Alden B. Dow: Midwestern ModernSDR wrote:Has a book on Dow's work been published ?
Architecture of Alden B. Dow
David
Wright Done Wrong
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Paul Ringstrom
- Posts: 4777
- Joined: Sat Sep 17, 2005 4:53 pm
- Location: Mason City, IA
SDR:
The Charch house is listed in both the Sidney Robinson book from the '80's and Diane Maddex's recent book. It is not pictured or described other than a listing in each book's roster of built work. The commission came about '45 or '46, and was built by 1950.
I had the opportunity to tour the house as a friend of a friend was the listing agent for the house when it was sold in 1987. The house has a flat roof with thick redwood fascias similar to those on the house posted earlier. There is a mix of stonework and it is evident that the house was built as an addition/infill of some existing stone ruins that dated from the early 20th century. The interiors were spatially interesting, there were flagstone floors and a lot of mahogany, but the level of detail was thin and what there was was very builderly. It is sited on the brow of a north-northeast facing slope overlooking the Brandywine River valley...in fact it is immediately across the creek from Andrew Wyeth's old mill home and studio on the flood plain below. The views were stunning. The drive is situated on the south side of Brinton's Bridge Road.
The fit/finish/level of detail is far below that of Dow's work that I saw in Midland, MI, and it was noted by the realtor that the house was "designed from a distance" meaning no on-site architect supervision was provided. Apparently, the Charch's were connected to the nearby DuPont chemical company and some connection through the chemical industry via Dow Chemical brought them to Alden Dow.
It is my understanding the 1980's purchasers heavily remodeled the interior, added a lot of downslope landscaping and a pool, and subdivided the extensive acreage ( the drive was over 1/2 mile long).
I have a couple of snapshots somewhere...I will try to find them for posting. If you want to find it on GoogleEarth, the house's coordinates are:
39.883439,-75.613582
The Charch house is listed in both the Sidney Robinson book from the '80's and Diane Maddex's recent book. It is not pictured or described other than a listing in each book's roster of built work. The commission came about '45 or '46, and was built by 1950.
I had the opportunity to tour the house as a friend of a friend was the listing agent for the house when it was sold in 1987. The house has a flat roof with thick redwood fascias similar to those on the house posted earlier. There is a mix of stonework and it is evident that the house was built as an addition/infill of some existing stone ruins that dated from the early 20th century. The interiors were spatially interesting, there were flagstone floors and a lot of mahogany, but the level of detail was thin and what there was was very builderly. It is sited on the brow of a north-northeast facing slope overlooking the Brandywine River valley...in fact it is immediately across the creek from Andrew Wyeth's old mill home and studio on the flood plain below. The views were stunning. The drive is situated on the south side of Brinton's Bridge Road.
The fit/finish/level of detail is far below that of Dow's work that I saw in Midland, MI, and it was noted by the realtor that the house was "designed from a distance" meaning no on-site architect supervision was provided. Apparently, the Charch's were connected to the nearby DuPont chemical company and some connection through the chemical industry via Dow Chemical brought them to Alden Dow.
It is my understanding the 1980's purchasers heavily remodeled the interior, added a lot of downslope landscaping and a pool, and subdivided the extensive acreage ( the drive was over 1/2 mile long).
I have a couple of snapshots somewhere...I will try to find them for posting. If you want to find it on GoogleEarth, the house's coordinates are:
39.883439,-75.613582
Excuse me DRN.. I grew up in that house!!
How can you say it is below level?? My parents put the pool in and did extensive work on the house. My mother spent a lot of time and energy in to every detail.. She also had the house put on the historic registry in Pennsylvania. I can't begin to tell you what an amazing home it was to grow up in.. I wouldn't go by what the realtor told you. My mother knows every bit of the history on this house and it was not designed from a distance!! Please get your facts straight. p.s. I have many many photos from every room and all over the landscape. If anyone is really interested. It is truley the most amazing house I have ever had the pleasure of living in. I think it surpasses Falling Water.DRN wrote:SDR:
The Charch house is listed in both the Sidney Robinson book from the '80's and Diane Maddex's recent book. It is not pictured or described other than a listing in each book's roster of built work. The commission came about '45 or '46, and was built by 1950.
I had the opportunity to tour the house as a friend of a friend was the listing agent for the house when it was sold in 1987. The house has a flat roof with thick redwood fascias similar to those on the house posted earlier. There is a mix of stonework and it is evident that the house was built as an addition/infill of some existing stone ruins that dated from the early 20th century. The interiors were spatially interesting, there were flagstone floors and a lot of mahogany, but the level of detail was thin and what there was was very builderly. It is sited on the brow of a north-northeast facing slope overlooking the Brandywine River valley...in fact it is immediately across the creek from Andrew Wyeth's old mill home and studio on the flood plain below. The views were stunning. The drive is situated on the south side of Brinton's Bridge Road.
The fit/finish/level of detail is far below that of Dow's work that I saw in Midland, MI, and it was noted by the realtor that the house was "designed from a distance" meaning no on-site architect supervision was provided. Apparently, the Charch's were connected to the nearby DuPont chemical company and some connection through the chemical industry via Dow Chemical brought them to Alden Dow.
