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While Chicago has no shortage of hotel ballrooms, banquet halls, outdoor gardens, and other picturesque venues to host weddings or other large gatherings, the Second City is virtually spoiled when it comes to architecturally significant sites designed or inspired by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. In celebration of the master designer’s 150th birthday we take a look at eight such Wright-related sites available to rent for events large and small.
Emil Bach House
Address: 7415 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL
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↑ Built in 1915, Wright’s Emil Bach House is located near Lake Michigan in the north side Chicago neighborhood of Rogers Park. The restored property is available for large private events in its garden area or smaller indoor gatherings. In addition to serving as a venue for group meetings or celebrations, the Bach House also functions as a vacation rental property and features two well-appointed guest bedrooms on its second floor.
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Lang House
Address: 7421 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL
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↑ One door north of the Bach House is a four-square mansion designed in Wright’s Prairie School style. Penned by former Adler & Sullivan architect Edgar M. Newman in 1919 for the Lang family as a quiet retreat away from Chicago’s bustling downtown, the well-preserved structure now serves as a bed and breakfast. It can accommodate smaller receptions as well as catered events for up to 80 guests.
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The Rookery Building
Address: 209 S. LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL
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↑ With an original design by the legendary Chicago architecture firm of Burnham & Root from the 1880s and an interior lobby renovation performed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1905, this early skyscraper is notable not only for its architectural pedigree, but also for being the oldest surviving high-rise in the city. The glassy atrium makes for an incredible venue for weddings, fundraisers, or other private get-togethers.
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Robie House
Address: 5757 S. Woodlawn Avenue, Chicago, IL
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↑ One of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most celebrated structures, the 107-year-old Robie House Museum is located on the University of Chicago's Hyde Park campus and provides guided tours to the public seven days a week. According to its website, the iconic Prairie School structure is a great setting for intimate cocktail receptions, professional meetings, dinner parties, and more.
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Unity Temple
Address: 875 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL
↑ There’s been no better time to book your next event at Oak Park’s 1908 Unity Temple thanks to a recently-completed $25 million renovation. Described by Wright as his “contribution to modern architecture,” the stunning space isn’t just limited to religious ceremonies such as weddings. With upgraded lighting, a new sound system, and a pop-up projection screen, the temple’s sanctuary is suited for all kinds of civic events, concerts, and other presentations.
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Cheney Mansion
Address: 220 N. Euclid Avenue, Oak Park, IL
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↑ Also in Oak Park, the 1913 Cheney Mansion comes from architect Charles E. White, Jr. who worked for Wright for two years. Though more evocative of an English manor than a Prairie School home, White’s creation embraces Wright’s philosophy that a building should express the spirit of its natural surroundings. The 12,000-square-foot residence is set on 2.2 acres of landscaped grounds and provides a gorgeous setting for indoor and outdoor events of all sizes.
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Café Brauer
Address: 2021 N. Stockton Drive, Chicago, IL
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↑ Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright contemporary Dwight H. Perkins, this handsome 1908 structure located at the edge of Lincoln Park Zoo's south lagoon features a rentable second level ballroom with a soaring, skylit roof, Tiffany-inspired glass chandeliers, stained-glass windows, and tile mosaics. The main space is flanked by a pair of open-air loggias offering views of the park as well as Chicago's iconic skyline. Café Brauer is considered to be one of Chicago’s best examples of Prairie School architecture.
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Prairie School
Address: 326 N. Morgan Street, Chicago, IL
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↑ Speaking of the ‘Prairie School,’ this eponymous restaurant on its way to Chicago’s Fulton Market District will be an homage to all things Frank Lloyd Wright. Slated to occupy half of a 9,000 square-foot vacant space inside Chicago’s “Google Building,” the yet-to-open eatery and bar will debut later this summer. While specifics are sparse at this time, the upcoming establishment will likely include private space given its unusually large footprint. For additional info, check out Eater Chicago.
- Frank Lloyd Wright Week [Curbed]
- Chicago's most beautiful places to get married [Curbed Chicago]