Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House: The Illustrated Story of an Architectural Masterpiece

by Donald Hoffmann

Frank Lloyd Wright firmly believed that "life could be formed anew if new form could be brought to its setting, architecture." His revolt against customary architectural design was shared by rugged individualist Fred C. Robie, who chose Wright to build his dream house in 1908. In this painstakingly researched and illuminating account of the design and construction of the Robie home, a noted architectural authority presents an in-depth study remarkable for clarity and thoroughness.
At age 28, Robie had become a highly successful businessman who conceived the idea of building a grand home in his native Chicago. He insisted on a design incorporating features that were innovative for the hallways and stairwells situated to conserve valuable space, rooms that suggested feelings of airiness, and narrow trimmings on doorways and windows, among others. Robie's wish to shape space as a means of personal expression meshed with Wright's own feelings and spirit. The two strong-willed men formed a perfect Robie had found his architect and Wright his ideal client.
Drawing on revealing family documents, including a 1958 interview with Robie, and a host of other sources, the author has compiled an authoritative photo-history, enabling the reader to witness each stage and various transformations of a landmark of modern architecture. The text is enhanced by 160 carefully selected illustrations, including perspectives and elevations, cross-sectional drawings, floor plans, designs for windows, carpets, lighting fixtures and other furnishings, plus recent and historic photographs. Now students, architects, any lover of fine buildings can watch an architectural masterpiece take shape in this profusely illustrated history of the house Wright himself labeled "a source of world-wide architectural inspiration."

Genres: Architecture, Art

199 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 1984

Reviews

[Erin Daisy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why was there like SO MUCH information about the encased windows. Like it felt like almost a love letter to the encased windows

[David Fulmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very comprehensive history and description of the Robie House, a Frank Lloyd Wright house near the University of Chicago that expresses Wright's idea most powerfully and successfully. The book draws on archival files, designs, plans, and diagrams, construction photos and photos of the finished house, and photos from its many inhabitants. It also includes excerpts from academic research, interviews, and oral histories. It is an absurdly thorough history of the house with every detail covered. It also includes a painstakingly detailed description of each floor and room of the house, as well as its exterior. The book itself is a kind of masterpiece about a masterpiece of architecture. In some ways maybe it is a bit too thorough, but suffice it to say if you are looking for information about the Robie House you will definitely find it in this beautiful and interesting book.

[Stephen Rynkiewicz]

Blocks from the Obama Presidential Library, Robie House stands to grow as a University of Chicago tourist attraction. In training as a volunteer tour guide, I found Hoffman's research very thorough, taking in a lot of documentation but not taking it at face value. It's rightly human centered: Wright created not just a home plan but a design for living. Not everything went according to plan, but Robie House became the architect's calling card, the capstone of his Prairie School work.

[SusanwithaGoodBook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loads of information here, but I particularly enjoyed the details of life in the Robie house from the children who lived there. I also loved the old photos. This book tells about the house before it was almost destroyed by neglect. I'm happy to say that the house has been restored, so I look forward to a new book someday that details that restoration.