The Revolutionary Design of Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House: The Birthplace of Modern Living
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- Like, Comment, and Share our video, Subscribe if you enjoyed this video!
Step inside the revolutionary design of Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House, the birthplace of modern living. Explore the visionary architecture and open floor plan that defied tradition in the early 1900s, and learn how Wright's Prairie School principles of continuous, flexible spaces in harmony with nature continue to shape residential construction today.
Location: Chicago IL
Check out our Merch: thishouse.media
Join our Membership program:
/ @thishouse
Public Domain Photos from: Library of Congress, Lykantrop, Carol M. Highsmith
CC SA 1.0 (creativecommon...) Photos from:
CC BY 2.0(creativecommon...) Photos from: Flickr User: dwhartwig, Daniel Hartwig, Esther Westerveld, Wikipedia User: Jules Antonio, Teemu008
CC NY 2.5(creativecommon... Wikipedia User: Dan Smith
CC BY-SA 3.0(creativecommon... from: Wikipedia user: Sailko, Teemu08, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD, Vegasfrank
CC BY-SA 4.0(creativecommon...) Photos from: Wikipedia User: Stilfehler
Music from: Epidemic Sound
Assets from: Envato Elements
Just wanted to add, thank God for the Janitor...apparently the only person in the entire seminary with any intelligence..
This is very common at universities, hospitals, etc. The janitors are the only people with any sense in their brains.
FLW's quote about the Seminarians is so on target-"It goes to show the danger of trusting anything spiritual to the clergy." There should be a statue of the janitor placed somewhere prominently in the Robie House. This incident gives me just another reason to avoid church! lol
Thank God for the dumpster diving janitor! One man's junk.... ThanK you, Ken for another FLW episode!
Still ahead of their time a hundred years later. Walking Oak Park is disorienting, in that his houses are clearly old, but still look futuristic at the same time. The masterpieces of a true genius.
It is inconceivable to me that this famous house came so close to demolish and was so mistreated. I have known of this house since I was a child inspired by Wright. So glad it has been restored and can now he toured.
It's amazing that it was spared at all. It was not yet "historic" when it was being threatened. When the original plans to raze it occurred, it was 31 years old. No one would BLINK about a 1992 building being demolished today. (Hell, they knocked down an 1860's house three blocks from me FOUR YEARS AGO!). It's frankly amazing that some foresighted people saw value in its significance even in the 1950s. (When it was the equivalent of a 1970s building now...). While Wright's buildings aren't my "thing", We are fortunate that some visionaries saw it's worth in history.
A number of years ago, I made a trip to Chicago and one of the things I had to visit was the Robie House. Although, the house was closed on the day I visited, I walked around and could not believe the incredible beauty and style of the place.
@@edramirez1240
I was in Robie House a number of times in the late 70's and early 80's and had friends who worked inside when it was being used by the University of Chicago alumni fund as an office from which to solicit contributions. I've walked by hundreds of times since, as I used to be in Hyde Park regularly. I like the aesthetic and idea of the house IN PRINCIPLE, and certainly it's beautiful from the outside. Certainly, at the time of its construction, it must've seemed fresh and revolutionary. But I found it low, cramped, dark and oppressive when I've been inside, and my friends who worked there found it mostly an unpleasant experience. And at least at that time, the mechanical systems of the house were a nightmare, as it leaked and stained surfaces everywhere, and required constant, labor-intensive upkeep.
Finally restored and maintained (at great expense) as a museum piece, I'm sure it appears in its best light -- all custom built-ins and sleek lines. But I'm not sure it was ever a pleasant place to live, even when it was brand new.
@@rickrose5377 I was only able to enter the gift shop, and not rest of the house which was closed.
It is sad that the frank loyed write foundation was not able to save all his houses. A lot has already been demolished. Every time one is lost, is a sad day.
Thanks again for showcasing Wright's work. I was inspired as a child by photographs of Wright's buildings and that was one of the reasons I became an Architect. Most American's don't appreciate the importance of saving and maintaining these buildings. Wright had a profound effect on Architects and Architecture all over the world. He produced buildings that for centuries will be studied in Architecture schools everywhere with the same reverence as Greek temples and Gothic cathedrals. His work is absolutely timeless.
