Adopt an Artifact

Frank Lloyd Wright himself called the Robie House a ‘cornerstone of modern architecture’ as he fought to save it from demolition. Now you can play a role in returning this world-renowned building to its original splendor. By adopting an architectural element that requires conservation, restoration or reproduction, you can become intimately involved in the historic restoration of a masterpiece and allow future generations to experience firsthand the creativity that changed our built environment.

With the completion of exterior restoration in 2003, the Robie House is now structurally stable and the outside reflects the original design that sparked an architectural revolution. The goal for the restoration of the interior is to present this space as it originally appeared – a breathtaking manifestation of Wright’s ingenious architectural vision. The restoration plans for this phase include conservation of all 174 art glass windows; reproduction of the now lost garden gates; reproduction of light sconces for installation throughout the home; conservation of the existing original wood work and cabinetry, including the remarkably detailed laylights; conservation of doors; reproduction of the renowned collection of built-in cabinetry; and installation of period fixtures. Many of these original features are available for adoption, as well as items that need to be reproduced in order to present the house in its intended appearance. Click here to see a list of artifacts available for adoption.

When you Adopt an Artifact from the Robie House, you follow the progress of your artifact’s restoration, conservation or re-creation. You also receive recognition on site of your generous support. You will receive detailed reports of the pre-restoration analysis of your artifact, as well as a restoration plan. Regular updates throughout the process of your artifact’s restoration will allow you to experience history in the making. Additionally, you will be recognized for your generous support of this monumental restoration on a diagram displayed at the Robie House, informing tens of thousands of visitors to the museum of exactly who is responsible for the magnificent work of art they are experiencing.

Adoption Parameters
When you adopt a Robie House artifact, the cost includes five years of maintenance beyond completion of the artifact’s restoration. You may request to adopt a specific item within the home. Additional information regarding any artifact you are considering adopting is available. Donations made in the name of an artifact adoption should be directed to the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust. Be sure to indicate in your correspondence which artifacts you would like to adopt. Contact the Preservation Trust at 708.848.1976 or to request additional details.

Art Glass
The Robie House has 174 art glass windows and doors. These fundamental architectural and aesthetic features of the landmark building have suffered from the harsh Chicago climate and inadequate maintenance over the years. Poor building conditions exacerbated their decay. However, Phase 1 of the Robie House restoration corrected the leaky roof, gutters, and plaster soffits that directed water onto the windows, wearing out putty, advancing came corrosion, and rotting the wood frames. Previous inappropriate alterations continue to advance deterioration and promote misinterpretation of the original design.

Conservation and restoration work is directed by a thorough methodology that includes glass repair and replacement, came and putty conservation and replacement, and wood sash restoration. Extant hardware will be cleaned and conserved so it works properly. Non-original hardware will be replaced with matching period hardware or historic reproduction if no period pieces are available. All zinc caming that is found to be unstable will be reinforced and severely deteriorated came will be replaced. All glass will be cleaned and cracked glass will be repaired with epoxy. The glazing panels will be strengthened and made weatherproof by removing and reapplying the putty. All sashes will be made structurally stable and square, refinished to the original surface coating color and finish, and made weather tight with weather stripping.

When you adopt Robie House art glass, you will learn the exacting process employed to return these magnificent pieces to their intended design, as well as experience pride in presenting the works of art to the public for years to come. Art glass available for adoption...

Garden Gates
Wright created five impressive steel gates for use throughout the Robie House’s grounds. All five pieces must be re-created following historic photos and information discovered in various documents regarding the home’s construction. When you adopt a garden gate, you will follow these unique forms of sculpture through their fabrication and installation. Gates available for adoption...

© 1955 The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.
All rights reserved.

Light Sconces
The famous sconces that adorn the rooms of the Robie House are sculptural works of art in their own right. Through the storied past of the home’s existence, many of the sconces have been removed and those remaining are in desperate need of conservation. Adopting a sconce, or a group of sconces, will allow this integral feature of the home – and the magical light and shadows they cast – to be experienced by future generations. Sconces available for adoption...

Woodwork
Cabinetry, Radiator cabinets or
grilles, Laylights
The extant wood features show need for significant restoration. Evident deterioration includes veneer loss, loss of pieces or entire units, water damage, non-functioning parts, unstable structure, and inappropriate alterations. Each of these beautiful wood features adds to the unique appearance of the Robie House. When you adopt a wood feature, you will learn of the process used to conserve and re-create these wonderful pieces, including the in-depth analysis of the finishes.

Cabinetry
The cabinetry work required in this building breaks down into two types: Existing cabinets that require conservation/restoration and stabilization work; and cabinetry that is no longer in place at the Robie House. The existing cabinetry requires repairs to make it structurally stable and square, and assure that all doors and drawers operate properly. Conservation work will include the repair of all veneer and wood loss. The non-extant cabinetry will be reproduced with the assistance of historic drawings, photographs and the existing cabinetry.

