# Ward W. Willits House [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [WRIGHT, Frank Lloyd]() - Date: 1851-1900 - Technique: Photo ## Commentary After beginning his independent practice in 1893, Wright focused on individual houses for clients in the suburbs of Chicago and the nearby region. He developed the 'Prairie house' as a residential type marked externally by its extended horizontal lines and overhanging roofs, and internally by its spatial continuity among major rooms, and the integration of furniture and ornament, especially art glass windows, such as the Frank Thomas House, Oak Park, Illinois \(1901\). Among the most important of these were the Willits House, Highland Park, Illinois \(1901\); Martin House, Buffalo, New York \(1903-06\); Coonley House, Riverside, Illinois \(1908-12\); and the Robie House, Chicago \(1908-10\). The Ward W. Willits House is one of the great Prairie School houses designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Built-in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park, the house presents a symmetrical façade to the street. One of the more interesting points about the house is Wright's ability to seamlessly combine architecture with nature. The plan is cruciate with four wings extending out from a central fireplace. In addition to stained glass windows and wooden screens that divide rooms, Wright also designed the furniture for the house. Willits was the vice president of the Adams & Westlake Company, which produced brass products. He was probably introduced to Wright through his employee Orlando Giannini, who previously had produced art glass for Wright. Willits and his wife would join Wright on a trip to Japan in 1905. Willits lived here until his death in 1951 at age 92. View the <a href="\#" onClick="w=window.open \('/support/plans/w/wright\_l/willits.html', 'newWin', 'scrollbars=yes,status=no,dependent=yes,screenX=0,screenY=0,width=400,height=600'\);w.opener=this;w.focus\(\);return false">plan</a> of the house. ## Related artworks - [Armchair]() - [Avery Coonley House: dining room]() - [Avery Coonley House: front façade]() - [Avery Coonley House: garden area]() - [Avery Coonley House: living room]() - [Avery Coonley House: living room]() - [Avery Coonley House: primary bedroom]() - [Avery Coonley House: view from the garden]() - [Darwin D. Martin House: front]() - [Desk]() - [Dining chair]() - [Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio: exterior view]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()