Who was Louis Sullivan and how did he influence Frank Lloyd Wright?

Louis Sullivan (1856–1924) was an influential American architect often regarded as the spiritual father of modern American architecture. He is best known for his pioneering work in skyscraper design and his famous dictum that "form follows function," which posited that a building's design should evolve from and express its specific purpose and environment rather than relying on historical styles.12

Frank Lloyd Wright apprenticed under Sullivan at the firm of Adler and Sullivan for six years, beginning in the late 1880s. Although Wright eventually left the firm following a disagreement, he consistently acknowledged Sullivan’s profound impact on his own architectural philosophy and development.13

Sullivan influenced Wright by:
* Promoting Organic Design: Sullivan’s belief that architecture should express its structural basis and environment helped shape Wright’s own approach to organic architecture.23
* Rejecting Eclecticism: Sullivan’s opposition to historical imitation encouraged Wright to seek original, modern forms.23
* Emphasizing Unity: Sullivan’s concept of a building as a "single, germinal impulse" that permeates every detail influenced Wright’s focus on cohesive, integrated design.2