Wright Chat

In 1994 we attended an exhibit of FLW's work at the MOMA in New York, and purchased a large book of essays and plates published to accompany the exhibit, "Frank Lloyd Wright Architect". Many of the drawings in the book give credit to the delineators with their initials in the captions. On page 109 t...

I recall reading of Tom Olson being assigned to "draw something up" by Wright for a medical clinic in Hastings, MN. He did, and with some alterations was approved by FLW and built under Tom Olson's supervision. That background story supports the verbal instruction claim for the little cat dwelling. ...

I would imagine the logic of those tall fireplaces is that if you lit them at the top of the vertical wood stack, they would create a draw and burn harmlessly down to the bottom? Or is this another case of "form and function are one, but when function gets in the way of form, to heck with function",...

Perhaps it's a way to achieve the elegance of an expensive window without the cost. And viewing Isabel Roberts from the sidewalk, it seems to afford a degree of privacy. The many reflections make it difficult to see inside. Why not a simple square pattern rather than a diamond pattern? Sketch one of...

Wm Storrer "Frank Lloyd Wright Companion" page 180 has a complete and clear photo of the sideboard. Compare it to the fireplace photo above it to see how Wright could express two different elements in the same language.

doug k

Remembering small town Midwest in the 1950's, virtually every home had a vegetable garden, some fruit trees, and a lawn for the youngsters to play (without wood ticks). Wright most certainly recognized this, and added his artistic version when he could. The trees seemed to suit him in their natural ...

I'll sell my set for half that price.

doug k

Somewhere I read of Wright waking up very early with a new idea or solution, and would immediately summon Jack Howe to his drafting board. They would have a scheme on paper before breakfast. I believe it likely, having had solutions come clearly only during the first few minutes after waking up. Som...

It seems moving the header function out to the fascia was a consequence of the brilliant idea that the roof would appear as a flat plane, uninterrupted by a header. I'm not sure Wright was the first to do this? The window wall could then rise all the way to the bottom of this plane. The ceiling/soff...

Outside in, I have often wondered how those (2 x 12 Douglas Fir?) mullions supporting the roof around the front did not rot at the bottom where they rest on the masonry? We have been there to visit and it looks like they may be original, although the sash was new. Also, do you think the perforated p...

We travel a lot, perhaps a hundred or so, every one I can. My favorite interior was Staley in Ohio, so perfectly scaled (to me), not so much to Lou Penfield who took me there. At 6' 8" tall he didn't fit under some of it. An interesting contrast and example how Wright customized each house to the cl...

This house and Taliesin West are great examples of how beautiful space can be created with the most ordinary and rustic of materials, especially if they appear to be gathered from the surrounding landscape.

doug k

There are intersecting structural members supporting the roof of the Wyoming Valley School, which allow for a clerestory set back from the walls. We stopped by some 18 years ago, and a man was there with a stepladder doing some repair on them. Curious how the were joined I climbed up for a look. The...

I wonder what problems, if any, were encountered with the floor system of the Lowell Walter house. Each unit of the floor is separate and apparently poured individually, then assembled over a bed of broken stone containing the heating pipes. The corners of adjacent units were supported by concrete p...

Apparently Wright disliked the diagonal line in elevation very early, even Charnley has wood spindles to the ceiling on one side of the staircase.

doug k