I'm looking for information about the Paul J. and Ida Trier residence in Johnston, Iowa. Does the Trier family still own the home? Has anyone ever taken a tour of it?
So far, I've located info/photos of Trier in Storrer's book, in "Wright 1943-1959", and in "FLLW The Houses" by Weintraub and Hess. From these three sources, the residence appears to be a very well-built variation of the Usonian Exhibition House from 1953.
Best wishes to all Wright Chatters for a healthful and productive 2011.
EP
Trier Residence 1956
-
Paul Ringstrom
- Posts: 4777
- Joined: Sat Sep 17, 2005 4:53 pm
- Location: Mason City, IA
-
Education Professor
- Posts: 594
- Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2005 3:10 pm
-
Wrightgeek
- Posts: 1548
- Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2005 5:21 pm
- Location: Westerville, Ohio
EP-
A member of the Trier family recently gave a presentation about the house at a local library, I beleive. If you search the archives here on WC, you may find some information on this event. I am pretty sure that this presentation took place within the last six months. Good luck on your search for more info, and hopefully this helps.
A member of the Trier family recently gave a presentation about the house at a local library, I beleive. If you search the archives here on WC, you may find some information on this event. I am pretty sure that this presentation took place within the last six months. Good luck on your search for more info, and hopefully this helps.
-
Education Professor
- Posts: 594
- Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2005 3:10 pm
-
Wrightgeek
- Posts: 1548
- Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2005 5:21 pm
- Location: Westerville, Ohio
EP-
Here is the announcement of the event I mentioned in my previous reply:
Here is the announcement of the event I mentioned in my previous reply:
Mason Cityans to take part in Wright program
QUASQUETON - The sixth annual Friends of Cedar Rock conference, "An Afternoon with Frank Lloyd Wright," will be 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, at the American Legion Hall in downtown Quasqueton.
From Mason City, Ann MacGregor, director of "Wright on the Park" (WOTP), and Martha Huntington, project architect, will describe their progress overcoming the challenges of funding and restoration for the Historic Park Inn and City National Bank built by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1910. The $18 million project will be debt free when the hotel re-opens.
John Trier will lead a video tour of the Dr. and Mrs. Paul Trier residence (1958) in Johnston. After listening to a short interview with Mrs. Trier recorded in May 2010, her family will respond to questions about building and living in the house.
For reservations, contact the park office at Cedar Rock the Walter House, 2611 Quasqueton Diagonal Blvd., Independence, IA 50644, call 319-934-3572 or e- mail [email protected]. Donations will be accepted.
The Friends of Cedar Rock is a non-profit group formed to support and sustain the preservation, maintenance, and development of Frank Lloyd Wright's Walter House.
-
Roderick Grant
- Posts: 11815
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 7:48 am
The problem with both Feiman and Trier is that the height of the living room ceiling, which allows for the large clerestories, is a misreading of the original exhibition house in NY. The reason for the excess height in the NY house was to capture as much light as possible, given the fact that a tall Rosario Candela-designed apartment building remained on the south edge of the lot (later razed to make way for the museum), casting a shadow over the house (according to John Geiger, who worked on site for "60 Years of Living Architecture"). Out in the open, this unwonted height belies the horizontality FLW always sought to emphasize. Yet both houses are quite handsome. The unique handling of the glass wall in Trier's living room speaks of Jack Howe's involvement, but it is integrated well with the design, and does not detract.
Palli:
Have you seen the vertical perfs in the sidelights at the french doors at Trier? They are news to me. See this link posted by SDR earlier in the thread and scroll down:
http://www.steinerag.com/flw/Artifact%2 ... S398ny.htm
Is Roderick's comment about the treatment of the glass wall being reminiscent of John Howe a reference to Howe's Denniston? house that was illustrated in Arizona Highways in April 1962?
Have you seen the vertical perfs in the sidelights at the french doors at Trier? They are news to me. See this link posted by SDR earlier in the thread and scroll down:
http://www.steinerag.com/flw/Artifact%2 ... S398ny.htm
Is Roderick's comment about the treatment of the glass wall being reminiscent of John Howe a reference to Howe's Denniston? house that was illustrated in Arizona Highways in April 1962?
This second steinrag page http://www.steinerag.com/flw/Artifact%2 ... RtS398.htm which Palli has brought to my attention, shows that an early proposal for the Triers was a Tracy-like Usonian Automatic, which has those unique perforated-block C-shaped piers on the living-room facade. When the Triers rejected this scheme, for whatever reason, they may have communicated to Mr Wright that they like those piers. If so, this may be the origin of the equally unique canted two-sided perforated piers seen on the built house.
(At the bottom of the above-linked page are drawings of the perf panels for the house. Note that the larger drawing represents the living-room piers, though drawn horizontally to conserve page room, I suppose. Palli says that the window perf is the most complex of all the Usonian perf designs . . .)
S D R
(At the bottom of the above-linked page are drawings of the perf panels for the house. Note that the larger drawing represents the living-room piers, though drawn horizontally to conserve page room, I suppose. Palli says that the window perf is the most complex of all the Usonian perf designs . . .)
