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1901: Frank W. Thomas House

The Frank W. Thomas House by Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank W. Thomas House, 210 Forest Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois, USA
Frank W. Thomas House in Oak Park, Illinois by Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank W. Thomas in Oak Park, Illinois by Frank Lloyd Wright

Photo by Daniel Hartwig, Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License
The Frank W. Thomas House was commissioned by James C. Rogers for his daughter and her husband, Frank Wright Thomas. In some ways, it resembles the Heurtley House: both homes have leaded glass windows, an arched entryway, and a low, long profile. The Thomas house is widely considered Wright's first Prairie Style home in Oak Park. It is also his first all stucco home in Oak Park. Using stucco instead of wood meant that Wright could design clear, geometric forms.

The main rooms of the Thomas House are raised a full story above a high basement. The L-shaped floor plan of the house gives it an open view to the north and west, while obscuring a brick wall located on the south side. A "false door" is located just above the arched entryway.

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