Unity Temple

Unity Temple. Frank Lloyd Wright, Architect. In 1905, the Unity Church of Oak Park, home to a Universalist congregation, was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. The congregation commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright to design a new building for them., Wright's bold design with its cubist features and use of poured reinforced concrete, broke all the rules of American religious architecture. This all-concrete building was entirely cast here at this site, including the distinctive columns near the top, which support the overhanging roof. The design creates an imposing facade and the concrete muffles street noise., The building is also famous because of the arrangement and flow of the interior. As Wright explained later in his life, "Unity Temple is where you will find the first real expression of my idea that the space within the building is the reality of that building." Through subtle manipulation of proportion, "layering" of visual surfaces, and repetition of decorative elements, Wright created a serene, intimate space that he called "my little jewel box"., Unity Temple has been in continuous use since 1908 by the congregation that commissioned it, now a Unitarian Universalist congregation. The building is used, as the architect intended, for community events and especially for concerts, which showcase its superb acoustics. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1971. The Unity Temple Restoration Foundation was founded in 1973 and is dedicated to restoring and preserving Unity Temple. In 2017, a comprehensive $25-million restoration, with financial support from the congregation, UTRF and largely supported by the Alphawood Foundation was completed. In July of 2019 Unity Temple, along with seven other Wright buildings, was inscribed as part of "The 20th Century of Frank Lloyd Wright" UNESCO World Heritage designation, among only 24 sites in the U.S. representing significant cultural and natural value. ,