Prairie School architects, led by Frank Lloyd Wright, incorporated the idea of the garden into their designs in several ways:
1. Integration with Nature: Prairie School architects aimed to create a seamless connection between the built environment and the surrounding landscape. They often designed low-slung, horizontally oriented houses that seemed to emerge organically from the earth, with broad, overhanging eaves that mimicked the canopy of trees. This approach allowed the houses to blend harmoniously with their natural surroundings and create a sense of unity between the indoor and outdoor spaces.
2. Open Floor Plans: Prairie houses featured open, flowing floor plans that eliminated the traditional compartmentalization of rooms. By doing so, architects sought to create a sense of spaciousness and freedom, with rooms seamlessly flowing into one another. This open concept design, often centered around a central hearth or fireplace, allowed views of the surrounding gardens and encouraged interaction with nature from inside the house.
3. Horizontal Emphasis: Prairie School architecture is characterized by its strong horizontality, which aimed to evoke the vastness and simplicity of the American prairie landscape. This design element was achieved through long, flat roofs, broad eaves, horizontal bands of windows, and low, horizontal lines in the overall geometry of the buildings. The intent was to visually extend the building horizontally, emphasizing the connection between the interior spaces and the surrounding garden.
4. Use of Natural Materials: Prairie School architects emphasized the use of natural materials, such as wood, stone, and brick, in their designs. These materials helped further blend the buildings with the landscape. In addition, they incorporated large windows and glazed doors to allow abundant natural light to penetrate the interior spaces, offering views of gardens and nature.
5. Central Courtyards: Some Prairie School designs incorporated central courtyards or atriums within the building. These courtyards acted as private outdoor spaces within the home, creating a controlled garden environment within the architectural framework. They provided a balance between privacy and the connection with nature, allowing residents to enjoy the beauty of gardens and natural light while being sheltered from external elements.
Overall, the Prairie School architects aimed to embrace the idea that the garden was an integral part of the home, blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces, integrating with nature, and creating a sense of harmony between the built environment and the surrounding landscape.
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