Editing Unity Temple (section)

=== Interior ===
{{Multiple image
| direction = horizontal
| total_width = 700
| image1 = Unity Temple, 875 Lake Street, Oak Park, Cook County, IL HABS ILL,16-OAKPA,3- (sheet 5 of 7).png
| alt1 = Floor plan of the foyer and Unity House's lower level
| caption1 = Ground floor plan, showing the foyer and Unity House's lower level
| image2 = Unity Temple, 875 Lake Street, Oak Park, Cook County, IL HABS ILL,16-OAKPA,3- (sheet 4 of 7).png
| alt2 = Floor plan of the auditorium's lower seating level and Unity House's upper level
| caption2 = Auditorium-level floor plan, showing the auditorium's lower seating level and Unity House's upper level
| image3 = Unity Temple, 875 Lake Street, Oak Park, Cook County, IL HABS ILL,16-OAKPA,3- (sheet 6 of 7).png
| alt3 = Floor plan of the auditorium's upper seating level
| caption3 = Balcony-level floor plan
| align = center
}}

Wright described Unity Temple's interior as reflecting "the reality of the building—the space in which we live and not the walls and the roof".<ref name="Newsday 1957" /> The foundations and columns are made of conventional concrete;<ref name="Knecht p. 173" /> the floor slabs are made of cinder concrete,<ref name="Knecht p. 173" /><ref name="Siry p. 140" /> in which coal cinders are embedded into the cement.<ref name="Siry p. 140" /> The superstructure also uses steel beams, which are entirely covered with concrete.<ref name="Siry p. 140" /> The interior was more colorful than the gray exterior, in part because of the windows.<ref name="McCarter2 p. 18" /> The walls are made of plaster, which is covered with an [[Aggregate (composite)|aggregate]] of sand, cement, and putty; a sealant was added to this aggregate, and the sealant was painted.<ref name="Siry p. 165">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=165 }}</ref> The interiors are also decorated with wooden boards, which not only [[Articulation (architecture)|articulate]] (or stylize) the interiors,<ref name="McCarter2 p. 19">{{harvnb|McCarter et al|1997|ps=.|page=19 }}</ref><ref name="Siry p. 164" /> but also conceal electrical wires.<ref name="Siry p. 164">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=164 }}</ref> Joseph Siry described the decorations as "a poetic invention that sprang from Wright's own imagination",<ref name="Siry p. 137" /> while Neil Levine wrote that the decorations highlighted "space and depth, rather than mass and volume".<ref>{{harvnb|Levine|1996|ps=.|page=46 }}</ref> Wright also included high ceilings 'for the contemplation for the soul", as ''Oak Leaves'' described it.<ref name="Oak Leaves 1969d">{{cite web |date=June 18, 1969 |title=Concert in Unity Temple to honor Wright heritage |url=https://riverforest.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?i=f&d=01011967-12311969&e=unity%20temple&m=between&ord=e1&fn=forest_leaves_usa_illinois_oak_park_19690618_english_6&df=1&dt=10 |access-date=February 6, 2025 |work=Oak Leaves |page=6 |via=River Forest Public Library }}</ref>

==== Entrance pavilion ====
An entrance pavilion, measuring {{Convert|24|by|32|ft}} across,<ref name="Oak Leaves p. 102" /> connects the auditorium and Unity House.<ref name="Levine p. 41" /> On the first floor, there is a foyer with a low ceiling.<ref name="Levine p. 41" /><ref name="Siry p. 170">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=170 }}</ref> an example of the compression-and-release principle that Wright espoused.<ref name="Reid 2014">{{Cite news |last=Reid |first=Kerry |date=May 1, 2014 |title=DIY tour of FLW |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-diy-tour-of-flwkerry-re/165016757/ |access-date=February 8, 2025 |work=Chicago Tribune |issn=1085-6706 |pages=4.3 }}</ref><ref name="Koziarz j035">{{cite web |last=Koziarz |first=Jay |date=June 7, 2017 |title=Restoration done Wright: A look inside Unity Temple |url=https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/6/7/15751444/frank-lloyd-wright-architecture-unity-temple-restoraton |access-date=February 9, 2025 |website=Curbed Chicago }}</ref> The foyer measures about {{Convert|27|ft}} wide<ref name="Siry p. 170" /> and adjoins a cloak room and a bathroom.<ref name="Oak Leaves p. 102" /> To the north, visitors make two 90-degree turns before reaching the auditorium's perimeter,<ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=xxxvii }}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Levine|1996|ps=.|pages=41–43 }}</ref> as Wright wanted visitors to go on a "path of discovery" to reach the auditorium.<ref name="Kamin 2025" /><ref name="Reid 2014" /><ref name="Koziarz j035" /> The north wall of the foyer is decorated with wooden slats and was initially designed as a hidden exit from the auditorium, without any doorknobs or visible hinges.<ref name="Siry p. 170" />

