Unbuilt home--Ludington Michigan

[Jeff Myers]

I am thinking of Gordon and Bachman-Wilson for the perf design. Is this home like Bachman-Wilson's floor plan?

[Roderick Grant]

Berden plan is similar to Bachman-Wilson, but B/W doesn't have the first floor bedroom.

[Beth]

I don't know what a perf is. If you tell me I can look and see.

[Jeff Myers]

Beth if you see some design on the windows or some scribble line this indicates that is a perforated board.

This what I have learned. If you see on the plans a Perforated Board detail somewhere it will say it underneath.

[dkottum]

Looking at my #7 Monograph, there are no perforated boards. There is some openings in the brickwork at the upstairs bath "Brick grill hinged sash behind".

Above the window wall it reads "Casement sash behind louvres. See sections for details". This louvre detail is not common in the Usonians, in fact I can't think of another where it is used. Nice way to control the light on a southwest facing wall with almost to roof overhang though, with interesting shadow patterns playing on the high wood and brick interior near sunset.

This is a simple but interesting Usonian that ought to be built.

[pharding]

I really don't think the Foundation has any copyright claims to blueprints - they are copies of original drawings that were contractually the property of the owner. Standard AIA contract language concurs. I've had blueprints appraised before and they indeed have value, usually on a per sheet basis, and run anywhere from $100-$300 per sheet. As documents they can be bought and sold without affecting the Foundations claims. The only problem would be if someone else were to buy the drawings to actually build the house. In that case the DESIGN would be copyrighted.

That is correct.

[SDR]

Beth, "perf" is Wright Chat shorthand for the perforated-board window grills which are seen in many of the Usonian-era houses of Frank Lloyd Wright.

This thread http://savewright.org/wright_chat/viewt ... ight=perfs is the best source of information on the subject. Palli Davis Holubar is completing a comprehensive catalog of the many perf designs generated at Taliesin during Wright's lifetime.

Thanks for showing us your drawing set. It represents a valuable insight into Wright's Usonian-era work.

Stephen

[Jeff Myers]

From Palli

[Palli Davis Holubar]

Beth, I, too, thank you for the opportunity to learn about an unbuilt project. I have sent Jeff a worksheet that can help you check through your blueprint sheets for perfs. Like dkottum and others, I can't see any on the small published drawings but... Certainly the louvres are very interesting and there may be a detail section depicting them.

Meanwhile, perhaps you could tell us more about your uncle, the original client. Might he have known other Wright original owners? Perhaps Alma Goetsch and Katherine Winkler who were very active as artists and educators in Michigan? Was he also an art teacher? What was his art medium? Do you have any of his work? Your uncle owned the property on the lake, but did he live elsewhere? How did he discuss the plans with you as a child?
I apologize for bombarding you with questions. Take you time telling us whatever you can share. We are patient.

[Beth]

I have looked at the prints and do not see any perfs.

[Deke]

The Foundation would have little ownership (not copyright) claim in the blueprints. The instruments claim in architecture typically doesn't extend to every blueprint made for every contractor. This is an ownership, not copyright issue. The copyright would come into play if the owner of said blueprints started making multiple copies for commercial purposes (as opposed to fair use educational purposes). That would be infringing upon the copyright in the drawings. There is no copyright protection for the design of the work, however, and anyone could build their own home based on the drawings. Copyright wasn't extended to architectural designs (as opposed to drawings of those designs) until 1990.

Deke

[DavidC]

(via PraireMod):

George Berdan Cottage: land & plans for sale - asking $750,000


David

[Jeff Myers]

Could someone tell me what that looks like on the 3 or 4th image... I thought it was perf scribbling but I might be wrong..

[DRN]

Nice package, but the following come to mind:

1. Is the color rendering shown what is for sale, or is it a pic of a published rendering in the Complete Works?
2. Are the drawings prints or originals?
3. What does a comparable lot with no history or drawings cost? (What percentage of the $750K is drawings and sizzle?)
4. Is the buyer to be told that in order to use (build from) the drawings some legal/financial arrangement must be worked out with the owners of the intellectual property (design)?
5. Is the buyer to be told that 1945 FLLW house designs are most likely not in compliance with current local building codes, and would require substantial revisions to be built today?

Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, a nice package indeed. Spectacular view, and a neat diversion for someone with deep pockets.

[Palli Davis Holubar]

I did not find it in the Wright: 1943-59. Is the Berden Cottage another design- like the 1942 Miller House in Fremont, Ohio- when the initial (and original) drawings were sent to the client before duplication? This may mean that these aren't working building drawings.
To add to DRN's questions: How many sheets in total are in this offering?
PrairieMod's jump is blank for me.