Isabel Roberts House
Encyclopedia
Isabel Roberts House is a classic 1908 Prairie House from the studio of Frank Lloyd Wright
located at 603 Edgewood Place in River Forest, Illinois
It was built for Isabel Roberts
and her widowed mother, Mary Roberts.
Scholars suggest that the house was originally designed for Joshua Melson, the co-developer of Rock Crest-Rock Glen, in Mason City, Iowa
. On that site was built one of a collection of homes designed by Wright’s associate, Walter Burley Griffin
.
Over time, the house went through at least two renovations. The first was a renovation by Prairie school
architect William Drummond
in 1922. In 1958, Frank Lloyd Wright undertook a second remodeling of the house, which brought the design forward so that as it stands, it is a blending of Wright’s Prairie Style and his later Usonian architecture. The Isabel Roberts House is privately owned. It is a contributing property
to the River Forest Historic District.
, cruciform plan, large fireplace surrounded by Roman brick, built-in bookcases, stained woodwork, a tree growing through the roof, elimination of basement and attic space, and an overall emphasis on the horizontal line. Wright’s Vosburgh House is similar in conception to the Isabel Roberts house.
The living room boasts groupings of windows on three of the four main walls, some 1½ stories high, and some clerestory; this provides a gracious feeling of light and airiness. Among the Isabel Roberts House's most appealing features is the balcony overlooking the tall living room, a design element Wright used here and elsewhere to create a sense of spaciousness in a small house.
(1871–1955) has been described by Wright scholars as Frank Lloyd Wright’s secretary, bookkeeper or office manager. While Isabel fulfilled these functions, she also took an active role in the lively and creative design atmosphere of the Studio. She produced original designs for the leaded glass windows in the Prairie houses and took part in the intramural design competitions that helped ripen the Prairie architecture described by Wright associate Barry Byrne
.
As Wright’s son John Lloyd Wright says, “William Drummond
, Francis Barry Byrne
, Walter Burley Griffin
, Albert McArthur (Albert Chase McArthur
), Marion Mahony, Isabel Roberts
and George Willis
were the draftsmen. Five men, two women. They wore flowing ties, and smocks suitable to the realm. The men wore their hair like Papa, all except Albert, he didn’t have enough hair. They worshiped Papa! Papa liked them! I know that each one of them was then making valuable contributions to the pioneering of the modern American architecture for which my father gets the full glory, headaches and recognition today! ”
Mary Roberts (1836–1920) was born in Prince Edward Island. She married James H. Roberts in 1867. The family settled in South Bend, Indiana, where Mary lived until James' death in 1907. In South Bend they became friends with Laura C. B. DeRhodes; this friendship resulted in Laura building the K. C. DeRhodes House
by Wright. Mary then moved to live with Isabel who was already working in the Oak Park Studio for Wright. The Isabel Roberts House was built for mother and daughter to share.
Isabel Roberts stated that she was the designer of this house, although since it came from Wright's studio it has always been attributed to him.
Once in Florida, Isabel Roberts went into architectural practice with Ida Annah Ryan
, who was the first women in the United States to earn a masters degree in architecture, from MIT. As the firm of Ryan and Roberts, they were among no more than a dozen architecture firms active in Orlando in the 1920s. Ryan and Roberts created landmark buildings in Central Florida, some of which still stand, today. Isabel Roberts lived and practiced in Orlando for the remainder of her life and is buried in Orlando alongside her mother and her sister.
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
located at 603 Edgewood Place in River Forest, Illinois
River Forest, Illinois
River Forest is a suburban village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Two universities make their home in River Forest, Dominican University and Concordia University Chicago. The village is closely tied to the larger neighboring community of Oak Park, Illinois. There are significant...
It was built for Isabel Roberts
Isabel Roberts
Isabel Roberts was a Prairie School figure, member of the architectural design team in the Oak Park Studio of Frank Lloyd Wright and partner with Ida Annah Ryan in the Orlando, Florida architecture firm, “Ryan and Roberts”. It is fair to say that Roberts is an under-appreciated member of Wright’s...
and her widowed mother, Mary Roberts.
Scholars suggest that the house was originally designed for Joshua Melson, the co-developer of Rock Crest-Rock Glen, in Mason City, Iowa
Mason City, Iowa
Mason City is the county seat of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 28,079 in the 2010 census, a decline from 29,172 in the 2000 census. The Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Cerro Gordo and Worth counties....
. On that site was built one of a collection of homes designed by Wright’s associate, Walter Burley Griffin
Walter Burley Griffin
Walter Burley Griffin was an American architect and landscape architect, who is best known for his role in designing Canberra, Australia's capital city...
.
Over time, the house went through at least two renovations. The first was a renovation by Prairie school
Prairie School
Prairie School was a late 19th and early 20th century architectural style, most common to the Midwestern United States.The works of the Prairie School architects are usually marked by horizontal lines, flat or hipped roofs with broad overhanging eaves, windows grouped in horizontal bands,...
architect William Drummond
William Eugene Drummond
William Eugene Drummond was a Chicago Prairie School architect.-Early Years and Education:He was born in Newark, New Jersey, the son of carpenter and cabinet maker Eugene Drummond and his wife Ida Marietta Lozier...
in 1922. In 1958, Frank Lloyd Wright undertook a second remodeling of the house, which brought the design forward so that as it stands, it is a blending of Wright’s Prairie Style and his later Usonian architecture. The Isabel Roberts House is privately owned. It is a contributing property
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
to the River Forest Historic District.
