[Chronicle]

Jan. 23, 1997
Vol. 16, No. 9

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    Lease-signing ceremony marks start of Robie House restoration

    Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House will be leased by the University to the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Foundation so it can be developed as a house-museum. A lease-signing ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 24, at Robie House.

    Called by Wright "the cornerstone of modern architecture," Robie House marked a dramatic departure in the design of residential architecture when it was built in 1910. The house's striking horizontal lines, hovering roofs and fluid, open-spaced interior revolutionized American residential architecture.

    In 1957, a panel of leading architects and art historians named Robie House one of two outstanding houses built in the 20th century. In 1963, Robie House was designated a Registered National Historic Landmark.

    The house has been used for the offices of the Alumni Association since 1979. Those offices will temporarily move to the Merriam Center while a permanent location is sought.