Walking on the streets of Chicago to
experience Frank Llyod Wrights designs and buildings,
I walked past severals
places of prayer and congregations.
First one is the Prespytarian Church.
The Episcopal Church
Opposite to Unity Temple is the United Church
A place of function - The Post Office
Design on the wall of the Post Office.
Now, all the images are of FLW Unity Temple:
Decorative elements on the pillars that flange the windows
that are quite high, close to the ceiling of the walls of the
Sanctuary. Wright hoped that the congregation would experience
the clouds and the light embracing the vastness.
Moving from the secular realm to a more sacred one.
The end of the chain that you pull to turn the
light on or off, had an acorn form and
shape to it, small details of design.
The openings in between the concrete
walls, for light and introducing
decorative elements another
set of details.
the use of form that recedes and protrudes
to create contrast with light and
shadows that catches viewers
attention.
To the west of Unity Temple is
Oak Park Post Office building
designed by a colleague of FLW.
Detail in the restroom in the basement
of the Unity Temple.
The swinging doors used by the congregation
to leave after the service is complete.
This way the visitors could walk towards
the prophet before leaving the sanctuary.
From the first pew of the sanctuary.
looking at the ceiling
looking at the side walls
Spot where the visitor would land
as they enter the sanctuary.
the visitor could turn to walk up the steps
to find a place in the pew on upper levels
Looking up to the ceiling from the very
spot where the visitor lands
as soon as they walk into the
sanctuary.
looking back at the steps the
visitor took to get into the
sanctuary.
walked up half level to where the
organ player would sit.
meandering hallway to get to the
pews or walk down from the
half level of the organ players
bench, Notice the radiator.
check out the organic designs on the
radiator.
Looking towards the center of the
sanctuary from the top of what would be
left side of the prophet.
the person sitting on the last bench
would still be only 40 feet away from
the preacher. The tiered galleries
made the gathering of the community
close and intimate.
With this design FLW manipulates the sequence
of entrance in a way that the visitor may
experience a way of leaving behind the
secular space to enter a more sacred space.
He used light as a way of bringing vast
universal energy and light beaming
into the sanctuary through the glass ceiling
and windows closer to the ceiling on the walls.
Notice the design details of the light
fixtures, wooden reapers that covered
the pipes and bells of the organ, and
the resonance with the design on the
glass tiles on the ceiling.
Now I have walked across the central
entry point of the building to the
community area of the church.
The model of the building
is preserved.
Outside at the entrance of the building
FOR THE WORSHIP OF GOD &
FOR SERVICE OF MAN
this building consists of two large cubes
with a low entrance. The larger cube formed
the sanctuary, and the small called
Unity House which is used for
community activities. The building was
made with exposed concrete the radicle
material of the times.
In 1970 the structure was sprayed with Ganite -
dry concrete with a strong hose to
stabilize the structure.
A lot of oak wood has been used in the interior
for beauty, integrity and design of the space.
It took double the amount assigned for the project
and this was designed and built between 1905-08.
