Prairie Style: A Revolutionary Style
Frank Lloyd Wright developed the Prairie style after building his own Shingle style house in Oak Park, Illinois. "It featured open planning; shallow-pitched roofs with broad, sheltering overhangs; bands of casement windows, often with abstract patterns of stained glass; and a strong horizontal emphasis. The siding was usually stucco, either off-white or an earthy tone, with decorative banding that echoed the low horizon of the midwestern prairie. Porte cocheres [a covered entrance large enough for vehicles, typically opening into a courtyard] and raised porches extending out from the main core of the house were typical features of the style" (Baker 112). This style was the most influential of all of Wright's styles.