Frank Lloyd Wright

Wright Studies

Frank L. Smith Bank, Dwight, Illinois (1905) (S.111)

Exterior Photographs By Douglas Steiner, February 2009

On a recent trip from Chicago to Seattle with my daughter and grandchildren, we had a few minutes to stop and see the Frank L. Smith Bank, now the First National Bank in Dwight, Illinois. It is just a few minutes off the interstate and is the only bank Wright designed that is still functioning as a bank. Wright’s original 1904 design for the exterior of the bank was more elaborate and in Wright’s style than the final 1905 design. But the final design is very close to the 1901 project for “A Small Village Bank”, published in the Brickbuilder 1901 and in Ausgeführte Bauten und Entwürfe		von Frank Lloyd Wright 1910, Tafel XII a & b. And yet even in this simple design, there are consistent Wright elements. He incorporate horizontal bands of windows, and vertical columns on either end. Most of all his ability to work with the building’s visual perspective. When you first view the bank from a distance it appears to be a single story. But as you approach the building and the entrance becomes apparent, the building grows in size. It is reminiscent of what Wright accomplishes with hallways opening up to larger spaces.

1: Viewed from the Southeast, this original section of the Bank still appears as Wright designed it. The clock that appeared at the top of the building in earlier images was removed during the early 1990 remodeling. Originally the front doors were located at the back end of the Logia which is consistent with how Wright would hide the entrance.


2: Viewed from the South, the addition on the left was added in the early 1990. The original section of the Bank on the right still appears as Wright designed it. The clock that appeared at the top of the building in earlier images was removed.


3: Viewed from the South, the addition on the left was added in the early 1990. The additional retained Wright's theme. There is a drive through on the far left. My four year old grandson admires Wright's intricate design elements.


4: Viewed from the South. A vertical column that appears on either end of the original structure, is repeated and takes a prominent role in the addition.


5: Viewed from the South. The addition retains the character and material of the original design.


6: Viewed from the South. The addition retains the character and material of the original design.

7: Viewed from the South. When you first view the bank from a distance it appears to be a single story. But as you approach the building and the entrance becomes apparent, the building grows in size.

8: Viewed from the South. As you approach the bank and the entrance becomes apparent, the building grows in size.

9: Viewed from the Southeast. Originally the front doors were located at the back end of the Logia which is consistent with how Wright would hide the entrance. The entrance pedestals center on the column behind it. This is very consistent with how Wright diminished the size of his hallways. As you moved through the narrow hallways, the space you moved into gave the feeling of a much larger space.

10: Viewed from the South. Originally the front doors were located at the back end of the Logia which is consistent with how Wright would hide the entrance. The entrance pedestals center on the column behind it. This is very consistent with how Wright diminished the size of his hallways. As you moved through the narrow hallways, the space you moved into gave the feeling of a much larger space.

11: Viewed from the South. Detail of the lantern atop the entrance pedestals.

12: Detail of the lantern atop the entrance pedestals. (This image courtesy of IvoShandor, Wickimedia, and has been altered.)

13: Detail of the narrow window on the right between the last two columns. Wright extended the horizontal row of windows from the corner column on the left to the corner column on the right.

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