Small towns don’t have to be unworthy backwaters. Take Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Just 34,000 people live there, but its still home to one of the most important buildings in architecture. The Price Tower was built for H.C. Price International Pipeline Company. It is the work of legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright originally sought an urban setting for his creation, but felt the bustle of Chicago and other cities would detract from his design. That’s when he came upon the commission from Price Company. Bartlesville was the perfect location. Big enough to support a combination office and apartment tower, yet small enough that his design could be admired in its singularity. You can tell the apartments from the offices from the outside. The apartments have vertical elements and are all on one side. The offices feature horizontal elements denoting each rising floor.

Photograph courtesy of Larry Harris

Photograph courtesy of Larry Harris