Architectural Influence in the Kitchen: Frank Lloyd Wright

"The architect should strive continually to simplify; the ensemble of the rooms should then be carefully considered that comfort and utility may go hand in hand with beauty." - Wright

Frank Lloyd Wright, perhaps the most famous Contemporary American architect, designed such buildings as the Guggenheim Museum in NYC and the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo (or Falling Water). But he also designed simple homes for the middle class American family. Wright invented the concept of the Usonian home in the 1930’s, featuring a warm, open layout with convenience, economy and comfort at the forefront.

Wright’s innovative ideas incorporated the kitchen as the focal point of the home. He referred to the kitchen as the “workroom” of the house. His designs for cooking efficiency, speed and comfort continue to be seen in modern kitchens.

One such example of a kitchen in a Wright Usonian home is the Gordon House in Silverton, Oregon (pictured above). Designed in 1957, the kitchen contains no windows, but provides natural light with a 15-foot high skylight ceiling. This skylight not only creates an inviting environment, but paired with a wall fan, helps to remove heat and keeps the smell of smoke and other fried foods from lingering in the kitchen.

Other unique features for its day in this kitchen include over-the-counter lighting so you never work in your own shadow, back splashes to make it easy and fast to clean up wall spills, and generous counter spaces. The cabinetry is made with piano hinges, allowing the cabinet doors to fully open and the chef to work straight out of the cupboard.

Wright found many ways to cut costs to keep the Usonian homes more affordable, but he always invested in the most advanced kitchen appliances of his day. The Gordon House is equipped with state of the art built-in appliances including a a frost-free Revco Gourmet refrigerator (the first to have the freezer on the bottom) and a Jenn-Air double oven and a downdraft range top.

Wright is credited for saying: "The architect must be a prophet... a prophet in the true sense of the term... if he can't see at least ten years ahead, don't call him an architect." Wright perfectly fit this definition of architect when we look at his practical and innovative designs in the kitchen. Paneled refrigerator doors, under-cabinet lighting and the understanding that the cook doesn't want to be stuck in a claustrophobic room away from family and friends, are some of Frank Lloyd Wright's ideas that continue to influence kitchen design today. 

Wright might just have been 40 years ahead of his time in creating the first social kitchen!