The Work of Frank Lloyd Wright John Heathcote, 4-29-04 |
Frank Lloyd Write was one of the best and most talented if not the best and most talented architect of our time. His style and designs of many of his buildings were unique for the time and have influenced the way we design our buildings today. Author Aylesa Forsee of “Rebel in Concrete,” a book on Frank Lloyd Wright speaks of Wright, “Through his remarkable talent for blending machine-age materials with nature’s living forms, he achieved a record unsurpassed in architectural history (1).” This paper will examine, critique and convince the reader of the uniqueness of the style of Frank Lloyd Wright in comparison to other works from his time and earlier as well as the influence his work has had on other artists and our modern designs. His work was unique for many different reasons. The first is that most of his work melted and flowed into the countryside. He felt that we should incorporate the surrounding nature with his work. Unlike many of the architects of the time. For example, while many of the great architects of the time were building skyscrapers and large metal and glass buildings, Wright was building more unique and naturally satisfying buildings. One of his amazing homes was Taliesin East. This first home was built at the top of a large hill. Lloyd believed that the home should add to the hill and not that the hill add to the home. He accomplished this unique idea in many ways. The first was to make most everything out of naturally surrounding materials. Taliesin West for example was built largely out of the surrounding rocks and minerals. Wright created what he called "organic architecture." This meant that everything had to take place with naturally occurring elements. Wright went against the ornate neoclassic and Victorian styles which were being built by conventional architects(2). Wright throughout his career acknowledges very few people or influences on his art however he does say that Joseph Lyman Silsbee had somewhat of an influence (5). Much of his work is similar to that of Japanese architecture. Japanese architecture often incorporates the ideas of rustic simplicity and purist nature. This is exactly what Wright was accomplishing with his work. "The buildings… were framed in light timbers, using the triangular truss in the roof, and closed by plain walls, lacking the pillars, brackets, foundation podium and lean-to ambulatory of the Chinese style. Intimacy, almost too carefully contrived, is the keynote. From the start, the rooms and bays were laid out in multiples of the tatami, or rice-straw mats, used on floors in all classes of domicile for sitting and lying. Wood was left plain, sometimes even retaining its bark." This work is very similar to that of Mr. Wright and it wouldn’t be surprising if he incorporated many Japanese ideas into his work. Probably one of the most famous of Wright’s work was “Falling Water” a personal cabin for one of his clients. “Falling water is less a house than a sculpture composed of poured reinforced concrete, stone and glass… It’s twisting stairways and multiple levels echo the water’s course (4).” Typical architects would have built a large luxurious cabin by the side of a quiet stream. Wright however did something quite different. He put the cabin on the top of the stream and had the stream flowing through it. Not only did he do this but he also built the entire building to look similar to that of the surroundings. Another one of his works was Taliesin West. This structure was built while Wright was in his seventy’s and served as a home for his third wife. The building as said earlier was built entirely out of the surroundings. Although this had been done before, no architect had ever been so ambitious as to build such a home in the desert. The Building comprises of 45,000 square feet of buildings walkways, terraces and courtyards. The building is now occupied by students who follow the basic principles of the master architect. One of the first things that will be noticed when visiting Taliesin West is that it seems to grow out of the dry landscape. He believed that the buildings should be “of” the landscape not “on” the landscape (4). Both of these buildings were unique to their time and did not largely represent anything that currently existed. Hearst Castle is also considered an architectural wonder however it boasts quite a different style. The house was built around the same time as Taliesin West however it was built using the Victorian designs and European Luxuries. The Castle looks like something taken out of the French Revolution. Everything boasts classical European style. Also the home of Samuel Clemens was of European Style and grace. So many homes built around the turn of the century were built on the style of Europe. For hundreds of years everyone had been building the same things, The White House, Monticello, Biltmore Estate, San Francisco Plantation, Moss Mansion and Iolani Palace. Each one of these homes were constructed in the same style of elaborate godliness. In comparison the homes of the time it is no wonder that Mr. Wright was considered an architectural genius. His buildings were open and contained very little. Many of his houses were built around a central theme such as a fireplace. While for the past hundreds of years people had been building their buildings to impress the visitor, Wright was able to be impressive with his simplicity in color and design. His homes were comfortable not godly and detailed. After visiting Japan he noticed how simple the Japanese homes were and how complex the European homes were. He returned home and decided to change that. Although Frank Lloyd Write may be known for creating such works as Falling Water and Taliesin East and West, he also was a forerunner of many modern convinces that we today use without thinking. In 1904, in the Larkin Building of Buffalo, New York, Wright was the first architect to incorporate air conditioning, double-glass windows, all-glass doors, and metal furniture. He also introduced such things as indirect lighting and panel heating (2). Google search engine user, “imndlf8r-ga” asked, “What architectural firms today would cite Frank Lloyd Wright as an influence in their work? His legacy was evident in many 20th century firms, first and second generation after Wright, but in the 21st century, which firms carry on in the highly geometric, nature-driven and or fractal language of his designs?” In an answer to his question, Larre, another Google user came up with a list of sixteen great architects who’s work is focused on the lessons they had learned at Taliesin. To create an image of what has been developed out of the Lloyd tradition I have created a list of describing words that were taken directly from the web sites of many of the Taliesin Architects. Many themes are: 2,100 square feet of livable space... true to Taliesin tradition... evolution of Organic Architecture... Green Building design... natural forms found within nature...being the aesthetic and awe-inspiring qualities of light... trees... wood... rock... sea... sky... other natural elements... (3)" These architects have built their own personal tradition around that of Mr. Wright. His designs have been passed down to his students and they have passed them down through their architecture. Despite the 1000 plus buildings built by Frank Lloyd Write during his career, thousands of other buildings have been designed around the same basic idea of natural organic architecture. To say that Mr. Write has had a small influence on those around him would be an understatement. His work has made a huge effect on how we look at architecture today. Frank Lloyd Write has accomplished so
much in changing the way we look at architecture. His
style has lived through the past century. Students say
that you can’t walk through one of his homes without
interacting with it(4). The uniqueness of the style of
Frank Lloyd Wright in comparison to other works from his
time and earlier has made him an awesome architect and
master. His architecture has had a profound influence on
us, other artists and our modern designs |
© Copyright 2004, John Heathcote. All Rights Reserved. |