Frank Lloyd Wright: The Interactive Portfolio Book

I purchased this book from the gift shop of the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park, Illinois, after becoming an even bigger lover of Wright's work during the guided tour. This is a beautiful book that properly reflects Wright's beautiful work.

The book is written in chronological order from his birth in 1867 to his death in 1959, with an additional brief chapter about his legacy. Though the book encompasses his complete history, there is focus on his most famous works, including Fallingwater, the Robie House and Midway Gardens. There are also plenty of images of his works throughout the book.

There are seven transparent full-page pockets spread through the pages that contain the interactive materials. The pockets are quite fragile, held closed by a small cardboard tab. However, the interactive materials themselves are high-quality reproductions of everything from sketches to handwritten notes to a wedding announcement. In addition to the loose items in the full-page pockets, there are also some pages that fold out and smaller pockets attached to regular pages that contain loose items as well. There is a list of items contained in each full-page pocket on the regular page following the pocket, so it's easy to keep track of all the materials. The CD, on which you can hear him speak about his work, is a lovely bonus. The "interactive" in the title is certainly more than accurate.

My favorite of the interactive items is a hand-drawn aerial view of the Imperial Hotel in Japan, c. 1913. It was reproduced very well because the pencil lines look real!