complement their surrounding environment.

Shocking originality

Referring to the unprecedented nature of Wright's designs in the context of modern architecture.

Modularity in design

The use of standardized components in architectural elements, a practice utilized by Wright.