Willits House - Frank Lloyd Wright Designed Buildings on Waymarking.com

Wright used a cruciform plan with the interior space flowing around a central chimney core and extending outward onto covered verandas and open terraces.

Ward Willits was the president of an important brass and bronze foundry. His company made contributions to many architecturally significant projects. Frequent Wright artist Orlando Giannini was employed by Willits and may have been responsible for introducing the two.

The house is a massive cruciform structure, with the four wings extending from the hearth in the central core. The first floor consists of a porte cochere, entryway, and reception room on one side, and dining room and porch extension opposite in wing three. Wing two contains the great living room with high windows and a walled terrace. The fourth wing is in the rear and consists of the kitchen and staff rooms. At the front, low stucco exterior walls enclose the terrace with classical urns at the corners to further enhance the symmetry. The second floor includes the bedrooms, library and sewing room.

Wright and the Willitses became friends and in 1905; Wright made his first trip to Japan with them. However, unlike many others of Wright's patrons, their friendship did not survive the ill treatment of Wright's first wife and family and unpaid loans Wright is said to have had with Willits.

Ward Willits lived here until his death in 1954. Milton Robinson purchased the house and renovated it in the 1980s. Robinson and his artist wife Sylvie did much of the restoration themselves. Changes attempted to maintain Wright's spirit without sacrificing modern convenience. These changes include converting the former servant quarters into a master bedroom and modernizing the kitchen and bathroom facilities.

This is one of 17 Wright buildings designated by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to be retained as examples of his architectural contribution to American culture (visit link) .

Year Completed: 1901 - Designed Commissioned By: Ward Willits Nearest City or Town: Highland Park, IL Public/Private: Private Tours Available?: no Website: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
There are no specific visit requirements, however telling about your visit is strongly encouraged. Additional photos of the building or house to add to the gallery are also nice, but not required. Pictures with a GPS or you in them is highly discouraged.

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Date Logged Log User Rating   06/13/2010 BPGTJohnson visited it 04/08/2008 jwheels1 visited it

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