One of the masterpieces of Wright's career, the Robie house is perhaps the most fully developed expression of Wright's Prairie style ideals.  Robie contacted Wright in late 1906 about the commission after showing his sketches to several contractors and being told that what he wanted was "one of those damn Wright houses".  

Wright's design uses most of the 60 X 180 foot lot for the building and enclosed courtyard.  The house faces south and the entrance is difficult to locate as it is hidden on the north side; Wright called the circuitous route to the entrance to many of his prairie style houses the "pathway of discovery".  Wright designed the overhanging eaves of the house so they would shield the interior from the summer sun, but allow the lower winter sun inside.  The cantilevered roof over the west terrace extends out over 20 feet from it's supporting pier; a steel beam anchored in a masonry pier supports this hipped terrace roof.  Like many of Wright's mature prairie style homes, the main family living spaces are on the second floor; one enters into a reception room from the front entrance and then goes up a staircase that turns to the left, then turns left and left again until arriving in the living room.  The living and dining rooms take up the entire main volume of the second floor; a secondary rectangular area, offset laterally from the main area contains a guest room, kitchen and servant quarters.  The lower level contains a billiard room and childrens playroom and there are three bedrooms on the third floor.

The living and dining room spaces are among the most famous of Wright's career.  These rooms are only separated by a fireplace, which itself has an opening over the firepit which allows a continous view the entire length of both rooms.  The entire area is surrounded to the south by art glass windows and french doors which lead out onto a veranda; Wright calculated the height of the veranda wall so that it would shield view of the house interior from those walking by on the nearby sidewalk.  Above the french doors there is a coved ceiling with built-in light fixtures and a system of recessed lighting; elaborate wood trim defines the ceiling space.  Reproductions of some of the original furniture and rugs are in place; the entire building is currently undergoing a restoration to it's 1909 appearance.  This restoration is being carried out by the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust, which also has restored and operates the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio.  Some of the original furniture is in the University of Chicago's Smart Museum a few blocks away.

Guided tours of the Robie house are available on a regular basis, even while restoration is proceeding.  See the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust web site for details.

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