S D R
-
Palli Davis Holubar
- Posts: 1036
- Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2006 8:14 am
- Location: Wakeman, Ohio
The photos of this house have been so deceiving- I couldn't reconcile the plan with the pictures until Educationprofessor sent me the link to Steiner.
After you figure out the perf doors are not open in the pictures it makes sense. (Go all the way down to see several perf photos.)
-Was the perf unit used in the typically Usonian manner at the gallery the impetus for the elaborate sectional shutters in the living room or vice versa?
-The quote from Mrs. Trier is one of only a few contemporaneous accounts of Wright drawing perf designs. However I, too, agree with SDR, that the statement conflates the two designs. She is probably referring to the production cost of an additional unique perf block unit being more expensive.
-It looks like the usual perf sandwich in the gallery but I can't tell if those in living room are sandwich. Anyone know?
-I think I can read 10' 9" glass height on the building sheet in Col. Works. Can anyone say if I am correct?
-Does anyone know if the high clerestory across the living room to the north is clear or perfed?
-I expect the eye music in the LR is wonderful- although short-lived twice each day because of the angles. Iowa summers are very dry heat so the transoms are a great idea open under the wide eaves. But wouldn't screens like at Weltzheimer be advisable- no evidence in these photos though. Anyone know?
- Does anyone know if the Triers had children when they commissioned the design?
Finally, I don't think the perf units in Steiner are Taliesin drawings but I hope they are scale drawings. Ross Simmons had gotten a rendering quite similar a few months ago from photos.
After you figure out the perf doors are not open in the pictures it makes sense. (Go all the way down to see several perf photos.)
-Was the perf unit used in the typically Usonian manner at the gallery the impetus for the elaborate sectional shutters in the living room or vice versa?
-The quote from Mrs. Trier is one of only a few contemporaneous accounts of Wright drawing perf designs. However I, too, agree with SDR, that the statement conflates the two designs. She is probably referring to the production cost of an additional unique perf block unit being more expensive.
-It looks like the usual perf sandwich in the gallery but I can't tell if those in living room are sandwich. Anyone know?
-I think I can read 10' 9" glass height on the building sheet in Col. Works. Can anyone say if I am correct?
-Does anyone know if the high clerestory across the living room to the north is clear or perfed?
-I expect the eye music in the LR is wonderful- although short-lived twice each day because of the angles. Iowa summers are very dry heat so the transoms are a great idea open under the wide eaves. But wouldn't screens like at Weltzheimer be advisable- no evidence in these photos though. Anyone know?
- Does anyone know if the Triers had children when they commissioned the design?
Finally, I don't think the perf units in Steiner are Taliesin drawings but I hope they are scale drawings. Ross Simmons had gotten a rendering quite similar a few months ago from photos.
My wife and I had the privilege of touring the Trier house 07/31/09 as guests of Mrs Trier and a daughter who lives on an adjacent property. Mrs Trier was remarkably alert and conversant, beautifully presented, but functionally blind. The house has been very well maintained and is a treasure; a tribute to the original owner(s). She said getting around the house in her walker is easy because, though blind, she is so familiar with it. She was absolutely charming and gracious.
Palli - the north clerestory is clear panes, not perfs.
I do not believe the living room is as capacious as the Exhibition house was; however, the similarity of design is striking and the space oh so inviting. The tall vertical perfs are an anomaly. While intriguing, personally I felt they hindered the open feeling created by what would otherwise be the typical glass wall. And, they are stained very, very dark. We were not there at a time of day to appreciate any eye music from any of the perfs around the house. Oh ... the living room also has floor-to-celing drapes, which were opened, but also minimized the visual impact of the room opening to the terrace outdoors. One of the tall doors was opened. There's nothing like passing through the tall, narrow glass doors in a Wright house where they exist.
Her husband crafted the Exhibition dining room furniture himself, as well as other woodwork/builtins/finishing. This dining set has always appealed to me and it alone is probably worth more today than what they paid for the house originally! I hope it always lives with the house.
I also seem to recall the daughter saying that, as a child, when she first went to see where the house was to be built they drove out to the middle of a cornfield. I'm guessing she would have been 8-10 years old when the house was built. The house is very visible from the street - no corn or anything to hide it now!
The original carport was converted into a "family room" and the roof extended out, supported by somewhat "unfortunate" metal posts to provide a "new" carport that clearly would need support.
The kitchen is a wonderful space with its soaring ceiling capped by a skylight. It does not have the tall kitchen window that the Exhibition house or Feiman has, but there is a planter outside the window that was filled with flowers that were always a pleasure to Mrs Trier.
Pronounced "Tree'- ear" by the way (not "Try'-er as we supposed). The name is German.
A beautifully rendered landscape plan, never executed, was framed on a wall near the entrance. I believe this was done by Taliesin as a way to help seclude the house. However, I think the whole scheme (planting and structures) proved cost prohibitive.
Out of respect for their willingness to let me take photographs, I agreed not to post any of them. Sorry.