I keep getting ads from travel agencies and websites, about this or that tropical paradise, but what would be really cool, is a well-planned regional, or even national (!) tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's, and other significant architectural works. I wonder if we could use the subjects of these videos as an initial guide
Yes, that would be splendid. Now I am going to have a look for other videos on Lloyd Wright's work by this channel.
Man this is something I was thinking about
I took a private tour of the Robie House in February 2021. There were 2 architect's with me. By profession, I'm a Microbiologist. We all cried inside.
Cried!? Get a grip,!
Because of the many species of mold in there?
You guys are gay
@@mikesedam616wherever you are from Mike, you obviously have no appreciation for architecture. A structure of this magnitude and splendor is something that is incomprehensible to your Mac hamburger and fries mentality. No need to respond to my statements…I seriously doubt if you will understand anyway.
Losers
So beautiful and unique. What is wrong with people who want to always destroy these precious works of art and history. Makes my blood boil. Thank goodness Frank was still alive to help save his work.
And the janitor that saved the furniture
Like all Wright designs... he was an architect, not an engineer. They convey his art, but are poor in function. Going for a tour is different, than living in one.
@@ericsimonson8540 It was saved well before it went in the trash... you know, embellishment of the story. He asked if he could have it and was told, sure. Who would want scratched, broken furniture after having been thrown in the trash? smh
@@atomicwedgie8176 some of his works were considered engineering marvels, so he did think like an engineer. Read up on his Imperial Hotel design which not only survived an earthquake, but provided for water to put out a fire caused by the quake....something he stated would occur prior to the construction of the hotel. The man knew what he was doing.
Falling water is another engineering feat and the cantilevered features were in his original sketch. Give the man his dues.
I saw the Robin house in the summer of 1964, not long after it had been saved. The tours had just begun and the rescued furniture had not yet been reinstalled. I recall the tour guide mentioning that some visitors to the house snapped off pieces of the intricate woodwork around the globe light fixtures for souvenirs to take with them. The plaster in some of the "service" rooms had been painted a hideous shade of blue by the seminary. The wood paneling and trim were scared and faded. It was clear the seminary only regarded the house as real estate, and could not have cared less about it's value as architecture.
I can't imagine what they were thinking to toss furniture into the garbage!! How wonderful that some people recognized the historical importance and restored it.
@@sandraleigh4023 As Wright noted, "The first 25 years are the hardest." Because it becomes unfashionable and symbolic of a bygone era.
In January of 2000, I moved back to Illinois and got a job with a pest control company. One of our clients was The Robie House. It wasn't on my normal route but the guy who did have the house was on vacation once and when I filled in for him I was able to do the service there. I basically got a private tour of the house while I did the service. Ever since then, I have been fascinated with Frank Lloyd Wright Homes. They told me how they "discovered" items that were covered up essentially with false walls by the seminary and at that time the next big thing they were needing funding for was having the roof fixed.
I've been there. It is quite a beautiful house, designed to be so modern that it was almost too far ahead of its time. I think the Robies were amenable to that, but unfortunately only owned the house for a few years. Imagine having a 3 car garage in 1910. The house had so many windows and so little wall that it was very cold in the winter. I could tell that Wright anticipated this problem, because there are radiators everywhere. I think what he couldn't anticipate was the inadequacy of the heating plant. Also the dining room table was permanently attached to the floor, and had secret buttons at either head of the table - light switches for the room's lights for Mr. Robie, and servant call buttons for Mrs. Robie, IIRC.
This comment is for feeding the algorithm monster.
Seems it enjoys munching on comments, replies and likes to both. 👍
Share a treat with it and watch the channel grow!🏡🏘
Cheers!
@@ThisHouse 🙂
The dormitories surrounding this house are an eyesore and should be replaced with a park.
A cool fact about these houses is the covered porch / patio. Wright didn't want any supports. He wanted it all unobstructed. So they ran long steel beams far back to support the roof. There's a house in New York he designed and they actually walled in the patio. But they after took it down because or defeated the architectural purpose / history.
