Wild Bird

peterm · Post by **peterm** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 10:28 am

If this has been done to a Wright house, we would all agree that it was a tragedy of epic proportions. No amount of rationalization can convince me that this situation is any different.

The original house showed great respect for nature. The connection between interior and exterior was clear. How can this remodel possibly be defended when we're posting on a site where the mission statement is all about preservation?

What if Fallingwater had been gutted and remade as "sophisticated" as this? Who among us would say, "It could have been worse"?

The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy, an international preservation organization, is based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1989, its mission is to facilitate the preservation and maintenance of the remaining structures designed by Frank Lloyd Wright through education, advocacy, preservation easements and technical services.

egads · Post by **egads** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 10:43 am

I must admit that the vessel sinks did make me throw up a little. The whole thing does make me wonder when the very rich started needing so much to feel special. It was, after all, originally built for people of fairly large wealth. At yet, now it was not enough.

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 11:04 am

You know me -- ever the devil's advocate !

SDR

Roderick Grant · Post by **Roderick Grant** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 12:06 pm

I can think of only one FLW house that has been so badly damaged (at least after the fact, Ennis' corruption notwithstanding): Benjamin Adelman. There's enough left of it to know what was originally there, but so much altered so insensitively and irreversibly that it ought to be deleted from the canon.

Education Professor · Post by **Education Professor** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 4:30 pm

It is indeed hard to say whether it would be best to hope for a faithful restoration/re-creation of the original structure using the existing "bones" or to essentially start over from scratch. There are certainly pros and cons to both approaches. Hopefully the breathtaking site will one see the harmonious return of Wild Bird to its original perch.

EP

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 4:55 pm

I had a brief fantasy, during a recent discussion of the ruined Ludekens house of J. Hillmer, that a recreation could be built upon a vacant site adjacent to the original -- in the manner of the ritual rebuilding of the Ise Shrine, in Japan . . .

DavidC · Post by **DavidC** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 6:32 pm

Roderick Grant wrote:I can think of only one FLW house that has been so badly damaged (at least after the fact, Ennis' corruption notwithstanding): Benjamin Adelman. There's enough left of it to know what was originally there, but so much altered so insensitively and irreversibly that it ought to be deleted from the canon.

One that has virtually nothing of the original structure left - well beyond Benjamin Adelman - is the Arthur Pieper House.

David

pharding · Post by **pharding** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 9:11 pm

Unfortunately too many Prairie Houses have had beautiful, original, historic architectural fabric obliterated by well meaning homeowners and pseudo experts. The original Frank Lloyd Wright finishes were incredibly beautiful and not like contemporary finishes. Many people just assume that by looking at extant historic architectural finishes that if they just visually match what they think they are seeing that a historically accurate finish system will result. I truly wish it were that easy. Unfortunately it is not. As a result one sees important original architectural fabric removed or obliterated, lost forever. One sees woodwork that is stained the wrong color or poorly executed or with stain applied so badly that all transparency in the finish system is lost and wood trim appears painted. As a FLW homeowner I understand the expense of restoration and I admire all FLW homeowners and their efforts. It isn't about how much one spends on a FLW house. What matters is ensuring that restoration funds are wisely spent. Professional restoration guidance is not very expensive in the overall scheme of things. An authentic restoration of a FLW house is infinitely better than alternative, well-meaning self-help approaches.

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Sat Aug 25, 2018 3:03 pm

Anybody ever seen dimensioned drawings of Wildbird?

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Sat Aug 25, 2018 3:12 pm

... recently became interested in the triangle of AFrames: base to height relationship etc..
... bedroom dormitory at Oak Park Studio - is that an equilateral triangle?

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Sat Aug 25, 2018 3:25 pm

,,, no it's not.

Will need to check my Mono's for dimensions

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Sat Aug 25, 2018 3:30 pm

Schindler's 1934 A-frame for Gisela Bennati is an equilateral triangle, as are many others on this page:

https://www.google.com/search?q=schindl ... MgOcgGYEMM:

Wright's regular non-orthogonal geometric forms are used in plan, not in elevation, where roof pitches rule the roost . . .

SDR

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Sat Aug 25, 2018 3:42 pm

thanks ... helpful
thinking out loud here

peterm · Post by **peterm** » Sun Aug 26, 2018 7:05 am

History of A-frames post-Schindler Bennati House (1934), the first vacation house of this type:

https://www.oldhouseonline.com/.amp/art ... r-a-frames

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Sun Aug 26, 2018 11:54 am

Brief and informative article.
I Googled the AFrame by Izenour: "KiddyKamp"
It's AWFULL