Emergence to Modernism: Frank Lloyd Wright

In addition to the many homes that Frank Lloyd Wright designed, he also contributed much to the modern style of commercial architecture. He was the first major modern architect and designed over 1000 structures, 532 of which were completed. Just like in his residential designs, his commercial architecture features a unity of the material, structure, and site. His organic architecture not only considered the effect that the building has on the people but on the environment as well. 

A few of Wright's commercial works included the Unity Temple, The Rookery, and the Johnson Wax Building. The Rookery which was built in 1905 in Chicago, Illinois, was an office building that housed over 600 offices. The Johnson Wax Building located in Racine, Wisconsin, was completed in 1939. The building featured a streamline, modern feel that was popular during the 1930s. Unlike his Prairie Style of architecture, the Johnson Wax Building had many curvilinear forms created using curved bricks. All of the furniture used in the building was designed specifically for the building by Wright to accentuate the  design features of the building.