Chicago Blow Me Away

09/06/2025

Look up! ⤴️

📷: Rich Fury / MSGE

05/18/2024

Classic.

Avery and Queene Ferry Coonley were the original owners of the Coonley Estate, one of the most well-known properties in Riverside. The estate is considered one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most impressive residential works. Wright ultimately deemed the project “the most successful of my houses.” The Coonleys granted Wright the creative freedom to design the home. However, before he could begin, Mrs. Coonley and Wright had to convince Mr. Coonley to change his mind about wanting a colonial-style home. Mrs. Coonley was passionate about architecture and discovered Wright’s work by attending various exhibitions. She was looking for inspiration for a distinctive dwelling and received her wish due to Wright’s design. Construction started in 1908 and the main home was completed in 1909.

Wright used zoned planning for the first time as he designed the Coonley home. This approach divides spaces based on their function. The Coonley house consists of three main sections. The west wing includes a dining room, living room, study, and three bedrooms. At the northern end, a second wing includes the kitchen and servant’s quarters. The third wing is at the southern end and features two guest bedrooms.

In addition to the home, the Coonleys commissioned Wright to design a building dubbed the Playhouse. Mrs. Coonley founded a private elementary school that used the Playhouse until the late 1910s when it was converted into a single-family home.

Interested in more Riverside history? Stop by the History Museum, located by the Water Tower, on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

08/22/2023

Hanging at the Hancock. The US Air Force Thunderbirds performance on Saturday at the Chicago Air & Water Show.

07/10/2023

I pledge...

Yes

06/16/2023

Miss.

05/19/2023

Avery and Queene Ferry Coonley were the original owners of the Coonley Estate, one of the most well-known properties in Riverside. The estate is considered one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most impressive residential works. Wright ultimately deemed the project “the most successful of my houses.” The Coonleys granted Wright the creative freedom to design the home. However, before he could begin, Mrs. Coonley and Wright had to convince Mr. Coonley to change his mind about wanting a colonial-style home. Mrs. Coonley was passionate about architecture and discovered Wright’s work by attending various exhibitions. She was looking for inspiration for a distinctive dwelling and received her wish due to Wright’s design. Construction started in 1908 and the main home was completed in 1909.

Wright used zoned planning for the first time as he designed the Coonley home. This approach divides spaces based on their function. The Coonley house consists of three main sections. The west wing includes a dining room, living room, study, and three bedrooms. At the northern end, a second wing includes the kitchen and servant’s quarters. The third wing is at the southern end and features two guest bedrooms.

In addition to the home, the Coonleys commissioned Wright to design a building dubbed the Playhouse. Mrs. Coonley founded a private elementary school that used the Playhouse until the late 1910s when it was converted into a single-family home.

Interested in more Riverside history? Stop by the History Museum, located by the Water Tower, on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.