Frank Lloyd Wright

Laylight from the B. Harley Bradley House, Kankakee, Illinois

Frank Lloyd Wright’s B. Harley Bradley House incorporates natural materials and motifs in all functional and decorative aspects of the building. Reflecting the midwestern landscape, the house blurs the line between the interior of a home and the exterior of the outdoors. This is especially seen through the panoramic windows and stained-glass panels. Wright described his windows as “light screens,” highlighting the significant role of windows over walls in opening the interior space.

This laylight comes from a grouping of six horizontal stained-glass panels originally placed flat on the ceiling above the dining room table. Each is identical, made of yellow, green, and red rectangular pieces arranged in an intricate geometric design. Despite its location within the house, the vibrant colors of the laylight would have created the illusion of a lit outdoor space, allowing viewers to consider and immerse themselves fully in the surrounding environment.