I love the Usonian style homes, and I'm wondering if there is any information on the type of bricks Frank used on homes like the Zimmerman home seen here: http://www.nhhomemagazine.com/_DSC2823.jpg
The brick seems almost polished or something, very consistent, no marking and pocking. Is this just luck of the draw kind of thing or was Frank specifying something specific?
Type of brick on Usonian homes? Finished brick?
Terry Patterson's Frank Lloyd Wright and the Meaning of Materials (Van Nostrand Reinhold 1994) is a good source for questions like this.
The quality of brick was, I suspect, largely a matter of budget. A physician and nurse with no children, building in an upscale neighborhood, could afford more expensive materials. Jacobs 1, making an effort to build cheaply, used leftovers from Johnson Wax.
I notice in your photo that the piers on the right use his characteristic raked-back horizontal joints while the fireplace does not.
The quality of brick was, I suspect, largely a matter of budget. A physician and nurse with no children, building in an upscale neighborhood, could afford more expensive materials. Jacobs 1, making an effort to build cheaply, used leftovers from Johnson Wax.
I notice in your photo that the piers on the right use his characteristic raked-back horizontal joints while the fireplace does not.
They are not glazed. It's a pretty standard, smooth-finished brick. The lighting is amazing (as is the craftsmanship) which makes it look like more than it is. Which is of course the point.
If you're attempting something in this style, note that the bricks of this era are not the common, smaller ones designed to fit into a 4" grid. But they're still available; you just have to know what you're looking for. Likewise "restoration" mortars are available. You just have to source carefully and not settle for the typical jackass mason who insists on spraying acid on everything when a rag and a brush will do.
If you're attempting something in this style, note that the bricks of this era are not the common, smaller ones designed to fit into a 4" grid. But they're still available; you just have to know what you're looking for. Likewise "restoration" mortars are available. You just have to source carefully and not settle for the typical jackass mason who insists on spraying acid on everything when a rag and a brush will do.
Look into Belden brick.
Paul Harding FAIA Restoration Architect for FLW's 1901 E. Arthur Davenport House, 1941 Lloyd Lewis House, 1952 Glore House | www.harding.com | LinkedIn
The Historic Structure Report for the Zimmerman House (prepared by Tilton and Lewis, 1989) describes the brick as "red glazed Sanford brick selected from a supplier at Nashua, New Hampshire." Looking carefully at some of the areas that are chipped, it does appear that there is a matte finish on the surface, though it is very subtle.
The photo is deceiving: mortar is raked both horizontally and vertically throughout the house.
The photo is deceiving: mortar is raked both horizontally and vertically throughout the house.
Ussonian Brick
I would second Belden has a resource. At Weltzheimer , replacement brick for a recent project was sourced through Belden.
The overwhelming majority of Usonian houses are built from modular size brick:
http://www.beldenbrick.com/brick-dimensions-guide.asp
There are exceptions, of course. For example, Wingspread has larger bricks, others have common (irregular) bricks. I can't remember if any have Roman or not. (Roman bricks were used extensively on Prairie houses).
Shown here is a variety of brick faces. Smooth is what you want:
http://www.beldenbrick.com/onlinecatalo ... red-bricks
http://www.beldenbrick.com/brick-dimensions-guide.asp
There are exceptions, of course. For example, Wingspread has larger bricks, others have common (irregular) bricks. I can't remember if any have Roman or not. (Roman bricks were used extensively on Prairie houses).
Shown here is a variety of brick faces. Smooth is what you want:
http://www.beldenbrick.com/onlinecatalo ... red-bricks
Thru wall brick:
http://www.probuilder.com/calstar-thru-wall-block-units
http://www.beldenbrick.com/structural-brick.asp
The advantages: ease of construction (it must cut the labor time nearly in half) no need for ties connecting two wythes.
Disadvantage: larger height of brick; these are 4" vs. the 2 1/4" of modular.
It looks like the Usonian exhibition house bricks were more like 3"?
http://guggenheim203.rssing.com/chan-30 ... ll_p1.html
Since the NY house was designed to be temporary, the speed and ease of construction might have helped with the decision. I've noticed that the Trier house, modeled after the exhibition house, has the taller bricks as well. Maybe they are thru bricks?
http://www.probuilder.com/calstar-thru-wall-block-units
http://www.beldenbrick.com/structural-brick.asp
The advantages: ease of construction (it must cut the labor time nearly in half) no need for ties connecting two wythes.
Disadvantage: larger height of brick; these are 4" vs. the 2 1/4" of modular.
It looks like the Usonian exhibition house bricks were more like 3"?
http://guggenheim203.rssing.com/chan-30 ... ll_p1.html
Since the NY house was designed to be temporary, the speed and ease of construction might have helped with the decision. I've noticed that the Trier house, modeled after the exhibition house, has the taller bricks as well. Maybe they are thru bricks?