It is my understanding the 1980's purchasers heavily remodeled the interior, added a lot of downslope landscaping and a pool, and subdivided the extensive acreage ( the drive was over 1/2 mile long).
I have a couple of snapshots somewhere...I will try to find them for posting. If you want to find it on GoogleEarth, the house's coordinates are:
39.883439,-75.613582
Hey, post some photos and let us see. You have to understand that our interest here is somewhat academic. And opinionated. It's what this place is for.
Some of these folks are very knowledgeable about a whole range of an architect's work. Stuff you have never seen or even know about. While I'm sure that is was an amazing place to grow up, and you know the home's many overlooked features, saying "it surpasses Fallingwater" won't win you any arguments. Unless of course you have actually lived at the Kaufman's place at Bear Run.
Some of these folks are very knowledgeable about a whole range of an architect's work. Stuff you have never seen or even know about. While I'm sure that is was an amazing place to grow up, and you know the home's many overlooked features, saying "it surpasses Fallingwater" won't win you any arguments. Unless of course you have actually lived at the Kaufman's place at Bear Run.
Excuse me..
Please don't assume to know my knowledge of architecture. I have been to Fallingwater..and in my academic somewhat opinionated opinion it does surpass it. I could actually care less about winning any arguments by the way. Fallingwater has seen much better days. Just my opinion.egads wrote:Hey, post some photos and let us see. You have to understand that our interest here is somewhat academic. And opinionated. It's what this place is for.
Some of these folks are very knowledgeable about a whole range of an architect's work. Stuff you have never seen or even know about. While I'm sure that is was an amazing place to grow up, and you know the home's many overlooked features, saying "it surpasses Fallingwater" won't win you any arguments. Unless of course you have actually lived at the Kaufman's place at Bear Run.
Oh, by the way, Dow's Charch house is not being discussed here because it fits the description in the thread title, "Wright done Wrong" It was only mentioned (and then gone off topic about" because of it being attributed to Wright by those who are not educated about such things. It's a real Dow and he should be getting credit for it even among the locals. From what little I know, Dow actually studied with Wright. He created work that did not mimic, but did stick to the Organic principles Wright espoused.
You in fact may be making the same mistake we are discussing with respect to seeing the superficial and not the meat. If the Charch resembles the Realtor link on the first page, and you think that somehow makes it like Fallingwater, well the concept behind each was vastly different and only some details make them seem alike. The whole idea behind this thread is that that is not the case.
You in fact may be making the same mistake we are discussing with respect to seeing the superficial and not the meat. If the Charch resembles the Realtor link on the first page, and you think that somehow makes it like Fallingwater, well the concept behind each was vastly different and only some details make them seem alike. The whole idea behind this thread is that that is not the case.
tarad-
Welcome to Wright Chat!
Please post the photos you mentioned having or I will gladly post them for you if you like.
Our intent at Wright Chat is to analyze, inform, educate, and yes, criticize on occasion. Please understand that even Wright's (and Dow's...) finest works have been intensely scrutinized here. If you have evidence which supports your claim of it being a strong design, we would love to see it!
I don't think that the subject of Dow came up in order to place him in the context of second rate Taliesin apprentices or architects who were clueless about Wright's principles. On the contrary, it is generally agreed upon here that Dow was indeed a fine architect...
Welcome to Wright Chat!
Please post the photos you mentioned having or I will gladly post them for you if you like.
Our intent at Wright Chat is to analyze, inform, educate, and yes, criticize on occasion. Please understand that even Wright's (and Dow's...) finest works have been intensely scrutinized here. If you have evidence which supports your claim of it being a strong design, we would love to see it!
I don't think that the subject of Dow came up in order to place him in the context of second rate Taliesin apprentices or architects who were clueless about Wright's principles. On the contrary, it is generally agreed upon here that Dow was indeed a fine architect...
Last edited by peterm on Thu Jan 27, 2011 5:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
http://www.abdow.org/index.php/projects/out-of-michigan
There are two small pictures of the Charch house shown. While it would never be confused with FW, it appears to be a good effort by Dow. Dow did some great work, anxious to see more if this could be considered one of them.
There are two small pictures of the Charch house shown. While it would never be confused with FW, it appears to be a good effort by Dow. Dow did some great work, anxious to see more if this could be considered one of them.
KevinW
Click on "other states" and you will find the two photos which myLiebermeisterAGG refers to.
This site also has extensive documentation of Dow's work. Scroll down about half way to see Charch: http://www.trianglemodernisthouses.com/dow.htm
This site also has extensive documentation of Dow's work. Scroll down about half way to see Charch: http://www.trianglemodernisthouses.com/dow.htm
Thank you Peter for the clarification.. I will go through my pictures and post them. The majority of them have family members in them so I would like to get permission to post them.peterm wrote:Click on "other states" and you will find the two photos which myLiebermeisterAGG refers to.
This site also has extensive documentation of Dow's work. Scroll down about half way to see Charch: http://www.trianglemodernisthouses.com/dow.htm