Both the existing and the reproduction cabinetry will be refinished to the original surface coating color and finish. All extant hardware will be stabilized, cleaned and polished. When original hardware is not available, period hardware will be procured and installed. When period hardware cannot be found, custom hardware will be cast and installed. Cabinetry available for adoption…

Radiator Cabinets
The radiator cabinets have suffered aging and abuse over the years. All the radiators require tightening of joints so that they are structurally stable and so that doors and grilles operate properly. The cabinets will be conserved by repairing all wood loss, stripping non-original finish and reapplying surface coating according to the original finish. The existing hardware that is stable will be cleaned and polished. Period hardware will be installed where existing cabinet hardware is missing or non-repairable. Radiator cabinets available for adoption…

Laylights
The magnificent laylights that surround the Robie House living room and dining room create an arresting glow. They are wooden grilles with decorative blocks and sandblasted glass that screen the incandescent lights above to form a unifying perimeter around the main public rooms of the home. They are a truly remarkable feature of the home and are in need of extensive conservation.

Multiple layers of non-original finishes have altered the look of the laylights and differentiated them from one another. The three largest laylights are hinged on one side, snap into place with a ball catch, and are further secured with nails slid into small catch holes. The majority of the remaining laylights rely solely on these simple nail “catches” that have been drilled into the frames; most of the ball catch hinges are inoperable. Further altering the original design is the loss of numerous decorative blocks from the grilles, and the translucent paper that inappropriately replaces the original sandblasted glass. And finally, the orientation of the once uniform laylights is inconsistent, resulting in an inaccurate presentation.

Conservation of the laylights will make them structurally stable and square. All decorative blocks will be properly attached to the grilles. Nails will be eliminated and working hardware installed. The grilles will be reinstalled in proper orientation. Non-original finishes will be stripped and a surface coating that matches the original finish will be applied. Reproduction sandblasted glass will be installed. Two laylights will be completely re-created to replace inaccurate reproduction laylights. Adopt a laylight and you will follow the detailed efforts of a wood conservator as the marvelous wooden sculptures are brought back to life. Laylights available for adoption...

Doors
The handsome wood doors found throughout the Robie House have taken their share of abuse over the years. Much non-original hardware must be corrected, as well as veneer, wood and finishes repaired. Where original hardware is not available, period pieces must be procured and installed. By adopting a door – or several doors – you allow every detail of this historic home to be returned to its 1910 appearance, when it best reflected the original vision of both architect and client.

Conservation of the doors involves structural stabilization, squaring, and re-hanging where necesssary. All veneer and wood loss will be repaired, non-original hardware will be removed and the surrounding area repaired. Finishes will be returned to the original surface coating color and finish. All extant hardware will be stabilized, cleaned and polished. All lock sets will be dismantled, cleaned, refurbished and reinstalled. All hinge sets will be evaluated, repaired, cleaned, refurbished and reinstalled. Components will be replaced when hinges cannot be repaired. When original hardware is not available, period hardware will be procured and installed. When period hardware cannot be found, custom hardware will be cast and installed. Doors available for adoption...

Adoptable Artifacts

description		quantities to adopt		adoption cost each
Small		38		$2000
Medium Clear		20		$2250
Medium Colored		32		$3000
Medium Colored + Small		18		$3000
Large Cabinet (door)		5		$5000
Door		9		$6000
french Door Set		12		$9500
Front Door		1		$9000
Servant's Window		1		$7500

description		quantities to adopt		adoption cost each
Small		3		$6000
Large		2		$12,000

description		quantities to adopt		adoption cost each
Decorative Re-creation		27		$4000
Square Re-creation		42		$2500
Decorative Conservation		2		$1000
Square Conservation		29		$750

description				adoption cost each
Playroom bench				$10,000
Billiard Room bookshelves				$15,000
Kitchen wall (reproduce)				$30,000
Kitchen wall (conserve)				$20,000
Kitchen island				$15,000
Pantry wall				$15,000
Living/Dining Room shelves				$10,000
Dining Room Prow buffet				$9000
Dining Room square table				$30,000
Dining Room cabinet				$11,000
Dining Room buffet (reproduce)				$30,000
Dining Room buffet (conserve)				$11,000
Screen wall				$10,000
Inglenook				$40,000
Living Room Prow shelves				$7500
Art glass cabinet				$20,000
Upper Entry Hall wall				$9000
Linen closet				$10,000
Dressing Room cabinet				$20,000

description		quantities to adopt		adoption cost each
Extra Large		2		$16,000
Large		1		$9000
Standard		10		$8000
Small		9		$5800

description		quantities to adopt		adoption cost each
Dining Room Prow		All		$4000
Small		2		$1000
Square		1		$2000
Dining Room		All		$10,000
Medium		8		$1250
Living/Dining Hall		All		$3800
Medium		3		$1250
Living Room		All		$17,000
Small		2		$1000
Medium		12		$1250
Living Room Prow		1		$2000
Upper Entry Hall		All		$11,000
Medium		4		$1250
Large		3		$2000

description		quantities to adopt		adoption cost each
Exterior		3		$750
Interior		37		$500

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