#Cantilevered it looks brilliant still in 2023. Thanks
Falling Water is even more extreme - it uses cantilevered concrete slabs. The engineering design left a bit to be desired, it sagged a lot, and it took much work to restore
We visited there probably about 15 years ago. That's my absolute favorite patio in the world. I love the feeling you get out on the patio where there are no obstructions to block your view but also the roof overhangs, giving you both the feeling of being inside and outside at the same time. Plus, the patio is about half a story higher than the property's ground elevation, so you get a feeling of peace and safety from pedestrians on the sidewalk out front, but you are still able to interact with them. I'd love to lounge out there on a day when a gentle rain would be falling. You'd be kept dry, but enjoying the outdoors at the same time. If I was a millionaire, this is the patio I would have.
The museum should give the dining room set back, so its in its rightful place!
The Robie House is stunning & in vogue today!!! Thanks Ken for showcasing this beautiful home!!! 👍🙂👍
If you haven't done the Darwin Martin House and Greycliff houses in Buffalo NY, you should. Both are beautifully restored.
Great house Ken. You continue to allow your fans to enjoy amazing homes. Have a blessed day.
The views out of the living and dining areas are spectacular. An urban residence with a commanding overview of all street activivity. Very elegant,
Wow ,truly amazing,great work @ this house,all the very best from your sincere subscriber, please do a video on Buckingham palace if possible
Again, FLW was so far ahead of his time! Genius!
Very nice video, thank you. It is odd that such a large / expensive house sits (and apparently always sat) on a small piece of land where streets bound 2 sides and an alley, the third. The back side has the seminary's building up close to the property line.
I made a model from a kit of this house. I am proud of the good job I did on it that shows very well the beauty of this revolutionary work created by an architectural genius.
bless that janitor for saving the furniture and the people who protested and prevented its demolition
I absolutely love this style of home. So unique and elegant. The use of beams, light and other pieces of furniture makes this home amazing. Absolutely beautiful. The patio enclosed directly in the home is a very nice detail.
I was in Robie House a number of times in the late 70's and early 80's and had friends who worked inside when it was being used by the University of Chicago alumni fund as an office from which to solicit contributions. I've walked by hundreds of times since, as I used to be in Hyde Park regularly. I like the aesthetic and idea of the house IN PRINCIPLE, and certainly it's beautiful from the outside. Certainly, at the time of its construction, it must've seemed fresh and revolutionary. But I found it low, cramped, dark and oppressive when I've been inside, and my friends who worked there found it mostly an unpleasant experience. And at least at that time, the mechanical systems of the house were a nightmare, as it leaked and stained surfaces everywhere, and required constant, labor-intensive upkeep.
Finally restored and maintained (at great expense) as a museum piece, I'm sure it appears in its best light -- all custom built-ins and sleek lines. But I'm not sure it was ever a pleasant place to live, even when it was brand new.
Good lord, to think this perfection was doomed...thank God it was saved. Magnificent.
I grew up about 2 blocks away at 58th street and Blackstone Avenue. This beautiful house has always been a part of my life.
I just can't believe this house was constructed way back in 1910. It surely was way ahead of its time. Truly a great design!
There are 2 fine examples of his work in Buffalo NewYork.
Wonderful video, thanks for sharing
My father who was very interested in architecture, art, design etc, liked Frank Lloyd Wright's house designs, especially the Falling Water house in Pennsylvania. I found his houses on Pinterest and I was very interested, and I have been collecting as many photos as possible on my Pinterest account. He was a very good architect, but he was also very difficult to work with. But his houses, and buildings were designed to last many years, if not centuries.
Stories like this are why I look in every dumpster I see.
I wish! The only one I've been able to tour is Hollyhock House, which is not only beautiful, the view of LA is breathtaking!
What the hell is the deal with the Seminary?
CTS has never been a respecter of either history or art. The Robie House represented the evils of the modern world.
Animals.
It's called BRAINWASHED!
I love this house and I LOVE your channel…both fascinating AND exciting. Please just keep “another EXCITING episode of THIS HOUSE” in the closing as I love saying it at the end of every episode because by the time it is all over my fascination turns to excitement! Keep doing what you do! 😉👍🏻
It's always the small details that make the difference
Very informative. It's easy to forget why FLW's designed are so revered by mid century modern architects. Like the change from Victorian decoration to real craftsmanship in furnishings and design.
Frank Lloyd Wright designed a "gas station" (still exists!) for the "Lindholm Oil" family! Check this CLASSIC in Cloquet, Minnesota! This design is AWESOME!
