Weltzheimer/Johnson House - Oberlin OH - Exterior Panoramas

JohnAdams · Post by **JohnAdams** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 10:05 am

Took these with my equipment while in Ohio. Was not able to get inside as we were a bit late for the art gallery to let us in and the next day was July 4, a holiday. It is not as good as a google business shoot (no HDR to correct exposures) but you can get the idea. Be sure to zoom in and out to see details.

http://business-photos.ca/flw/oberlin.htm

Be patient as it may take awhile to load. It is A LOT of data.

Best, John Adams, Google Certified Trusted Photographer.

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 5:05 pm

So what's the story on the roof balls and perfs for this house?

Wrightgeek · Post by **Wrightgeek** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 6:19 pm

I have heard several explanations about the "balls", but the most consistent is that there was originally an apple orchard on the property, and that the "balls" were an abstraction of and an homage to the apples. Whether the "balls" were designed by FLW or the on site supervisor, Ted Bowers, has been subject of some debate.

That's what I know, but maybe a local like Palli or Unbrook can add more insight?

Unbrook · Post by **Unbrook** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 10:16 pm

I must chime in. The balls are certainly a unique feature of the house. I have always thought of the Weltzheimer house as one of the last of the early sparer Usonians and the beginning of the more elaborate later ones. Mrs. Weltzheimer makes reference to the house as "Shagbark"-a type of hickory tree which grew on the property. The balls could be seen as the hickory nut before they shed the outer skin. That and the apples from the orchard could be seen as influences on the design.

I tend to believe that reason for the balls on the eaves of the roof was Mr Wright becoming more lyrical in his design. Samara has a wonderful decoration on theface of the eaves. The Marin County Administration building has the larger orbs at the roof line.

I should also comment that the current state of the landscaping is not in any way part of Mr. Wright's plan but has evolved over the years. The original driveway proceeds south from the carport and didn't include the current cemented area shown in the video.

peterm · Post by **peterm** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 10:58 pm

Fallingwater, Taliesin, Shiprock, Samara, La Miniatura, Cedar Rock... Yes...

But "Shagbark"???!!!

Personally, I think I will stick to Weltzheimer....

No offense intended; it is indeed one of the finest Usonians. But I did have to chuckle at the picture of Austin Powers and Felicity Shagwell lounging around the red brick hearth which popped into my mind...

Wrightgeek · Post by **Wrightgeek** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 11:12 pm

peterm-

All Austin Powers references aside, as you become more entrenched in the Midwest, I think you will become more familiar with and fond of our very distinctive and majestic shagbark hickory trees.

Unbrook · Post by **Unbrook** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 11:13 pm

I agree it doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. The name appears in a letter to Wright from Mrs. Weltzheimer. It sounds as though it had been discussed earlier, perhaps when the family visited Mr. Wright in order to urge along the blueprints, so construction could get underway. But it never stuck.

Off course, Weltzheimer/Johnson does honor those who built and constructed the house/

Unbrook · Post by **Unbrook** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 11:19 pm

Thank you for your description of the house as one of the finest Usonians.
I remember the first time I walked through it and I felt it was a very minor commision for Mr. Wright. I have grown to admire the subtle genius of the design in the years since that initial visiit. The parts of the building which I don't feel succeed are those areas which deviate from the initial plans. Pretty much every time I visit, I discover something new.

peterm · Post by **peterm** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 11:20 pm

So sorry for the juvenile, rude comments... The tree is truly remarkable:

http://www.pbase.com/image/2577975

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 6:52 am

What's the story on the vertical mortar joints here? (Same thing as Samara in Lafayette, Ind., but I know that story. John Christian tried to save some money, saying that the chemistry wasn't in on combining different mortars, so the verticals stand out there like whirling samara seeds.)

DRN · Post by **DRN** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 12:44 pm

Having visited the W-J house last year, I can attest to what a great house this is even with the deviations near the workspace and carport. The modulation of space in which the large (for a Usonian) living room can still feel intimate is masterful.

Just so peterm does not feel alone, I'll share a memory I have of seeing some slides of the Weltzheimer house in an architectural history course in the mid-'80's. The course's instructor who was known to occasionally interject a little humor to keep his sleep deprived architecture students awake in a darkened lecture hall noted that "It took a lot of balls to build this Wright house."

peterm · Post by **peterm** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 1:03 pm

"Oh, Behave!"

DavidC · Post by **DavidC** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 2:32 pm

"To the corner with the both of you!!!"

David

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:51 pm

Cross Reference:
http://www.savewright.org/wright_chat/v ... 388d83e1a6

BhamRuss · Post by **BhamRuss** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:26 am

What I find unusual about the house, is that in the most promenent living room exterior corner; there's a corner post, rather than the more typical mitered glass. Any insights?