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Prairie House + enlarge

Photographer: Bruce Van Inwegen

Prairie House

  • LEAD ARCHITECT
  • Jim Olson, FAIA (view bio)
  • LOCATION & YEAR
  • Highland Park, IL, 1993

Poject Details

This house merges with its site and joins the natural world by means of indigenous plantings that extend the grassland up to the exterior walls. Strong horizontal lines echo the sweep of the prairie. Stone and concrete walls solidly anchor the building to the land while, in contrast, the more delicate, seemingly detached roof planes float above. The materials, in shades of red and copper, complement the lush green foliage surrounding the house and bring each color into sharper focus.