Design
The Isabel Roberts house is sometimes credited as being the first split-level house. It also has features typical of Wright’s mature Prairie style, including broad overhanging eaves, low hip roofs, continuous bands of windows which he called “light screens”, an emphatic water tableWater table (architecture)
A water table is a masonry architectural feature that consists of a projecting course that deflects water running down the face of a building away from lower courses or the foundation...
, cruciform plan, large fireplace surrounded by Roman brick, built-in bookcases, stained woodwork, a tree growing through the roof, elimination of basement and attic space, and an overall emphasis on the horizontal line. Wright’s Vosburgh House is similar in conception to the Isabel Roberts house.
The living room boasts groupings of windows on three of the four main walls, some 1½ stories high, and some clerestory; this provides a gracious feeling of light and airiness. Among the Isabel Roberts House's most appealing features is the balcony overlooking the tall living room, a design element Wright used here and elsewhere to create a sense of spaciousness in a small house.
The Clients: Isabel Roberts and Mary Roberts
Isabel RobertsIsabel Roberts
Isabel Roberts was a Prairie School figure, member of the architectural design team in the Oak Park Studio of Frank Lloyd Wright and partner with Ida Annah Ryan in the Orlando, Florida architecture firm, “Ryan and Roberts”. It is fair to say that Roberts is an under-appreciated member of Wright’s...
(1871–1955) has been described by Wright scholars as Frank Lloyd Wright’s secretary, bookkeeper or office manager. While Isabel fulfilled these functions, she also took an active role in the lively and creative design atmosphere of the Studio. She produced original designs for the leaded glass windows in the Prairie houses and took part in the intramural design competitions that helped ripen the Prairie architecture described by Wright associate Barry Byrne
Barry Byrne
Francis Barry Byrne was initially a member of the group of architects known as the Prairie School. After the demise of the Prairie School about 1914-16, Byrne continued as a successful architect by developing his own personal style.-Biography:Francis Barry Byrne was born and raised in Chicago...
.
As Wright’s son John Lloyd Wright says, “William Drummond
William Eugene Drummond
William Eugene Drummond was a Chicago Prairie School architect.-Early Years and Education:He was born in Newark, New Jersey, the son of carpenter and cabinet maker Eugene Drummond and his wife Ida Marietta Lozier...
, Francis Barry Byrne
Barry Byrne
Francis Barry Byrne was initially a member of the group of architects known as the Prairie School. After the demise of the Prairie School about 1914-16, Byrne continued as a successful architect by developing his own personal style.-Biography:Francis Barry Byrne was born and raised in Chicago...
, Walter Burley Griffin
Walter Burley Griffin
Walter Burley Griffin was an American architect and landscape architect, who is best known for his role in designing Canberra, Australia's capital city...
, Albert McArthur (Albert Chase McArthur
Albert Chase McArthur
Albert Chase McArthur was a Prairie School architect, and the designer of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona.-Early years:...
), Marion Mahony, Isabel Roberts
Isabel Roberts
Isabel Roberts was a Prairie School figure, member of the architectural design team in the Oak Park Studio of Frank Lloyd Wright and partner with Ida Annah Ryan in the Orlando, Florida architecture firm, “Ryan and Roberts”. It is fair to say that Roberts is an under-appreciated member of Wright’s...
and George Willis
George Rodney Willis
George Rodney Willis, was an American architect associated with the Prairie School and the Oak Park, Illinois studio of Frank Lloyd Wright who thereafter had a successful career in California and in Texas....
were the draftsmen. Five men, two women. They wore flowing ties, and smocks suitable to the realm. The men wore their hair like Papa, all except Albert, he didn’t have enough hair. They worshiped Papa! Papa liked them! I know that each one of them was then making valuable contributions to the pioneering of the modern American architecture for which my father gets the full glory, headaches and recognition today! ”
Mary Roberts (1836–1920) was born in Prince Edward Island. She married James H. Roberts in 1867. The family settled in South Bend, Indiana, where Mary lived until James' death in 1907. In South Bend they became friends with Laura C. B. DeRhodes; this friendship resulted in Laura building the K. C. DeRhodes House
K. C. DeRhodes House
The K. C. DeRhodes House is a classic 1906 Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie style home located at 715 West Washington Avenue in South Bend, Indiana. The home has been carefully restored by its current owners over more than two decades and remains in private ownership. It is one of two Wright homes in...
by Wright. Mary then moved to live with Isabel who was already working in the Oak Park Studio for Wright. The Isabel Roberts House was built for mother and daughter to share.
Isabel Roberts stated that she was the designer of this house, although since it came from Wright's studio it has always been attributed to him.
Isabel Roberts after Wright
Isabel Roberts and her mother did not have the chance to enjoy their prairie-style home for long. They moved from River Forest to St. Cloud, Florida, a decade after the house was completed. Mary Roberts was in failing health due to the lingering effects of influenza. Isabel’s sister Charlotte and her husband were by that time established residents of St. Cloud. Mary Roberts died in Florida, in 1920.Once in Florida, Isabel Roberts went into architectural practice with Ida Annah Ryan
Ida Annah Ryan
Ida Annah Ryan was a pioneering United States woman architect. She was born on November 4, 1873 at Waltham, MA, one of five children of Albert Morse Ryan and Carrie S. Jameson. Albert Morse Ryan was a Waltham city employee and historian who also ran a milk business. She graduated from the Waltham...
, who was the first women in the United States to earn a masters degree in architecture, from MIT. As the firm of Ryan and Roberts, they were among no more than a dozen architecture firms active in Orlando in the 1920s. Ryan and Roberts created landmark buildings in Central Florida, some of which still stand, today. Isabel Roberts lived and practiced in Orlando for the remainder of her life and is buried in Orlando alongside her mother and her sister.