Wright Chat

Definitely A.

About 35 years ago, I saw a book on Arata Endo which Kathryn Smith owned. She bought it while in Japan, and the book was never available in the states. I wish I had that book. Endo's work was excellent, whether it was derivative or not.

Both Dombars were fine architects. This house is modestly elegant.

I was talking about the construction, not the design of Yamamura. I know FLW didn't design anything for Japan after he left, but Yamamura was not built while he was still there, I am sure; if it had been, the interior design elements would have been very different. There is a major non-Wrightian loo...

One Japanese source gives the date of 1926. Which date is correct is hard to prove, but the 1918 date seems least likely, since FLW was still involved with the hotel at that time. The overall plan was certainly FLW through and through, but the detailing, which is a bit intense, must have been by Endo.

The climb to the entry is not onerous, as photographs in Grant Hildebrand's book and Weintraub/Hess's MCM book show. The treads are wide and the risers only a brick and a half high, about 4".

Any book about FLW's structural engineering prowess should include an objective assessment by professionals of his strengths and weaknesses, and the extent to which he relied on others to deal with the larger projects, like the Illinois.

Henry has published 2 books on the house: "Teater's Knoll" with Robert G. Waite (1987, Northwood Institute Press) "At Nature's Edge" (2007, The University of Utah Press) Neither book is listed on Amazon. I once mentioned to him that I had both books, and he rejoined: "Oh, yo...

Referring to Kathryn Smith as a "Frank Lloyd Wright expert" is misleading. It implies that she has a deep understanding of his architecture, which is not true. She is an excellent researcher, and historical facts of FLW's comings and goings are exact. But her evaluation of his work is seri...

Both site conditions and sunlight were reasons the Palmers chose to swing the house ~90 degrees counterclockwise, so the point of the living room aims ENE instead of just east of south. As originally planned, the driveway was several times longer than as-built. The location of the house was also mov...

The Little Dipper at Barnsdall was not fully realized, but was begun. Don't forget the extensive Doheny Project, which would have developed the property at the north end of Beverly Hills (now Trousdale Estates). But for the murder of Doheny, that may well have been realized. Drexler, plate 64, and M...

"Wrightscapes, FLW's Landscape Designs" by Charles E. and Berdeana Aguar covers the Palmer siting on pp 298-303.

I bought my Casa Sulla for ~ $15. It should be noted that this is not a stand-alone book(let). It is a ... "Reprint from issue n. 82 (August 1962) of the monthly review <<L'Architetura - cronache e storia>> Bruno Zevi editor - ETAS s.p.a. Publishing Co. Via Mantegna, 6, Milano, (Italy)." I...

Covid will change the restaurant/bar situation forever. Perhaps they should do what some European countries do: pay a living wage and end tipping?

I also appreciate the slow pace. It would be especially useful for a house with complex volumes that we were less well-acquainted with, but the leisurely pace is very pleasant. Also, beginning and ending with the plan is a good idea others would be wise to follow.