Worked for Louis Sullivan
Wright worked for two architectural firms before finding a position at Adler and Sullivan, working with renown architect Louis Sullivan. Wright and Sullivan shared the opinion that nature should be part of architecture. Sullivan promoted organic designs, bringing nature into an urban setting. Wright, like Sullivan, believed architecture should not dominate nature, but work with it. This was a rebellious idea in the era of grand Victorian designs like Queen Anne and Romanesque that were all about dominating the landscape with their height and aesthetic. In a unique twist, Sullivan allowed Wright, still a draftsperson at the firm, to help with the design of the Charnley House in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Draftspeople were not typically involved in the design process, they produced the construction drawings for the firm’s projects. This shows Sullivan’s recognition of Wright’s vision, and how it aligned with his own. Sullivan became Wright’s mentor and respected friend.