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1. Eugene Gilmore House
120 Ely Pl.

2. Unitarian Meeting House
900 University Bay Dr.

3. John Pew House
3650 Lake Mendota Dr.

4. Spring Trail Park
3700 blk. Nakoma Rd.

5. Herbert Jacobs House I
441 Toepfer St.

6. Herbert Jacobs House II
3995 Shawn Tr., Middleton

7. Eugene Van Tamelen House
5817 Anchorage Rd.

8. Walter Rudin House
110 Marinette Tr.

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Madison is home to a large collection of Prairie-style buildings by several different architects, as well as Wright-designed buildings spanning his career.

Frank Lloyd Wright lived in Madison from 1878 until 1887. While there, he and his family lived in a house at the corner of Gorham and Livingston streets on the near east side (The house has long since been demolished).

The presence of the University and other progressive influences led many Madison home buyers and local architects to look beyond traditional architectural styles. As a result, the work of Prairie School architects is well represented in Madison, with more than seventy buildings by Wright, other well-known architects, as well as local architects and contractors. The Prairie School architects mainly focused on Prairie style designs.

Consider Wright's impact of American architecture, and try to imagine how this country would look had Wright not existed. Among his innovations are the open-plan house with no attic or basement and the carport. Wright was a pioneer in the use of air conditioning, fireproof construction, passive solar design, the use of indirect lighting, and the use of plate glass, plywood, reinforced concrete, and other new materials.

Through a career spanning more than 70 years, over 400 buildings from his designs were built, while hundreds of other designs were completed on paper, but never executed. So modern and appealing are his buildings that even more than 30 years after his death, un built designs are still being hauled out of the Taliesin archives and built.

Wright's career began with designs for Queen Anne and Shingle style buildings-the sort that home-owners and builders of the late 19th century expected. By 1900 his prairie houses had begun to open up the plan of the house, with living and dining spaces flowing together and many glass in rows of windows and in door to minimize the difference between indoors and outdoors.

Though most of his practice was residential, Wright designed many other buildings such as office buildings, churches, theaters, museums, hotels, warehouses, schools, government centers, restaurants, medical clinics, and even service stations.

Wright was a total artist. He designed furniture, rugs, upholstery fabrics, light fixtures and lamps, urns and vases, leaded glass windows, and complete sets of dishes, serving pieces and silverware.

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9. Robert Lamp House
22 N. Butler St.

10. Science Hall
550 N. Park St.

11. Monona Terrace
1 John Nolen Dr.

12. State Capitol

 

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