The foyer's west and east walls each contain a bank of six doors measuring {{convert|20|ft}} wide, with art-glass panes; the west doors form the main entrance.<ref name="Siry p. 170" /> The south wall has a glass partition,<ref name="McCarter2 p. 17" /> behind which Unity House's fireplace can be seen.<ref name="Levine p. 41" /> A pastor's study is located within the second floor of the pavilion and is directly connected to both the auditorium and Unity House.<ref name="McCarter2 p. 22">{{harvnb|McCarter et al|1997|ps=.|page=22 }}</ref>

==== Auditorium ====
===== Layout =====
[[File:Unity Temple - Oak Park IL 14 (3224136697).jpg|alt=Detail of one of the piers, with a ceiling skylight visible at left|thumb|Detail of one of the piers, with wooden strips that meet at right angles]]

Wright wrote that he had "let the room inside be the architecture outside" by designing the rest of the temple around the auditorium.<ref name="Wright p. 154" /><ref>{{harvnb|McCarter et al|1997|ps=|page=11}}; {{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=58 }}</ref> The auditorium at the north end of the temple has either 380<ref name="Oak Leaves 1975e">{{cite web |date=February 26, 1975 |title=Concerts to aid restoration |url=https://riverforest.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?i=f&d=01011975-12311976&e=unity%20temple&m=between&ord=e1&fn=forest_leaves_usa_illinois_oak_park_19750226_english_39&df=1&dt=10 |access-date=February 6, 2025 |work=Oak Leaves |page=39 |via=River Forest Public Library }}</ref> or 400 seats.<ref name="Oak Leaves 1969c" /><ref name="News Journal 1974">{{Cite news |date=October 6, 1974 |title=Unity concert series mingles the arts |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-journal-unity-concert-series-mingle/164850202/ |access-date=February 6, 2025 |work=News Journal |pages=3 }}</ref><ref name="Zoroya 1998">{{cite news |last=Zoroya |first=Gregg |date=November 6, 1998 |title=Traveling to all the Wright places |work=USA Today |page=10D |id={{ProQuest|408753108}} }}</ref> It is shaped like a [[Greek cross]],<ref name="Kamin 2025" /><ref name="Levine p. 45">{{harvnb|Levine|1996|ps=.|page=45 }}</ref> with a freestanding pier at each corner.<ref name="Levine p. 41" /><ref name="McCarter2 p. 19" /><ref name="Wright p. 155">{{harvnb|Wright|2005|ps=.|page=155 }}</ref> This contrasted with other churches in Oak Park, which had [[nave]]s that were significantly longer than their width.<ref name="Siry pp. 96–97" /> Wright wanted congregants to circulate around the auditorium's perimeter, rather than entering it from a central [[aisle]],<ref>{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=104 }}</ref> and he wanted the piers to draw visitors' attention inward.<ref name="Wright p. 155" /> The piers are connected by "cloisters", hallways {{Convert|4|ft}} beneath the auditorium's main floor.<ref name="Oak Leaves p. 102" /><ref name="Levine p. 43">{{harvnb|Levine|1996|ps=.|page=43 }}</ref><ref name="McCarter2 p. 17" /> According to Wright, this preserved the auditorium's "quiet and dignity" by allowing people to circulate around the room unnoticed.<ref name="McCarter2 pp. 17–18">{{harvnb|McCarter et al|1997|ps=.|pages=17–18 }}</ref> The bases of the piers contain small anterooms,<ref name="Levine p. 43" /> and staircases ascend to the main floor and balcony level.<ref name="Oak Leaves p. 102" /><ref name="McCarter2 pp. 17–18" /> The piers also include pipes and ducts for heating and ventilation.<ref name="Oak Leaves p. 102" /><ref name="McCarter2 p. 19" /> The piers are decorated with wooden strips that meet at right angles.<ref>{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=180 }}</ref>

