Illinois Through Wright's Vision
Frank Lloyd Wright once wrote, "We create our buildings and then they create us." More than perhaps any other state, Illinois tells that story.
In Frank Lloyd Wright's Illinois: Explore His Most Prolific State, From Prairie to Usonian, author Kristine Hansen invites readers to experience the state through the work of America's most influential architect. Rather than simply cataloging buildings, she traces the evolution of Wright's ideas across decades, revealing how Illinois became the proving ground for designs that forever changed residential architecture.
The book profiles dozens of Wright sites throughout the state, organized by community, from Belvidere to Wilmette. Chicago and Oak Park naturally take center stage, but Hansen also shines a light on destinations many readers may have overlooked, including Highland Park, Glencoe, Libertyville, Kankakee, Rockford and Springfield. Each chapter blends architectural history with stories of the families who commissioned the buildings, the preservationists who saved them and practical information for visitors hoping to experience them firsthand.
North Shore readers will find familiar landmarks alongside surprising discoveries. Wright's Ward Willits House and Mary M.W. Adams House in Highland Park, the Sherman Booth House in Glencoe, the Charles F. Glore Jr. House in Lake Forest, the Lewis E. Burleigh House in Wilmette and the Kathryn and Lloyd Lewis House in Libertyville all receive thoughtful attention, placing local architecture within the broader story of Wright's remarkable career.
Hansen's journalism background shows in her approachable writing. Rather than overwhelming readers with technical language, she explains concepts such as Prairie style, Usonian design, organic architecture, cantilevered roofs and Wright's signature "compression and release" in clear, engaging terms. A timeline of Wright's Illinois career and a glossary of architectural vocabulary further enrich the experience, making the book equally rewarding for longtime enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
Perhaps the book's greatest accomplishment is its appreciation for preservation. Hansen reminds readers that these homes survive only through the dedication of stewards, volunteers and organizations committed to protecting Wright's legacy. By the final page, readers aren't simply inspired to admire the architecture. They're encouraged to visit it, support it and help ensure these remarkable buildings endure for generations to come.
Author Kristine Hansen will discuss Frank Lloyd Wright's Illinois and sign copies of the book Sept. 24 at Bookends & Beginnings in Evanston and Sept. 30 at Lake Forest Book Store in Lake Forest.
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