Wright Chat

Larkin

It would appear that, in addition to resisting the argument that architecture and engineering are two different disciplines, there is an assumption that by defining structural engineering as a craft and not an art we are somehow denegrating the profession. That is not the case. FLW had an idea for G...

To the extent a "real" architect has a grasp of engineering, he is also a craftsman. (Sorry to anyone who is sensitive about gender-neutral titles, but craftsperson and waitperson are two words that will never be in my vocabulary.) It is always good to know more than less, and for an archi...

pharding, you say that "Architects have tremendous responsibility for the life, safety and health of users of buildings." I would amend the term 'architect' to read 'architect/engineer.' The extent to which an architect functions as engineer places the responsibility on his shoulders for i...

The Martin Gardener's Cottage does not have a slab floor; it has a complete basement.

Elizabeth Catherine Wright was Robert Llewellyn and Elizabeth Wright's daughter, born in 1943. She is not, however, the youngest granddaughter. That would be Io's daughter, Eve Lloyd Binnie, 1960.

Mr. Virr, I heartily agree with your assessment, but would go even further. I separate craft and art in all areas of expression, painting, music, couture, cuisine. Craft can be taught. Art cannot. Art is idea; craft the means to make that idea a reality. The two are so intertwined that they are hard...

FLW was not affected by such rules, even though he was well aware of them. If he designed a building with repeated verticals, columns or more likely muntins, that called for adherence to the Greek ideal (which the second stories of neither Bach nor Davenport did) he would either have used the even n...

John Geiger's web site is at last available at <jgonwright.com> His first effort is a detailed analysis of the Oak Park House of 1889.

Most furniture, however incorrect, is easily corrected by hauling it out. True, the wrong stuff affects the experience. I recall a WBG house in Mason City so packed with Chinoiserie the architecture could hardly be seen. What I meant was that altering something as fundamental as a kitchen or bath en...

You can move a couch in or out, and it doesn't matter in the end. The major problem with interiors that should be addressed is the tendency to "upgrade" the kitchens and baths, the two most expensive rooms in most houses. It's possible to design a kitchen that's both functional for the way...

Wrightgeek, I notice on your list of destroyed buildings the R W Evans House; has that really been torn down? I know it was in a bad neighborhood, but I was unaware that it had been demolished. What a shame if so. That's one of the greats just waiting for the neighborhood to upgrade enough to warran...

NYC - Plaza Suite

The Meech book is indeed indispensable. The photo on page 155 of the FLW living room in the annex is also in BBP's book. The photo on page 154 showing FLW's bed is not. Meech seems to be the only book with this photo. There is another source that shows the second floor plan, but I cannot think of wh...

SDR, there are no exteriors that I have seen, and not many interiors. Kathryn's article includes just six interior shots, one of a lounge, four of FLW's suite, and one of his bathroom. Bruce's new book, "FLW, The Heroic Years: 1920 - 1932" includes (despite the title) some info on Imperial...