Amy Alpaugh House / 1946 unbuilt

[Tom]

Here's a project new to me. Seems worthwhile getting into for a time.
Will need to rely on SDR to post images until I re-learn how to do that yet again.

https://library.artstor.org/#/search/ar ... e=1;sort=1

[SDR]

With access to the Artstor file on the house(s), it won't be necessary (yet) to post images ? We haven't seen a plan quite like this one from Mr Wright. I am reminded of Abby Beecher Roberts, the Muirhead farmhouse, and/or the Arch Ololer compound. Here we have an "East House" and a 'West House," bridged by an entry pergola or porte cochère; the houses surround a generous gravel court with two-vehicle carport. There are farming and craft-work functions provided for: the West House has goat and chicken accommodation and a greenhouse, and the living space is called a Studio. It includes a Workspace and dining table, while two bedrooms complete the ensemble. The East House has a proper Living Room, also with kitchen and dining; a weaving room with porch and a separate Studio with single bed are attached.

Either Miss Alpaugh had a relative or partner to share the spaces and their disparate functions, or she was a multi-talented individual . . .?

S

[Roderick Grant]

Of all the built houses, this one is close to the least published ... after Angster and Shaw.

[Tom]

ummm, don't know Angster or Shaw, will find.

Alpaugh reminded me right off of Ocatillo.
Also, had it been built, would have been the "apex" of the "shed roof" type (Shavin, Bhueler, etc...).

[Tom]

Of all the built houses, this one is close to the least published ... after Angster and Shaw.

What dates are Angster and Shaw - want to track down in archives.

[SDR]

You don't need a date, just the client name:

https://library.artstor.org/#/search/Wr ... =1;size=24

https://library.artstor.org/#/search/Wr ... =1;size=24

I'll enjoy this exploration, too ! Thanks, RG.

S

[SDR]

The Shaw commissions were for a remodeling (0610)and for a new house (0617).

This holding in the Wright archive is in fact a rendering of a dining room design for the 1906 remodeling project made by George Mann Niedecken, based on a Wright-studio perspective and used perhaps by Niedecken to present a color scheme:

https://library.artstor.org/#/asset/284 ... 4524926080

https://library.artstor.org/#/asset/284 ... 4525881594

Cheryl Robertson points to Niedecken's monogram (lower right corner) of the watercolor rendering; thus, we can see that another watercolor rendering, of the living room of the same house, is also signed with that monogram (lower left) and is therefore a previously uncredited (?) Niedecken contribution to Wright's work. Note another of those unique piano designs associated with Niedecken and Mahony as well as with Wright himself at Heath, Martin, and Fricke (with thanks to Pat Mahoney).

https://library.artstor.org/#/asset/284 ... 4525267840


The Angster house, from 1911, contains details found in few others of Wright's designs but present in the contemporaneous Taliesin, namely a fractal muntin design found in certain window sash, and the traditional cyma molding employed at the water table.

https://library.artstor.org/#/asset/285 ... 4525605763

https://library.artstor.org/#/asset/285 ... 4525605763

S

[Roderick Grant]

The Shaw townhouse has been photographed from the exterior only.
I don't know of any Angster photos.

[JimM]

Angster was destroyed by fire in 1956. To my knowledge it had the only window treatment identical to Taliesin, and them being contemporaneous is intriguing. Without more specific dating, "which came first" is uncertain. Chronologically Taschen lists Angster prior to Taliesin, the Monograph lists it after. On the one hand, it would appear doubtful Wright would "share" something so integral to, and already employed at (or planned for), Taliesin. On the other hand, one could also speculate he would have no problem "trying out" aspects of Taliesin. We know Taliesin was on the boards at just about the same time as it was being constructed, starting in the spring and through the summer of 1911. However, if Angster was earlier in the year, Wright may well have been impatient to actualize his vision for Taliesin and Angster was the guinea pig. FWIW, The Angster's were related to Sherman Booth.

The following link is the only photo I've found and it clearly indicates similarities with Taliesin, beyond the window muntins. It's not a good image and not clear whether the "Taliesin" treatment was actually used. Of interest is the same rendering found in both Taschen and the Monograph (Storrer has no photo; but a different rendering with the same view). The subject windows are evident in all, but the rendered views do not at all reflect the general similarities of the view in the photo. If Wright had anything to say about it, perhaps the final treatment at Angster was different than Taliesin's-or he didn't care. Obviously speculations, but I'd like to think there's a story about this particular similarity between the two.


https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=ht ... gAegQIARBl

[Paul Ringstrom]

The Taliesin Numbering System lists:

Angster as T1101
Taliesin as T1104

source: FLW Field Guide