My last few days in Chicago. You may notice a lot of Frank Lloyd Wright in this post. Good thing Joaquin’s mom (Claudia’s aunt) is an architect. No idea what she thinks of Prairie School style architecture, but I like it.
Here we begin at the Robie House in Hyde Park, on the south side of Chicago, the neighborhood where Claudia lives.
Sometimes you have to get outside of the University of Chicago bubble. Like literally.
Palmisano Park in the Bridgeport neighborhood used to be a limestone quarry but reopened in 2009 as a restored prairie, fishing pond, and recreational trail. It’s affectionately called Mount Bridgeport. What is a mountain doing in a prairie? Maybe the Mayors Daley buried their secrets under there. Where have I heard that prairie word before?
The marvelous landscape architecture of Jens Jensen and the Garfield Park Conservatory. The structure itself was designed by Jensen in collaboration with Prairie School architects Schmidt, Garden and Martin. I used to frequent this free public treasure when I lived in the neighborhood, especially in the winter.
I’m also noticing a glass dome theme.
Cousins by the Moroccan mosaic fountain
The Desert Room, my personal favorite.
On to the suburb of Oak Park, home of Frank Lloyd Wright’s residence and studio for the first twenty years of his career.
Wright designed the building and all of the furniture.
The dining room table with its high-backed chairs becomes a room within a room.
The master bedroom
The tour guide was very engaging.
The playroom. The Wrights had six children.
The studio. This is where the magic happened.
The Octagonal Library
You can see other Wright-designed homes in the self-guided walking tour. Somebody lives here!
The “budget” model. Little House on the Prairie?
A Prairie Home Companion?
An English tudor with Mayan influence. I thought it was a Bavarian cottage. Please explain, Frank. I’m out of prairie puns.
Architects may come and
Architects may go and
Never change your point of view.
When I run dry
I stop awhile and think of you.
. . .
So long, Chicago.
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