My boyfriend (now husband) and I had a chance to visit and boy oh boy was it fabulous! I had no idea they had to fight to keep it from being torn down. Thank goodness they won and Wright's work still stands today!
have toured this house, falling water, and the dana Thomas house in Springfield, Ill. all magnificent! JDR
This house, to me, is the most like the Dana Thomas House of his designs.
This was my 1st Frank Lloyd Wright=FLW home to visit back in 2004. It was like a drug and I became obsessed with his work. Ive been blessed being able to travel and getting to see FLW works of art several times in IL, PA and OK . FLW must visits are Falling Waters House in Mill Run PA and and Without a doubt my absolute favorite is Price Tower in Bartlesville OK. Additionally IMO,
FLW is the widely unknown godfather of the tallest skyscraper standing today the Burg Khalifa that utilizes the taproot system FLW proposed for (The Illinois.) Ironically FLW hated skyscrapers yet proposed (The Illinois) in 1956. Sadly everyone thought it was a joke and FLW had gone mad.
I could go on and on about FLW. He was truly a gifted individual that designed and built masterpieces.
It’s been said that while the US produced some great artists, we’ve never produced a Michelangelo, a Rembrandt or a Picasso. We’ve turned out fine composers but never a Bach or a Beethoven. We’ve had great writers but no Shakespeare. We did, however, give the world Frank Lloyd Wright. He is without equal.
Prairie style as opposite to the Gilded age.
Large open spaces, not small ornate rooms.
Never leave anything spiritual in the hands of the clergy! 🤣
This design in 1910 was 100 years ahead of its time. Bauhaus came 10 years later iirc.
Thanks for reminding me to go back - I was there in 2013 - they had property stabilized by then, but there was still a lot of work to be done inside. Even then, however, you could feel how the space would be once brought back with furnishings. Since it was a WIP you were pretty unconstrained as you moved through - probably not so today. This was probably one of the more 'revolutionary' of FLW designs, given the time frame. It just was not done. Remember, FLW was doing Queen Anne until the early 1890's and he'd it wasn't till after 1900 that the low slung elements of his Prairie School really came together. But even with those designs, he had not yet hit the sweep of this plan.
That one reminds me of the admissions and records building at about 50 different community colleges I've been to. Lol
I remember visiting this house on a tour when I was a kid attending Murray language academy in about 1992 or 1993 which was about 1mile from here , still a great memory!!I ride past it daily
You can obsess over Wright's design aesthetic all you want, but there's no denying his homes are extraordinarily poorly engineered and constructed and a nightmare to live in and maintain.
Wright was a charlatan and dilettante attention seeker and, in my opinion, the very definition of the emperor's new clothes.
I think the reason why rooms were small in Victorian times, they were easier to heat.
Lived just down the street when I worked at Billings Hospital in 1972/3. Walked by it every day and noticed something new each time
Not going to lie that looks like government building maybe a library or police station.
Biggest blow away for us is the comparison of an early 1900 Victorian living space against a Robie House living space...so ahead of his time!
I’m loving your Wright series. ❤🌈
Am I the only one who thought his work was from the 50s and 60s? This guy is even more brilliant than I thought.
Great architecture. But, never sit on the furniture. It is the most uncomfortable stuff you’ve ever sat on. I don’t think Wright had humans in mind when he designed it.
Just looking at the dining room chairs I suspected they would be torture to sit in. I am a "Form follows function " guy, so I gotta commit sacrilege and criticize FLW on his furniture design. Besides, I don't like dining room chairs with tall backs anyway. The chairs are heavy and visually break up a dining room. But just to be clear, I still acknowledge FLW to be the genius he was!
The low ceilings are a deal breaker for me.
Wow, thank you Cam, this has been brilliant viewing, I hadn’t realised how much of contemporary living we owed to this home and design, and that it was built in 1905. Thankfully they won the battle with the church. Definitely on my bucket list
I was lucky enough to be an “Interpreter” (fancy name for tour guide) for the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust, the caretakers of both the Robie House and the Home & Studio in nearby Oak Park, IL back from 2008-2012. As part of my training, we were allowed to tour the Robie house years before it opened to the public. Seeing it then, even before the restoration’ had been completed, was a rare treat. When you think that this amazing house was designed by someone who had very little formal architectural training, other than a short stint at the University of Wisconsin, Madison (where he never graduated), his genius becomes even more apparent.
