1. Prairie Style Architecture
CEA Student
Civil Engineering and Architecture
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2. Exemplar Prairie Style Architecture
Civil Engineering and Architecture
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1– History of Civil Engineering and Architecture
Prairie Style Architecture
Developed by Frank Lloyd Wright
Early 1900s
Typically residential structures
One to two stories
Materials varied:
Plaster with wood trim
Horizontal board and batten siding
Concrete block
Located across U.S.
Frank Lloyd Wright began to develop the prairie style in 1889 with the design of his own home and studio in Oak Park, Illinois. The prairie style of architecture became more recognizable and popular in the early 1900s, and many other architects picked up the style and created prairie style designs.
The materials used in prairie style home construction varied over time. Early examples used plaster with wood trim. Later, horizontal board and batten siding, concrete block, and brick were also used.
There remain many examples of prairie style architecture across the United States with a large concentration of historic prairie style homes in the Chicago/Oak Park area of Illinois where Frank Lloyd Wright lived for several years.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2010

3. Exemplar Prairie Style Architecture
Civil Engineering and Architecture
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1– History of Civil Engineering and Architecture
Characteristics of Prairie Style
The Prairie Style is dominated by low horizontal lines.
Central chimney
©istockphoto.com
Wide overhanging eaves
Low pitched roof
Often hip roof
Robie House
The most dominant characteristic of a prairie style home is the low horizontal lines. Several factors contribute to this low profile, including a low pitched roof and wide overhanging eaves.
Most prairie styles homes also have a central chimney.
The interior design of prairie styles homes typically includes an open floor plan.
Two of the more famous Frank Lloyd Wright prairie style homes are the Fredrick C. Robie house in Chicago [click] and Falling Water (E. Kaufman, Sr.) in Mill Run, Pennsylvania. Can you identify the important characteristics of prairie style architecture in these two examples?
Darwin D. Martin House in Buffalo, NY
Architect : Frank Lloyd Wright
©istockphoto.com
Falling Water
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2010

4. Exemplar Prairie Style Architecture
Civil Engineering and Architecture
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1– History of Civil Engineering and Architecture
References
Sommer, R. L. (1997). Frank Lloyd Wright – A gatefold portfolio. Barnes & Noble Books, Inc.
Prairie Styles. (2006). An online museum. Retrieved January 7, 2009, from
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2010