UNITY TEMPLE

875 Lake Street, Oak Park, Frank Lloyd Wright architect built 1905-1908

The Unity Temple established Wright's renown the world over, and was built amid great controversy. Parishioners called the design "a blasphemy to God" or a "fortress".

It is noteworthy because it lacks the traditional details of a church, such as a steeple or front entrance. It also was one of the first monumental buildings to be comprised entirely of cast-in-place reinforced concrete, in which the material is poured onsite into a form that is removed after the concrete has set.

Wright insisted that no one could understand his design until they worshipped in the finished church. Wright stayed home that first Sunday, but a trustee of the church called and said "You're right, Frank, it works".

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