We have a beautiful FLW home here in Wichita, Ks.
any thought of demolition is nothing short of a SIN
Very similar a few hours south is the Dana Thomas house.
FLW is my absolute favorite!!
Wright had a unique architectural vision; encompassing nature in imaginative ways. I would have loved to have been inside his creative mind when he was designing Falling Waters.
I took my high school students here on a field trip many years ago. They learned more in one hour about Frank Lloyd Wright than I could teach them in one semester. An incredible experience that I will never forget. I also learned this house was the first one to have an attached garage with a service pit in the floor.
Worked in Oak Park for 8 yrs. The bank I worked for, (privately owned now gone) had charity functions in several buildings designed by Wright. Oak Park is Frank Lloyd Wright. Though I prefer George Maher . A nemesis to Wright.
It was threatened when it was STILL fairly new. It's AMAZING that it was spared the "Mid Century Massacre" that claimed so many historic buildings!
Beautiful house. Reminds me of the Meyer May house.
I've toured the Robie House twice - once in the summer of 2012, and again in December of 2022. It is a masterpiece. I applaud the trust's continual work on what is one of the iconic American houses. I hope they are able to find and reacquisition the original furniture, or have reproductions made, as this is really the last piece of the restoration. Every architecture lover who visits Chicago should consider it a stop. One word for the superfans - if you have the option, take the "Enhanced" tour, as you spend quite a bit more time in the house and they show you a lot of things that the main tour doesn't see, especially the secondary spaces.
To me, this house is the first truly modern home in the World.
It’s facade and interior spaces still look modern today. Only a supremely gifted and visionary man could have envisioned something so futuristic yet beautiful.
I can only imagine how people of that time reacted to the finished product!
What is sad is that the Robie house is nearly radical by today’s standards. I can’t believe that builders in the mid-Atlantic, a century later, are still putting up cheap, stick-built, COLONIAL McMansions.
I toured the Robie House in 2003, in the early stage of it's restoration. The dining table was still within the dining room then. It's an amazing home that photos and videos don't due justice. If you are able to see it, you won't be disappointed.
I visited the Robie House in 2013 or 2014 while visiting Chicago for work, it was such an impressive house with fundamental principles expresses everywhere. It is good to hear that the Trust has been able to restore it to its full glory! Highly recommended to visit!
Love that ceiling...
You have a great channel, here. This is an amazing home. Have you done one on Meadow Brook Hall? I live in, and grew up in the area. Been there many times over the years.
Thanks! I have not covered Meadow Brook Hall yet. Stay tuned!
@@ThisHouse Awsome! It's got quite a story. My mom has one of Matilda's hat stands from the 1920's. It's hand painted to look like a flapper girl. She was a hat collector.
Wright's Westcott House in Springfield, Ohio was built before this house and is beautiful as well. Similar style.
Toured back in 1981 - very remarkable house that was worth the many efforts to save and fully restore.
I went to the business school across the street so got to see the Robie house every day! The Chicago business school building itself is a neat piece of architecture and they clearly were aiming to be in synch Wright’s long horizontal prairie style when they designed it
I had my house built so it looks almost Victorian on the outside yet more open inside.
Definitely one of my favourite styles , there are so many features in this prairie style that Im enjoying, just like some of the craftsman style features before. FLW was a visionary .
“It all goes to show the danger of entrusting anything spiritual to the clergy”. The truth in that quote alone is as beautiful as Wright’s designs.
Wright was having an affair with Mrs. Robie. They were both rather short. Mr. Robie was 6' 4" tall, like me. Wright did not like Mr. Robie and he designed little surprises for him where design elements were unexpectedly low. As I was walking around the house one day, i came around a corner and smacked my head against a beam.
I grew up in Oak Park. Ive been in four F.L.W. houses. My childhood home is a Reeves house. Wright's associate.. it is now 997,000$.
The Darwin Martin House Complex completed in 1906 is by far Wright's crowning achievement. Wright had no restraints - financial or otherwise - and thus created an unparalleled masterpiece. Like Mr Martin, Mrs Martin had no say. Greystone, their summer/weekend home on lake Erie is said to be Mrs Martin's house while Martin House in Buffalo is FLW's and Mr Martin's.
