Goetsch-Winkler House

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 1:51 pm

I am an architectural student at Illinois Institute of Technology, doing a major study on Wright's Goetsch-Winkler House in Okemos, MI. I am unable to find any real detailed sections of the building. The floor plan is available to me. I was wondering if anyone out there has access to any sort of recent or old sections of the original building. Please contact me at [email protected] or [email protected]

Greg Brewer · Post by **Greg Brewer** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 8:52 pm

Legible copies of the elevation and section sheets from the original working drawings can be found in Frank Loyd Wright Monograph 1937-1941 (Vol. 6).

EJGW · Post by **EJGW** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 7:50 pm

There is an excellent publication on the GW available from Michigan State University Art Museum called "Affordable Dreams". It costs something like 20 dollars or so.

There are plans and pictures galore of the house in the book. This book is also available on Amazon.com

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 4:56 pm

Let me know if you run out of luck, and I will try to scan and send photos from my Monograph.

g.dorn · Post by **g.dorn** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:28 pm

a sketchup 3D model is posted at push pull bar forum

see

http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=420

tonydeardorff · Post by **tonydeardorff** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 8:05 pm

I live in Michigan and just drove by that house on Saturday. It look beautiful. It looks like they have been doing some sprucing up.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 5:50 pm

Glad the house is on the upswing. I was very concerned after the Conservancy sold the house to one of their own, an "artist", who didn' t seem to have any qualifications beyond connections when handed the property. Has it passed into subsequent hands?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 6:06 pm

Yikes! What kind of "qualifications" does one need to purchase a Wright home?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 7:34 pm

Ha! The Goestch-Winkler couldn't be in better hands. I met the owner and spoke with her some time ago. She is deeply aware of the history and signifigance of the house, and has spent a lot of money bringing it back from what it was. She even purchased two original pieces of art by Ms. Goestsch and Ms. Winkler and has them hanging prominently in the main room.

She is an excellent steward of the house, and for the first time in a long time, the house has an owner that deserves it, and vice versa.

EJ

Mobius · Post by **Mobius** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 2:58 pm

That book on amazon is showing as $299! OUCH!

GA Books also have a book with some good internal and external photos, as well as elevations. http://www.ga-ada.co.jp/english/ga_traveler/index.html click "005" in the top navigation. There are 11 other usonians featured, including some very rare internal photos of Jacobs #1.

If I was a single guy, I'd be building the GW house; it's simply stunning!

rgrant · Post by **rgrant** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 3:02 pm

A floorplan and a photo should be all one needs to do all the elevations and sections needed. The detailing of the system is shown in Sargent's book.

Flax · Post by **Flax** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 1:09 pm

I'm an architectural student, too, studying at RWTH University, Germany. In one of our current projects we are expected to analyze Wright's Goetsch-Winkler House in detail. Part of the project ist to rebuild the house as a 1:50-model.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find any detailed plans beyond the floorplan (sections etc.) up to now. Should anybody of you have scans of such plans, please contact me at [email protected]. Any useful hints are appreciated!

Mobius · Post by **Mobius** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:58 pm

There are numerous details about the house which might be tricky to locate. I'll see what I can do to find them within my collection of stuff about the GW house. I'll see what Storer has to say about it too.

There is also some controversy I think: the plans were modified without FLW's permission prior to building. I forget the details, but something about adding the basement? Anyone know the full story about that?

JimM · Post by **JimM** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:03 pm

Mobius wrote:There is also some controversy I think: the plans were modified without FLW's permission prior to building. I forget the details, but something about adding the basement? Anyone know the full story about that?

Yes, Storrer notes that the carport toolshed became an access to a cellar for preserves, etc., connected to the utiliy basement. Wonder what Frank had against that? My guess is that it was just done without his input, therefore, unacceptable.

Interestingly, Hitchcock shows utilities at ground level, behind the fireplace (not as built). The Monograph shows what appears to be a preliminary plan and section with stairs leading to a basement below the workspace. The configuration of the stairs does not seem feasible, or to coincide with photos of that area or of any published plan. I have not seen this house, so anyone....?

JimM · Post by **JimM** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:09 pm

........ah....maybe Frank decided no basement at time of construction, and the toolshed access by Turner was for everything below grade as requested by the client? But, again, why was a basement and stairs detailed in the Monograph?