Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House and Stained Glass

The Frederick C. Robie, built in 1909,  is a prime example of Frank Lloyd Wright's prairie style homes.  Low to the ground so as to blend in with the trees and nature around it,  the Robie house fits beautifully into the surrounding University of Chicago campus.  After the Robie family, university students used this home as dormitories.  Unfortunately, many of the students felt the need to take tokens from their rooms home.   Wall scones, other light fixtures, and finials were all stolen from the home by the students.  Perhaps they wanted a memory from their lives there or they already knew the fame of Mr. Wright.

Frederick C. Robie House, 1909 Hyde Park 

Prairie style has its roots in Wright's homeland -  the flat, expansive prairie land of the American Northwest.  The construction materials for a prairie style home were all natural and ornamentation included art glass windows, or "light screens" as Mr. Wright called them.  Light screens were designed to blur the line between the inside and outside.   When walking around the Robie house, there were moments that I felt like I was outside again.

There are 174 art glass windows in the Robie house.  Wright's collection of light screens can revile La Forge and Tiffany, but he did in fact reject their style completely by creating windows that were mostly clear glass with touches of color. The colored glass was most often used to create triangles, chevron motifs, and other geometric forms.  He called his stained glass windows light screens because they reminded him of Japanese Shoji screens. Wright was hugely influenced by Japanese art and style.  Think of Japanese art work the next time you look at some of Wright's work, you will see the connection.

I thought this window showed the touches of color and triangle motif the best.  

The Robie House was the first Wright house I have visited.  On my long list of things to do before I die is Falling Waters of course.   For now, I will have to enjoy my Robie House photos and the Wright home installation at The Met Museum.