Frank Lloyd Wright

Wright Studies

Samuel and Lena Kent Horner Residence, Chicago (1908 - S.142)

Horner Residence Circa 1910

When Wright published "Ausgeführte Bauten und Entwürfe von Frank Lloyd Wright" in 1910, he chose not to include the Horner Residence, but instead included an illustration and floor plan of the Barton (Plate XXVI), DeRhodes (Plate XXIX), and although not the same floor plan, the Gale (Plate XLV). One year later Wright did included an exterior and interior photograph of the Horner Residence in "Frank Lloyd Wright,		Ausgeführte Bauten" (Executed Buildings), 1911 pages 62. That same year Wright included the same two photographs when he published "Frank Lloyd Wright, Chicago" (Sonderheft), 1911, pages 54. The two interiors were photographed by Henry Fuermann. One of the exterior photographs is confirmed as Fuermann's, and he most likely photographed the other.

Front Exterior Back Exterior Interior From Reception Room Interior from Dining Room
Question about the Front Door

1) Front Exterior, Viewed from the Street

1A) Front exterior viewed from the street, looking South. As you entered the sidewalk on the left, you passed the Garden Wall with it's pedestal that begged for a urn. A large prairie styled Robie House urn would have fit perfectly. Turning right into the Garden, you entered the home through the art glass front door. The Reception Room is on the left. Five wide stairs lead up to the balance of the first level. The Living Room is in the center foreground with art glass doors that exit out to an enclosed Terrace. The Stairway landing and Kitchen overlooked the symmetrical Garden and Garden Wall on the right.
Upper level. As you reached the top of the stairs, the Bedrooms and the Bath were reached by turning left. The Balcony on the east (left) was reached through the two smaller Bedrooms in the center of the upper level. A row of art glass windows were just beneath the roof line of the Master Bedroom in the center. Turning right at the top of the stairs lead to the exterior balcony over the Kitchen. Both Balconies had built-in Planters on either end. The low pitch of the roof almost gives the appearance of being flat like the Gale Residence. Most likely photographed by Henry Fuermann.

1B) Lower level. The Reception Room is on the left. The Living Room is in the center foreground with art glass doors that exit out to an enclosed Terrace. The Stairway landing and Kitchen overlook the symmetrical Garden and Garden Wall on the right.
Second level. A row of art glass windows were just beneath the roof line of the Master Bedroom in the center.

1C) As you passed the Garden Wall with it's pedestal, it begged for a large prairie styled urn. Turning right into the Garden, you entered the home through the art glass front door. Two clerestory art glass windows can be seen above and to the right of the front door. On the opposite wall above the built-in seating were two additional clerestory art glass windows and two below them, adding to the symmetry to the Reception Room. Five wide stairs lead up to the balance of the first level. The Living Room and enclosed Terrace are to the right.

1D) Entrance to the home was through an art glass front door that was facing the street, but hidden behind the garden Wall. Two clerestory art glass windows can be seen above and to the right of the front door. On the opposite wall above the built-in seating were two additional clerestory art glass windows and two below them, adding to the symmetry to the Reception Room.

1E) The Stairway landing and Kitchen overlooked the symmetrical Garden and Garden Wall.

2) Back Exterior, Viewed from the Back Yard

2A) Back exterior viewed from the back yard, looking North. The Kitchen and back Entrance is on the left. The Dining Room is in the center foreground with art glass doors that exit out to the Terrace. On the right side stairs lead down to the back yard. From the Living and Dining Room, five wide stairs lead down to the Reception Room on the right. Note: the house across the street seen on the left still exists.
Upper level. A door at the top of the stairs leads out to the Balcony over the Kitchen on the left. Bedrooms and the Bath are in the center, The Balcony over the Kitchen on the east (right) was reached through the two smaller Bedrooms in the center of the upper level. A row of art glass windows were just beneath the roof line of the large Bedroom in the center. Both Balconies had built-in Planters on either end. The low pitch of the roof almost gives the appearance of being flat like the Gale Residence. Most likely photographed by Henry Fuermann.

