Robie, Frederick C., House - Chicago, IL
Posted by: 
Hikenutty
N 41° 47.382 W 087° 35.751
16T E 450490 N 4626598
The Robie House is considered by many to be the penultimate prairie-style house by Frank Lloyd Wright. It can be found on the University of Chicago campus.
Waymark Code: WM1VRG
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 07/15/2007
Views: 54
The Robie House is considered by many to be the penultimate prairie-style house by Frank Lloyd Wright. The horizontal aspect, large planes, open spaces, and central axis are all part of the prairie style and they are all used beautifully in this building.
Robie was a wealthy bicycle and motorcycle manufacturer and he commissioned a home that would shield his family from outsiders, even though it existed close to corner streets in Chicago.
Paul Kruty, in the AIA Guide to Chicago, describes the Robie House this way: "Space is defined not by walls, in the conventional sense, but by a series of horizontal planes intercepted by vertical wall fragments and rectangular piers. These horizontals extend far beyond the enclosures, defining exterior space as well and echoing the flat midwestern landscape that so inspired the architect."
The University of Chicago owns the Robie House, donated in 1963 by Webb & Knapp, Inc., a contracting firm that bought the home in 1957 from the neighboring Chicago Theological Seminary. The building, gift shop, tours and restoration are managed by the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust.
Guided tours of the inside of the house are available.
Ticket prices: $12 adult, $10 youth (11-18) and senior (65+), $5 child (4-10), free tickets for children 3 and under.
Tour Schedule:
Monday-Wednesday and Friday 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm.
Thursday 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm, 4 pm, 5 pm, 6 pm (June - August)
Weekends Approximately every 30 minutes from 11:00 am to 3:30 pm.
Tour length 45-60 minutes.
Street address:
5757 Woodlawn Ave.
Chicago, IL USA
60
County / Borough / Parish: Cook
Year listed: 1966
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture
Periods of significance: 1900-1924
Historic function: Domestic
Current function: Museum (Education is listed on database, but it's now used as a museum)
Privately owned?: yes
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Hours of operation: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.