At the center of the cross is a square measuring {{convert|33|ft}} on each side,<ref name="Siry p. 160">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=160 }}</ref> with a [[pulpit]] at the center.<ref name="Levine p. 44" /> The pulpit is arranged so it is no farther than {{Convert|45|ft}}<ref name="Kamin x694" /><ref name="Zoroya 1998" /> or {{Convert|75|ft}} from any seat.<ref name="Oak Leaves 1969d" /> In front of the pulpit is a railing with wooden boards across its surface and a wooden coping at its top. The center of the railing, in front of the pulpit's [[lectern]], is slightly raised. There is a bench behind the railing, as well as lamps to either side.<ref>{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=186 }}</ref> The southern wall contains a [[choir loft]] directly above the auditorium's entrance, which extends to the balcony level.<ref name="Oak Leaves p. 102" /> The [[choir screen]] consists of a series of vertical slits and interlocking [[Plane (geometry)|geometric planes]].<ref name="Levine p. 44" /><ref name="Siry pp. 182–183">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|pages=182–183 }}</ref> The screen protrudes from the south wall, providing space for the organ pipes behind them.<ref name="Siry pp. 182–183" /> There is a door to the pastor's study behind the choir screen.<ref name="McCarter2 p. 22" />[[Image:Unity Temple, 875 Lake Street, Oak Park, Cook County, IL 061740pv.jpg|thumb|right|[[Historic American Buildings Survey]] photograph of the pulpit]]The pews in the auditorium are variants of a mass-produced model of pews manufactured by the [[American Seating Company]].<ref name="Sokol pp. 119–120" /> On three sides of the main floor are raised pews, which seat 54 people each;<ref name="Levine p. 44">{{harvnb|Levine|1996|ps=.|page=44 }}</ref> they are [[Rake (theatre)|raked]], sloping down toward the pulpit.<ref name="Siry p. 177">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=177 }}</ref> The layout also allows audience members to face each other.<ref name="Siry p. 189" /><ref name="Reid 2014" /><ref name="McCarter2 p. 21">{{harvnb|McCarter et al|1997|ps=.|page=21 }}</ref> Exits from either side of the pulpit lead directly to the entrance pavilion.<ref name="Levine p. 44" /><ref name="McCarter2 pp. 21–22" /><ref name="Biemiller 1996">{{Cite magazine |last=Biemiller |first=Lawrence |date=February 23, 1996 |title=Lessons in wood and stone |magazine=The Chronicle of Higher Education |page=C5 |volume=42 |issue=24 |id={{ProQuest|214726508}} }}</ref> This eliminated the need for congregants to turn away from the pulpit to leave, as was customary in older churches,<ref name="Oak Leaves 1969c" /><ref name="Levine p. 44" /><ref name="McCarter2 pp. 21–22">{{harvnb|McCarter et al|1997|ps=.|pages=21–22 }}</ref> and it allowed congregants to mingle with the pastor or other speakers at the pulpit.<ref name="Biemiller 1996" /> According to architectural critic [[Blair Kamin]], the layout makes it so that "one enters as an individual and leaves as a member of a community".<ref name="Kamin x694" /> The exit doors are normally closed during services.<ref name="Oak Leaves 1957c" /> Since 2017, there has been a video screen behind the pulpit.<ref name="Hindery h568" />

The balcony is about {{convert|13.5|ft}} or two units above the ground<ref name="Siry p. 124" /> and also surrounds the auditorium on three sides.<ref name="Oak Leaves p. 102" /><ref name="Levine p. 43" /> The balcony has 153 seats in total,<ref name="Oak Leaves p. 102" /> which are more steeply raked than those on the main level.<ref name="Siry p. 177" /> The balcony is illuminated by spherical lamps, and there are wooden bands on the balcony's railings and on the [[soffit]] along the balcony's underside.<ref name="Siry p. 177" /> The architectural historian Robert Twombly wrote that the balconies gave the auditorium an intimate feel while allowing visitors to feel like they were part of a larger "majestic whole".<ref name="nyt-1984-09-02" />

===== Decorations =====
The decorations in the auditorium, such as the windows and chandeliers, are generally designed with cruciform motifs, recalling its overall shape.<ref name="McCarter2 p. 21" /> Generally, the lower part of the room is painted in darker shades of yellow and green, while the upper part is painted in lighter shades. The [[baseboard]]s and the piers' [[pedestal]]s were left unpainted, since Wright anticipated that this would give the room a more somber ambiance.<ref name="Siry pp. 187–188" /> Natural light is provided through ceiling skylights and clerestories,<ref name="McCarter2 p. 18" /><ref name="Concrete Engineering 1907" /> as well as the narrow slit windows.<ref name="Inland Architect 1906 e817" /><ref name="McCarter2 p. 18" /> According to Wright, the windows were intended "to get a sense of a happy cloudless day into the room".<ref name="Wright p. 155" /><ref name="Levine p. 45" /><ref name="McCarter2 p. 18" /> Other than the slit windows and the door to the foyer, the lower part of the auditorium has no openings.<ref name="Inland Architect 1906 e817" /> Wright had designed planters or urns for the auditorium, but church officials refused to accept them.<ref>{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=|pages=184–185}}; {{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|pages=132–135 }}</ref> The auditorium also has several hardwood chairs, built in 2003 to replace the original Wright–designed chairs.<ref name="Weekend Chicago Defender 2003" />