2B) Lower level. The Kitchen and back Entrance was on the left. The Dining Room was in the center foreground with art glass doors that exit out to the Terrace. On the right side stairs lead down to the back yard. From the Living and Dining Room, five wide stairs lead down to the Reception Room on the right.
Upper level. A row of art glass windows were just beneath the roof line of the large Bedroom in the center.

2C) The Kitchen is on the left, the back Entrance is the center. An art glass window was above the ice door. Stairs behind the half wall lead up to the back door, just to the right of the window, hidden from view. The Dining Room and Terrace was on the right.

2D) Detail of the back Entrance. An art glass window was above the ice door. Stairs behind the half wall lead up to the back door, just to the right of the window, hidden from view.

2E) Wright designed a pattern into the balcony overhang, casting ever changing shadows on the stucco walls.

2F) The Dining Room is on the left, stairs lead down to the back yard. From the Living and Dining Room, five wide stairs lead down to the Reception Room on the right. Two upper and two lower windows are just above the built-in seating in the Reception area.

3) Interior, Viewed from the Reception Room

3A) View of the Living Room from the Reception Room. As you opened the art glass front door, you entered the Reception Room. Wright chose wood and stucco for the exterior of the home. Behind the camera to the left were built-in seats. Above the coat closet and front door to the right, were a pair of clerestory art glass windows. On either side of the five wide stairs were built-in oak book cases, which opened up in the front and back. At the top of the stairs the Dining Room was to the left. Entering the hall straight ahead, enclosed by a pair of vertical spindled screens, you could turn left to go to the Kitchen, or take the stairs to the right to reach the second level. The Living Room on the right. The large, prairie styled Fireplace was located in the Living Room to the right, covered most of the west wall. Photographed by Henry Fuermann.

3B) Entering the hall enclosed by a pair of vertical spindled screens, you could turn left to go to the Kitchen, or take the stairs to the right to reach the second level. The large, prairie styled Fireplace was located in the Living Room to the right, and covered most of the west wall.

3C) Oak Trim on the ceiling created a pattern throughout the first floor and continued from room to room.

3D) Built-in oak book cases, opened up in the front and back. The coat closet was to the right.

4) Interior, Viewed from the Dining Room

4A) View of the Living Room from the Dining Room. Art glass doors in the Living Room on the left, opened out to an enclosed Terrace. The west (left) wall of the Living Room was covered by the fireplace. The east (right) wall of the Living Room included three "high windows" that fell in line with the two in the Reception Room. On either side of the wide stairs were built-in oak book cases, which opened up in the front and back. Photographed by Henry Fuermann.

4B) Art glass doors in the Living Room, opened out to an enclosed Terrace. We get a glimpse of the art glass light fixture most likely designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Note the piano in the right corner.

4C) Detail of the Living Room light fixture most likely designed be Frank Lloyd Wright. They are similar to the fixtures Wright designed for the Browne's Bookstore, during the same time period.

4D) Oak Trim on the ceiling created a pattern throughout the first floor and continued from room to room. The east wall of the Living Room included three "high windows" that fell in line with the two in the Reception Room.

4E) Oak Book case on the Living Room side of the wide stairs, which opened up in the front and back. Note the Living Room bench to the left of the book case.

4F) Oak Book case on the Dining Room side of the wide stairs, which opened up in the front and back.

5) Question about the front door

In image 1D below, the exterior front door appears to be glass. But in the interior image 4G below, the door to the right appears to be solid oak. The floor plan Wright published in "Frank Lloyd Wright, Ausgeführte Bauten" (Executed Buildings), 1911, after the home was completed. It clearly shows a front door (left) and a closet door (right).

1D) The exterior front door appears to be glass.

4G) The door to the right appears to be solid oak.

Floor plan Wright published in "Frank Lloyd Wright, Ausgeführte Bauten" (Executed Buildings), 1911, after the home was completed. This clearly shows a front door (left) and a closet door (right).

Back