From a visit a week ago, here are some photos of the Usonian House at Florida Southern College, serving as part of the visitor's center.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/140080283 ... 971345756/
Florida Southern Usonian House
Thanks, James. The unique features of this design remind us of how important it was to see the house brought "out of the drawer" and into the light.
Well, the "new" is disappearing, in the natural course of things. I suppose some sort of regular cleaning will be necessary to combat what looks like mildew on some blocks. And the film finish of the overhead is showing early signs of failure, as could be expected, I suppose.
You found some nice angles and made some good detail shots not previously published. I'm sure you've found the photo blog assembled, over time, by the builders ? Your photo 2359 presents a good street-side view, for instance.
Your second and third photos show, miraculously, that the deflection of the lower roof has apparently reversed itself, or at least evened out, so that the fascia reads as a straight line, now. Will wonders never cease ?
SDR
Well, the "new" is disappearing, in the natural course of things. I suppose some sort of regular cleaning will be necessary to combat what looks like mildew on some blocks. And the film finish of the overhead is showing early signs of failure, as could be expected, I suppose.
You found some nice angles and made some good detail shots not previously published. I'm sure you've found the photo blog assembled, over time, by the builders ? Your photo 2359 presents a good street-side view, for instance.
Your second and third photos show, miraculously, that the deflection of the lower roof has apparently reversed itself, or at least evened out, so that the fascia reads as a straight line, now. Will wonders never cease ?
SDR
Last edited by SDR on Tue Mar 22, 2016 10:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
that photo #2359 shows one minor thing that I'd have altered. I would have avoided that light & bright color on the site wall along the back property line. Or, I'd have gotten busy installing some dark evergreens so that that background plane receded in value & tone so that the house advanced. Conversely, that wall appears to conflate with the carport form, dampening the affect of the cantilever and the low wall below.
Patina is already setting in. I don't mind it so much where the blocks are streaking gray from the top. (that's a seeming inevitability in Florida), but that conspicuous orange stain in one spot on the end of the house (#2165) looks like there's a problem. I'm not sure what is the cause. Is it some sort of ferrous stain from within the block, or perhaps some tannins from the cypress? I'm not sure either of those explanations make sense.
By the way, the docent said that one of the problems plaguing the original campus buildings is the rusting away of the steel rebar in the block reinforcing. He said that on the Usonian House project, they coated the blocks with a water-resistant sealer, and more importantly, used stainless steel rebar. That couldn't have been inexpensive.
Patina is already setting in. I don't mind it so much where the blocks are streaking gray from the top. (that's a seeming inevitability in Florida), but that conspicuous orange stain in one spot on the end of the house (#2165) looks like there's a problem. I'm not sure what is the cause. Is it some sort of ferrous stain from within the block, or perhaps some tannins from the cypress? I'm not sure either of those explanations make sense.
By the way, the docent said that one of the problems plaguing the original campus buildings is the rusting away of the steel rebar in the block reinforcing. He said that on the Usonian House project, they coated the blocks with a water-resistant sealer, and more importantly, used stainless steel rebar. That couldn't have been inexpensive.
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Roderick Grant
- Posts: 11815
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 7:48 am
There appears to be a walk along the offending wall in 2359. Are you sure that wall is part of the property, or does it belong to the neighbor? Neighbors are so inconvenient. In addition to the wrong color, the wall is lined with base planting, a habit that FLW railed against.
Another detail FLW avoided is the picture-above-the-fireplace inevitability. I can't make out what that image is, but it must be important to someone to have been given such a prominent place. It should be removed. People seem to hate the idea of a blank wall.
Another detail FLW avoided is the picture-above-the-fireplace inevitability. I can't make out what that image is, but it must be important to someone to have been given such a prominent place. It should be removed. People seem to hate the idea of a blank wall.
The light colored wall at the rear of the site was erected by FSC to afford the neighbor some privacy and the visitors a neutral background for photography...the color and formal plantings are unfortunate. Vines perhaps?
The orange staining looks like the staining common to this part of NJ where irrigation systems utilize shallow wells. A high iron content in the water causes the stains....often on concrete walks or those awful white PVC fences. It is notable to see staining at only one location, which would likely rule out roof spillage. Possibly a sprinkler jet needs to be adjusted or removed?
