In the Nature of Materials

H R H 's book is the essential guide to Wright's formative years as he developed and modified his architectural idiom in Chicagoland and further a field. It represents a chronological overview of Wright's output in what has come to be known as the Prairie Style, when the Oak Park studio was gracing the world with innovative designs that still seem ahead of their time. Hitchcock was an admirer of Wright and he brought out this book at a time when Wright's star was enjoying a second advent. Even so Wrights' 1940s-1950s resurgence is spottily represented in this volume; so, do not expect to find many of the later works. But don't let that bother you. Take time to read and enjoy what is still the best guide to this portion of Wright's oeuvre. One caveat. The book is in black and white, so you will want to find more recent volumes of color photographs to help expand your appreciation of Wright's aesthetic. He had an impeccable gift for tonality and this cannot be communicated in black and white.

I felt this was an interesting review of Wright's transition from Adler & Sullivan, the Prarie homes through the Usonian years. It is necessary to supplement this book with those which describe his life and philosphies in more detail to get the most out of "In The Nature of Materials." This is mostly a chronological review of how his home and commercial designs, concepts and use of materials matured over his working life. The second half of the book features photo examples of each step, and these are amply referred to by number in the text so you can easily refer to them. I enjoyed this book a great deal and recommend it for those who want more than just a Wright picture book.

A classic book and must have for an architectural library. The only problem being that you will need other Wright books to get more detailed documentation of his buildings.