flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Unity Temple, Robie House among eight Frank Lloyd Wright projects to receive World Heritage status

Architects

Unity Temple, Robie House among eight Frank Lloyd Wright projects to receive World Heritage status

The UNESCO designation includes signature works designed by Wright during the first half of the 20th century.


By BD+C | July 8, 2019
Unity Temple (Chicago), Photo by James Caulfield, courtesy Frank Lloyd Wright Trust

Unity Temple, Chicago. Photo: James Caulfield, courtesy Frank Lloyd Wright Trust

During the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee, currently taking place in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan (June 30 - July 10, 2019), the World Heritage Committee named eight projects by Frank Lloyd Wright to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The designation, officially named “The 20th century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright,” includes signature works designed by the architect during the first half of the 20th century. They are:
• Aline Barnsdall Hollyhock House (Los Angeles)
• Fallingwater (Mill Run, Pa.)
• Frederick C. Robie House (Chicago)
• Herbert and Katherine Jacobs House (Madison, Wis.)
• Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (New York)
• Taliesin (Spring Green, Wis.)
• Taliesin West (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
• Unity Temple (Oak Park, Ill.)

On making the selection, the World Heritage Committee stated: “These buildings reflect the ‘organic architecture’ developed by Wright, which includes an open plan, a blurring of the boundaries between exterior and interior, and the unprecedented use of materials such as steel and concrete. Each of these buildings offers innovative solutions to the needs for housing, worship, work or leisure. Wright's work from this period had a strong impact on the development of modern architecture in Europe.”

In Chicago, the UNESCO designation coincides with the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust’s announcement of a new Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor and Education Center. The trust owns and maintains Wright’s Home and Studio in Oak Park, Ill., and operates public tours and programs at five Chicago area historic sites, including Unity Temple (1905-08) and Robie House (1908-10).   

“This UNESCO designation firmly establishes Wright’s place on the international stage of modern architecture,” said Celeste Adams, President & CEO of the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust.

Wright joins pioneers of modern architecture already inscribed on the prestigious list, including Gerrit Rietveld, Walter Gropius, Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier, Oscar Niemeyer and Lucio Costa. There are more than 1,000 World Heritage sites around the world, and the group of Wright sites is now among 24 sites in the U.S.

 

Frederick C. Robie House, Chicago. Photo: Tim Long, courtesy Frank Lloyd Wright Trust

Frederick C. Robie House, Chicago. Photo: James Caulfield, courtesy Frank Lloyd Wright Trust

Tags

Related Stories

| Apr 23, 2014

Ahead of the crowd: How architects can utilize crowdsourcing for project planning

Advanced methods of data collection, applied both prior to design and after opening, are bringing a new focus to the entire planning process.

| Apr 23, 2014

Developers change gears at Atlantic Yards after high-rise modular proves difficult

At 32 stories, the B2 residential tower at Atlantic Yards has been widely lauded as a bellwether for modular construction. But only five floors have been completed in 18 months.

| Apr 23, 2014

Experimental bot transfers CAD plans onto construction sites

The Archibot is intended to take technical data and translate it into full-scale physical markings on construction sites.

| Apr 23, 2014

Mean and Green: Top 10 green building projects for 2014 [slideshow]

The American Institute of Architects' Committee on the Environment has selected the top ten examples of sustainable architecture and ecological design projects that protect and enhance the environment. Projects range from a project for Portland's homeless to public parks to a LEED Platinum campus center.

| Apr 23, 2014

Architecture Billings Index dips in March

The March ABI score was 48.8, down sharply from a mark of 50.7 in February. This score reflects a decrease in design services.

Sponsored | | Apr 23, 2014

Ridgewood High satisfies privacy, daylight and code requirements with fire rated glass

For a recent renovation of a stairwell and exit corridors at Ridgewood High School in Norridge, Ill., the design team specified SuperLite II-XL 60 in GPX Framing for its optical clarity, storefront-like appearance, and high STC ratings.

| Apr 22, 2014

Transit-friendly apartment building now under construction

The new $44 million community is situated on eight acres, directly adjacent to the local Park-n-Ride, and a quick walk from a nearby light rail station.

| Apr 22, 2014

Bright and bustling: Grimshaw reveals plans for the Istanbul Grand Airport [slideshow]

In partnership with the Nordic Office of Architecture and Haptic Architects, Grimshaw Architects has revealed its plans for the terminal of what will be one of the world's busiest airports. The terminal is expected to serve 150 million passengers per year.

| Apr 21, 2014

10 design-build best practices

Design-build requires more than a good contract and appropriate risk allocation, says the DBIA. Everyone from the owner to the subcontractors must understand the process, the expectations, and fully engage in the collaboration. 

| Apr 18, 2014

Multi-level design elevates Bulgarian Children's Museum [slideshow]

Embodying the theme “little mountains,” the 35,000-sf museum will be located in a former college laboratory building in the Studenski-grad university precinct. 

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category


Urban Planning

Bridging the gap: How early architect involvement can revolutionize a city’s capital improvement plans

Capital Improvement Plans (CIPs) typically span three to five years and outline future city projects and their costs. While they set the stage, the design and construction of these projects often extend beyond the CIP window, leading to a disconnect between the initial budget and evolving project scope. This can result in financial shortfalls, forcing cities to cut back on critical project features.



Libraries

Reasons to reinvent the Midcentury academic library

DLR Group's Interior Design Leader Gretchen Holy, Assoc. IIDA, shares the idea that a designer's responsibility to embrace a library’s history, respect its past, and create an environment that will serve student populations for the next 100 years.

halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021