In the 1930s, Wright first designed Usonian houses, which built upon the Prairie Style, but were intended to be practical houses for middle-class clients.  Usonian architecture was more centered on simplicity and functionality and set a new standard for suburban design.  After the stock-market crash of 1929, followed by the Great Depression, there was an urgent need for economically designed housing for middle and lower income families.  Wright’s Usonian designs met this need, while still providing open, spacious plans that were connected to the land.  

    Most Usonian homes were single story, with an L shape or other “in-line” design.  To reduce costs, he utilized concrete, which is now universally used as a base material for housing.  He also stripped down the house, removing unnecessary rooms and also removing large central heating systems.  Instead, he used insulation, a large open fireplace, and well placed windows.  He built the house around the kitchen because he believed that this “workspace” became the main part of the house and the place where the growing informality of family life can flourish.