Frank Lloyd Wright’s inspiring Unity Temple in Oak Park

Not too far from architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s original studio in Oak Park, Illiinois is the Unity Temple, a Unitarian Church built by Wright. Wright’s family were Unitarian Universalists and Wright’s mother Anna attended Oak Park’s Unity Church. When the church was destroyed by a fire in 1905, Wright was commissioned to design the new building. I visited Oak Park several years ago and was able to tour the Temple.

The congregation had a budget of only $45,000 and concrete was inexpensive, so the structure used concrete without the brick or stone that Wright typically used in his buildings. Wright’s designed eschewed traditional church architecture. Wright’s unconventional approach to the Temple’s design aligned well with the liberal congregation’s desire for a building that would embody the principles of “unity, truth, beauty, simplicity, freedom and reason.”

Today, the Unity Temple stands as Wright’s greatest public building in the Chicago area. While Wright may have used inexpensive concrete for the structural components, he did not skimp on unique and expensive fixtures and furnishings on the inside and outside of the Temple. As Wright did with many of his commissions, he went horribly over budget, spending twice as much as his original estimate.

My favorite part of the Temple was the stained glass, which used Wright’s trademark simple geometric designs. The upper part of the Temple used stained glass extensively, filling it with natural light.

Regardless of your faith background, I think you would find this building very inspiring.