Question

A prairie house called the Frederick C. Robie house built by Frank Lloyd Wright. The house has rectangular angles, close to the ground, and a bank of windows.

How did the architect create a central focus in the building above?
a.
He used the horizontal beams to create balance.
b.
He organized it around a central chimney.
c.
He designed windows that draw the eyes to the center of the building.

Answer 1

b. He organized it around a central chimney.

Wright’s Prairie houses (including the Robie House) use a dominant central hearth/chimney as the organizing and visual focus, contrasting the strong horizontal lines and bands of windows.