The orange staining looks like the staining common to this part of NJ where irrigation systems utilize shallow wells. A high iron content in the water causes the stains....often on concrete walks or those awful white PVC fences. It is notable to see staining at only one location, which would likely rule out roof spillage. Possibly a sprinkler jet needs to be adjusted or removed?
I'm pretty sure that yellow wall belongs to the Usonian House property. The site is laid out more as a visitor's complex with 2 buildings. See this overhead view:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/140080283 ... ateposted/
The photo over the fireplace is a black & white photo of FLW. It's a very good portrait in black & white of him sitting at his desk at Taleisin West. They did not use non-reflective glass, however, so most of what you see is a reflection of the brightly lit cars in the parking lot across the street.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/140080283 ... ateposted/
The photo over the fireplace is a black & white photo of FLW. It's a very good portrait in black & white of him sitting at his desk at Taleisin West. They did not use non-reflective glass, however, so most of what you see is a reflection of the brightly lit cars in the parking lot across the street.
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Roderick Grant
- Posts: 11815
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 7:48 am
Roderick,
Regarding the placement of a decorative element installed over a usonian fireplace, I needed you to testify to my wife. But now, perhaps, it's too late. We have a similarly configured 2 sided fireplace, albeit in brick. I think it is best kept bare. But, there is a spotlight positioned to illuminate the brick expanse. That empty spotlight drove my wife crazy not having a focal point object there. It looks like this:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/140080283 ... 647230699/
There are various embedded screws around the house in the brick walls marking pre-existing art hanging locations. Once they go in the brick you leave them there and consider them opportunities to hang something new on them. This fireplace contains such a screw, thus affording my wife the opportunity to occasionally hang a painting there, until such time as I detect it and take it off.
Under the pressure of the continuing campaign to find "the right thing" to go there (which I doubted would happen), while in a very funky antique shop I did stumble upon one of the 16" square cast decorative panels designed by John deKovan Hill.
http://eronjohnsonantiques.com/products ... ular-panel
http://s764.photobucket.com/user/ChuckL ... =slideshow.
So, I bought it and it currently hangs on that screw under that spot light. The screw is not quite in the right place relative to the panel, so that still bothers me, but once I solve that problem I don't know whether I'll be okay with the panel hanging there or not. As 2 D objects go, it's a good one, but it still might be the case that Less is More.
Regarding the placement of a decorative element installed over a usonian fireplace, I needed you to testify to my wife. But now, perhaps, it's too late. We have a similarly configured 2 sided fireplace, albeit in brick. I think it is best kept bare. But, there is a spotlight positioned to illuminate the brick expanse. That empty spotlight drove my wife crazy not having a focal point object there. It looks like this:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/140080283 ... 647230699/
There are various embedded screws around the house in the brick walls marking pre-existing art hanging locations. Once they go in the brick you leave them there and consider them opportunities to hang something new on them. This fireplace contains such a screw, thus affording my wife the opportunity to occasionally hang a painting there, until such time as I detect it and take it off.
Under the pressure of the continuing campaign to find "the right thing" to go there (which I doubted would happen), while in a very funky antique shop I did stumble upon one of the 16" square cast decorative panels designed by John deKovan Hill.
http://eronjohnsonantiques.com/products ... ular-panel
http://s764.photobucket.com/user/ChuckL ... =slideshow.
So, I bought it and it currently hangs on that screw under that spot light. The screw is not quite in the right place relative to the panel, so that still bothers me, but once I solve that problem I don't know whether I'll be okay with the panel hanging there or not. As 2 D objects go, it's a good one, but it still might be the case that Less is More.
The idea of hanging something on the fireplace hood is a matter of perception of symbolic function and of practical context...the hood symbolically gets hot (in reality it does not); the hood contains the smoke and actually gets a little smoke or soot on it at times depending on fireplace draw. Would one want a painting, a print, or, gulp, a plasma screen with a Kardashian in such a harsh place? No. It just looks wrong...like a builder putting lick and stick fake stone on a dormer over a wood framed porch.
A cast piece like deKovan Hill's or a piece of non flammable sculpture seems to be a good compromise.
I fought this battle myself already and have won, at least to this point.
A cast piece like deKovan Hill's or a piece of non flammable sculpture seems to be a good compromise.
I fought this battle myself already and have won, at least to this point.