The visit was arranged by a mutual acquaintance who, regrettably, was unable to meet us at the time of the appointment! So, we got Mrs Trier and her daughter and the wonderful house to ourselves. ;-) It is increasingly rare to meet an original owner still living in his/her house,but always a delight.
And, it is one of the houses my wife and I went away from concluding we could happily and easily occupy!
Palli - the north clerestory is clear panes, not perfs.
I do not believe the living room is as capacious as the Exhibition house was; however, the similarity of design is striking and the space oh so inviting. The tall vertical perfs are an anomaly. While intriguing, personally I felt they hindered the open feeling created by what would otherwise be the typical glass wall. And, they are stained very, very dark. We were not there at a time of day to appreciate any eye music from any of the perfs around the house. Oh ... the living room also has floor-to-celing drapes, which were opened, but also minimized the visual impact of the room opening to the terrace outdoors. One of the tall doors was opened. There's nothing like passing through the tall, narrow glass doors in a Wright house where they exist.
Her husband crafted the Exhibition dining room furniture himself, as well as other woodwork/builtins/finishing. This dining set has always appealed to me and it alone is probably worth more today than what they paid for the house originally! I hope it always lives with the house.
I also seem to recall the daughter saying that, as a child, when she first went to see where the house was to be built they drove out to the middle of a cornfield. I'm guessing she would have been 8-10 years old when the house was built. The house is very visible from the street - no corn or anything to hide it now!
The original carport was converted into a "family room" and the roof extended out, supported by somewhat "unfortunate" metal posts to provide a "new" carport that clearly would need support.
The kitchen is a wonderful space with its soaring ceiling capped by a skylight. It does not have the tall kitchen window that the Exhibition house or Feiman has, but there is a planter outside the window that was filled with flowers that were always a pleasure to Mrs Trier.
Pronounced "Tree'- ear" by the way (not "Try'-er as we supposed). The name is German.
A beautifully rendered landscape plan, never executed, was framed on a wall near the entrance. I believe this was done by Taliesin as a way to help seclude the house. However, I think the whole scheme (planting and structures) proved cost prohibitive.
Out of respect for their willingness to let me take photographs, I agreed not to post any of them. Sorry.
The visit was arranged by a mutual acquaintance who, regrettably, was unable to meet us at the time of the appointment! So, we got Mrs Trier and her daughter and the wonderful house to ourselves. ;-) It is increasingly rare to meet an original owner still living in his/her house,but always a delight.
And, it is one of the houses my wife and I went away from concluding we could happily and easily occupy!
Former Taliesin Apprentice
-
Education Professor
- Posts: 594
- Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2005 3:10 pm
SDR, Wrightgeek, Roderick, DRN, Palli, and FTA....many thanks for the info and interesting insights about Trier. I will certainly follow-up on the various leads as time permits.
Roderick, do you think it would be more consistent design-wise if the living room clerestories were similar to those in the gallery....more linear in nature with perf boards? On the other hand, the clerestories as built would indeed let in a great deal of light.............
The triangular vertical perf pilasters on the living room windows are indeed unique....I'm sure Howe was involved at some level......
Palli.......I think the 10' 9" height of the upper ceiling is very close based upon the usual 6' 8" height of the lower ceiling and the fireplace brick dimensions......just my very unofficial guess though.....after all, I'm more of a qualitative researcher:)
FTA, thank you for sharing some of your experiences from your visit with Ms. Trier and family. It sounds like you had a wonderful visit with an extraordinary host. A question comes to mind......do you recall if the skylight in the kitchen had a perf board cutout?
Thanks again to everyone for the insights. I appreciate the opportunity to participate in such a helpful and insightful community.
Roderick, do you think it would be more consistent design-wise if the living room clerestories were similar to those in the gallery....more linear in nature with perf boards? On the other hand, the clerestories as built would indeed let in a great deal of light.............
The triangular vertical perf pilasters on the living room windows are indeed unique....I'm sure Howe was involved at some level......
Palli.......I think the 10' 9" height of the upper ceiling is very close based upon the usual 6' 8" height of the lower ceiling and the fireplace brick dimensions......just my very unofficial guess though.....after all, I'm more of a qualitative researcher:)
FTA, thank you for sharing some of your experiences from your visit with Ms. Trier and family. It sounds like you had a wonderful visit with an extraordinary host. A question comes to mind......do you recall if the skylight in the kitchen had a perf board cutout?
Thanks again to everyone for the insights. I appreciate the opportunity to participate in such a helpful and insightful community.
-
Palli Davis Holubar
- Posts: 1036
- Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2006 8:14 am
- Location: Wakeman, Ohio
I hope to go to the library and scan the plan from Coll. Wks 1943-59 for someone to post. Edprof- thanks for mentioning a skylight. I'm not confidant of LR height until it is scanned and enhanced. What was the Exhibition House LR height? The Feiman? Are the LR north clerestory the same size as the gallery? The glass sizes for the millwork will be on the scan and hopefully readable. Thank you for focusing attention on Trier and FTA for the recent visit report.
from Monograph 8
