Frank Lloyd Wright

Wright's parents had little money, but they always found the extra money needed to support their child's interests. When Wright became old enough to begin working, his parents felt that sending him to his Uncle's dairy farm during his summer break from school would provide him with the proper work ethics and morals needed to become a responsible adult. The work on the farm was rigorous and seemingly endless to Wright. He despised the chores which he was required to do. Wright attempted to run away almost each summer that he was sent there. However, his kind but stern Uncle promised him that all of his hard work would make him a better person and would teach him responsibility. As the years passed, Wright began to dread working on the farm less and less. He became fascinated with nature and developed a deep respect for it. It was there, on a small Wisconsin dairy farm where Wright began to ponder the theory of integrating architecture with nature. Wright attributed his love and respect toward nature to the many summers which he spent on his Uncle's farm. .
             The other major influence in Wrights life, was the collapsing of the State of Wisconsin Capitol Building. Wright was only 13 when he witnessed the building collapse upon itself, killing all 40 workers who were inside it. Severely traumatized and unable to sleep for weeks, Wright kept wondering why the tragic incident occurred. Weeks later, it was revealed that the cause of the buildings collapse was a lack of support from the pillars which held up the top 3 stories. The architect and the builder both neglected to test the pillars before they were introduced into the buildings structural design. After Wright learned this, he vowed that if he became a architect, he would thoroughly test all of the support membranes used in the construction of all the building projects which he oversaw. The greatest factor which Wright put forth in his philosophy of Organic Architecture was that of safety.