Abstract
The philosophical basis of Frank Lloyd Wright's concept of 'organic' architecture has generally been attributed primarily to the influence of his early employer Louis Sullivan. It is argued here, however, that there was in fact a fundamental difference between Sullivan and Wright in their conceptions of organic form. Evidence is presented that Wright consciously designed each phase of his work-from the plan through to the architectural rendering and decorative detail-to stand as an aesthetically pleasing organic whole in and of itself, quite apart from any practical function it might serve. It is suggested that this distinction - between general formal 'purposiveness' and specific functional adaptation-was an essential difference between Wright's organicism and that of his mentor.
