Edward R. Hills House, Prairie School residence in Oak Park, United States
The Edward R. Hills House at 313 Forest Avenue is a single-family home in Prairie School style with stucco walls divided by dark brown boards and continuous horizontal window bands. The structure displays characteristic features of this movement through its wide, sweeping form and integrated roof projections.
An existing house from 1874 was taken over by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1906 and rotated 90 degrees to accommodate his new design. This transformation marked a turning point in his work between experimental early efforts and the matured principles of the Prairie School.
The residence reflects Prairie School philosophy, which sought to blend homes naturally with the flat landscape around them. Visitors can see this approach in the horizontal lines and low profile of the building.
The house is accessible from the street and displays its architectural details clearly from the exterior. After a fire in 1976 and extensive restoration in 1977, the structure was carefully maintained and retains its original features.
The house blends roof forms from Wright's early experimental phase with the horizontal features of his later work, offering a rare glimpse into the evolution of his thinking. This mixture of style periods makes it difficult to assign to just one phase of his career.
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