The auditorium's ceiling is {{convert|27|ft}} high.<ref name="Siry p. 124">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=124 }}</ref> The center of the ceiling is topped by amber skylights,<ref name="Levine p. 41" /> which are surrounded by bands of wood.<ref name="Siry p. 164" /> The roof is supported by solid concrete beams oriented east–west, while the north–south beams are of hollow concrete.<ref name="Siry p. 172">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=172 }}</ref> Inset within this grid of beams are 25 square skylight panels.<ref name="McCarter2 p. 18" /><ref name="Siry p. 172" /><ref name="JG-TC: Journal Gazette and Times-Courier 1988" /> Each panel measures {{Convert|4+5/6|ft}} across, with 83 pieces of glass,<ref name="JG-TC: Journal Gazette and Times-Courier 1988" /> and is decorated with a fork-shaped motif pointing in one of the four cardinal directions.<ref>{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|pages=174–175 }}</ref> A ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' article likened the skylights' designs to [[Piet Mondrian]]'s artwork.<ref name="nyt-1984-09-02" /> The space is also illuminated by overhanging spherical chandeliers flanked by cubic lamps,<ref name="Schrenk p. 151" /><ref>{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|pages=185–186 }}</ref> and the perimeter of the ceiling is made of oak boards.<ref name="Siry p. 164" />

==== Unity House ====
[[File:Historic American Buildings Survey Philip Turner, Photographer June 1967 INTERIOR- LOOKING NORTH - Unity Temple, 875 Lake Street, Oak Park, Cook County, IL HABS ILL,16-OAKPA,3-5.tif|alt=Interior of Unity House, looking north toward the temple. The ceiling has rectangular glass skylights with wood borders. The foyer is visible in the background.|thumb|Interior of Unity House, looking north toward the temple]]

The interior of Unity House is painted in various shades of green, yellow, and brown.<ref name="Siry p. 165" /> Unity House's primary interior space measures about {{convert|82+5/6|by|27+1/6|ft}} across, corresponding to approximately 12 by 4 units.<ref name="Siry p. 160" /> There is a square hall at the center, measuring about {{Convert|30|ft}}<ref name="McCarter2 p. 22" /> or {{Convert|33+5/6|ft}} on each side.<ref name="Siry p. 160" /> There are balconies to the west and east of the central hall, on the same story as the auditorium's lower seating level.<ref name="McCarter2 p. 22" /><ref name="Siry pp. 161–162" /> The balconies are supported by [[I-beam]]s and contain small columns with wooden [[Sconce (light fixture)|sconces]],<ref name="Siry pp. 161–162" /> in addition to railings with wood strips.<ref name="Siry p. 164" /> The columns have vertical wood strips along their shafts and horizontal wood strips at their capitals.<ref name="Siry p. 164" /> The spaces under each balcony are illuminated by spherical lamps.<ref name="Siry pp. 161–162">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|pages=161–162 }}</ref> The balconies and the spaces beneath them were originally used as classrooms.<ref name="McCarter2 p. 22" />

There are square closets at each corner of Unity House's main room, measuring about 1 unit wide.<ref name="Siry p. 160" /> On the southern wall of the central hall is a recess with a fireplace measuring about {{Convert|13+1/6|ft}} wide;<ref name="Siry p. 160" /> this feature recalled many of Wright's residential designs, which also had central fireplaces.<ref name="Gibson e506">{{cite web |last=Gibson |first=Eleanor |date=June 12, 2017 |title=Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple was the "first expression" of modern architecture |url=https://www.dezeen.com/2017/06/12/unity-temple-frank-lloyd-wright-chicago-oak-park-modern-architecture-150th-birthday/ |access-date=January 31, 2025 |website=Dezeen }}</ref> On the northern wall, there are three casement windows facing the pastor's study.<ref name="McCarter2 p. 22" />

Unity House primarily receives natural light from skylights in the ceiling.<ref name="Inland Architect 1906 e817" /> The roof [[truss]]es are supported by eight columns arranged in a 2×4 grid.<ref name="Siry p. 160" /> The ceiling is divided into rectangular [[coffer]]s measuring {{convert|15|by|4.5|ft|adj=off}} across. Each coffer has a skylight with four glass panes, which are either opaque or tinted in various shades of yellow, green, and brown.<ref name="Siry pp. 166–167" /> There are seven skylights in total, all of which are surrounded by wood strips.<ref name="Siry p. 164" /><ref name="McCarter2 p. 22" /> Rectangular and square motifs, reminiscent of the floor plans, are used in the skylights.<ref name="Siry p. 168" />