Oscar B. Balch House

The Oscar B. Balch House in Oak Park, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1911, stands as one of his mature Prairie style works and marked his return to Oak Park after a scandal that had damaged his personal and professional life. Commissioned by loyal client Oscar Balch, the house helped signal Wright’s reentry into local practice. Its early flat roof, broad eaves, stucco exterior, and strong horizontal lines advance the Prairie style’s long, low character, while taller proportions, enclosed walls, and a concealed entry give it a distinctive tension. Later renovations brought the house to net zero energy performance.

Oak Park, Illinois · United States