I visited here in the mid 90’s.
At the time it was only open to the public one day a week for about an hour. The university owned it and used it as an alumni office. The lady working that office wore a ski coat to work in the cold building. The only furniture was the dinning room set.
similar to the MUSEUM IN THE HAGUE. next to the INTERNATIONAL COURT.
I love this house ❤
"It all goes to show the danger of entrusting anything spiritual to the clergy." Wright was *America-First* politically. Fans should watch the Dan Rather interview of Wright online.
The Robie House is my favorite Wright structure. Falling Water is an historic work of art, but horribly inefficient and costly. I would rather have a simplified two story version of the Robie House built with ICFs and a tobacco colored clay tile roof. Nice video. :)
I've toured another Chicago Frank Lloyd Wright home that had a tree incorporated into the build. As a teenager the tour was very influential over me. I've always loved touring and learning more about his very unique style.
2:46 This is very funny. Broiler is a chicken. Which is seldom found in utilities room in houses, where boilers are more common, cause they heat water. There was once this old stupid communist leader in Czechia named Miloš Jakeš who always pronounced it wrong too. 😂 (I'm not saying that you're stupid, he was, it was just funny mistake on your part.)
Astounding anyone could think of living in a shoebox, aka Tiny House when FLW's designs are the most accommodating beautiful designs. I love all one level homes, no stairs. He has some wonderful homes which are incomparable!
The Robie House is architecturally striking but ergonomically flawed. The living room dining room has 56 feet of French glass doors and with the two glass doors to the side porch, the glass door overlooking the garage courtyard and a glass door overlooking the entrance courtyard there are 16 glass doors in that unit room. That represents tremendous heat loss. The Wilburs had to install a much more powerful boiler heating system to cope with the heat loss particularly with Chicago's harsh winters. The temperature in the living room before the new heating system was installed was 55° Fahrenheit. You'd have to winter in Florida or be a Polar Bear.
There is a design concept called "prospect and refuge", which ties into a human psychology for safety in a space. Put more simply, it's the ability to be hidden, and yet have a good view of your surroundings. I believe the FLW was tying into this when he designed the Robie House.
Looking at it from the outside, Robie House seems like a modern castle, with a surrounding curtain wall, and ramparts to look out from.
Still waiting for your episode on the MEYER MAY HOUSE in Grand Rapids Michigan. Did I miss it?😉
How much was the ceiling's elevations and design changed in order to install the fire protection system! They also should have been more creative in their location of the bell, FDC, and pump test connection for the fire protection system instead of putting them in the main entrance way of the house! I understand that probably the city demanded it, but in other of Wright's houses (Darwin Martin House) it was a lot less obvious or take away from his original design!
There is a neighborhood of FLW houses built before this for a developer friend, Banker in Mason City Iowa, no one pays attention to them. They're GEMS
Unquestionably a masterful work of architectural art. But problematically, the style of the home accepts no other kind nor style of furnishings. look at 1:21, all those furnishings look positively goofy.
I’ve tried to be ‘cool’ and like these houses and I just can’t. The fact that Wright thinks he should have any control over my furniture is disgusting. His use of space isn’t practical on any level. I walk into a storage room and have to climb stairs to get in? And that’s if I can find the door? Other houses include restricted views, maze like entrances where you go quite far to get into the body of the home. I feel like he’s schizophrenic; always trying to hide
I just started watching this video. One thing you don't mention is that this house probably cost ten million in today's money. Hyde Park was millionaires row, just like the North Shore today.
*I LOVE ALL* of Lloyd Wrights work - even though I hate open plan in its modern interpretation - his work and modern open plan have almost nothing in common.
I saw pictures of the exterior when I took a survey course in architecture during the late 1960s, but I don't remember pictures of the interior. Perhaps they weren't available at that time.
It’s impossible to talk about Frank Lloyd Wright and not mention his connection to the Tulsa Massacre. His legacy should be about his racism and hate not his buildings.
This building, outside and inside, reminds me a lot of the clinic in the mission "Flatline" of the videogame Hitman Blood Money. It is clear that the the videogame authors were inspired by this building. The clinic of the videogame is quite a superb building and gardens around the building.