R.W. Evans House

Frank Lloyd Wright’s neighborhood standout is the Raymond W. Evans House, planted atop the Blue Island Ridge. The architectural plan is based on Wright’s influential Fireproof House, a concept to bring low-cost residential designs to the masses, albeit expanded to include separate wings attached to a central two-story pavilion. The original stucco facade is clad with newer stonework, but this does not detract from the building’s pleasing form and proportions. Wright’s concept of “organic architecture,” which emphasizes harmony between distinct design elements and site conditions, is clearly expressed throughout the Evans house. For example, the geometric art glass patterns derive from the contours of the exterior elevation, with triangles and parallelograms also echoing the gables. Wright incorporated similar forms into his expansive dining room skylight.