DRN,
I like that I've found a brother in the battle for aesthetics amidst the even bigger battle for marital bliss. I also like that while you consider yourself the victor in the battle, you are wise enough to understand that it is just "at least to this point". You think the fire's put out but it could reignite at any time, you never really know, do you?. I agree with parts of your rationale, except I would not mind putting a Kardashian in a harsh place, but that's just me.
There are ample, almost automatic, precedents in the world of architecture for placing art over a fireplace. usually over a mantle replete with other, smaller objet d'art. However, Usonia is another place, where conventions like that are frequently set aside for greater aesthetic reasons.
I'm a newbie on this forum, so it may be that it's a topic that's already been addressed, but I'd be interested to see a focus on the category of FLW fireplaces, a visual inventory thereof. That exercise would probably point the way to the proper conclusion.
The Melvyn Maxwell Smith house I regard as one of the best Usonians. There is a lot to like about it. An objection I have, however, is the decorative stuff that happens on and around that fireplace. I can't quite tell what those decorative items are, but I can tell that I don't like them.
I like that I've found a brother in the battle for aesthetics amidst the even bigger battle for marital bliss. I also like that while you consider yourself the victor in the battle, you are wise enough to understand that it is just "at least to this point". You think the fire's put out but it could reignite at any time, you never really know, do you?. I agree with parts of your rationale, except I would not mind putting a Kardashian in a harsh place, but that's just me.
There are ample, almost automatic, precedents in the world of architecture for placing art over a fireplace. usually over a mantle replete with other, smaller objet d'art. However, Usonia is another place, where conventions like that are frequently set aside for greater aesthetic reasons.
I'm a newbie on this forum, so it may be that it's a topic that's already been addressed, but I'd be interested to see a focus on the category of FLW fireplaces, a visual inventory thereof. That exercise would probably point the way to the proper conclusion.
The Melvyn Maxwell Smith house I regard as one of the best Usonians. There is a lot to like about it. An objection I have, however, is the decorative stuff that happens on and around that fireplace. I can't quite tell what those decorative items are, but I can tell that I don't like them.
Last edited by JChoate on Wed Mar 23, 2016 2:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I believe the difference between a historical or classic fireplace and a Usonian fireplace is the mantel. The wrapping and containing the of the fire into a nice picture frame with a projecting decorative shelf to deflect any errant smoke one sees in a historical or conventional house allows the space above to be a gallery for the most precious of possessions: the mantel clock, the family photos, and on the wall above, the portrait of the patriarch, or the mounted head of the moose the patriarch murdered.
The Usonian fireplace is raw and elemental...it is contained, but only just. It is not a place for delicate things. One might also say the cantilevered nature of the hood is part of the drama...the drama does not want competition for attention.
The Usonian fireplace is raw and elemental...it is contained, but only just. It is not a place for delicate things. One might also say the cantilevered nature of the hood is part of the drama...the drama does not want competition for attention.
Well said, DRN.
I take it then that you would not approve of the Leigh Stevens deer head, followed by the Joel Silver moose head.
I designed a remote house once with a big stone fireplace & chimney. I traveled there with a photographer to take photos only to discover unexpectedly that the homeowner had installed a massive elk head over the fireplace. Oh well. It was too massive to move so we took photos of it anyway.
I take it then that you would not approve of the Leigh Stevens deer head, followed by the Joel Silver moose head.
I designed a remote house once with a big stone fireplace & chimney. I traveled there with a photographer to take photos only to discover unexpectedly that the homeowner had installed a massive elk head over the fireplace. Oh well. It was too massive to move so we took photos of it anyway.
Last edited by JChoate on Wed Nov 30, 2016 8:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Heh. At least it's the right color(s). Frankly, it looks Photoshopped in; perhaps it could be Photoshopped out ?
You both have it right on, about fireplaces in general and Usonian in particular -- some of DRN's best writing. I have waited for a catalog raisonné of Wright's fireplaces. No two are exactly alike; the Old Man clearly took pleasure in their invention. Fallingwater's fireplaces are little bits of heaven, a cut above all others, as I see it.
SDR
You both have it right on, about fireplaces in general and Usonian in particular -- some of DRN's best writing. I have waited for a catalog raisonné of Wright's fireplaces. No two are exactly alike; the Old Man clearly took pleasure in their invention. Fallingwater's fireplaces are little bits of heaven, a cut above all others, as I see it.
SDR