Frank Lloyd Wright’s The Studiowith Organic Architecture ART HIST RY KIDS
LET’S MEET THE ARCHITECT Frank Lloyd Wright June 8, 1867 – April 9, 1959 Frank Lloyd Wright was an American archi- tect who continually reinvented his style during his 70 year career designing forward thinking buildings– big and small.
He was born in Wisconsin and he spent most of his childhood surrounded by nature. His family moved around when he was young, but they ended up back in Wisconsin when he was 11.
Wright studied at The University of Wiscon- sin-Madison for 2 semesters (and later received an honorary degree from the University), but was eager to get to work designing, so he never finished college. Frank moved to Chicago when he was 20 to pursue his dream of becoming an archi- tect, and he started working with the best people in the business almost immediately.
Frank Lloyd Wright explored many different styles, but everything he designed had an element of his love for nature. He believed that above all else, great architecture should work in harmony with its surround- ings, and the structures he created express that desire. In addition to designing buildings, he also took great care in designing beautiful interior windows and in furnishings like dinnerware, chairs, and rugs.
He’s been called an architectural visionary, and he‘s one of the most famous architects in history. Wright was honored by the American Institute of Architects’ as the “Greatest American Architect of All Time.”
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ART MOVEMENTS What is Organic Architecture? Frank Lloyd Wright called his designs Organic Architecture. Whenever he began a new project, he would spend time considering the environment, and also the purpose of the building. These two factors would influence the concepts he would create, and how the building would eventually come together.
Fallingwater is a great example. Look at how the building mimics the shape of the natural water feature as it falls, moves along a flat plane, and then falls again.
The building works in harmony with nature, and shares the same visual language.
“No house should ever be on a hill or on anything. It should be of the hill. Belonging to it. Hill and house should live together each the happier for the other.” –Frank Lloyd Wright
Other architects use this philosophy, too! Look at The Sydney Opera House. What kind of natural element do you think inspired this design?
More to explore! If you haven't already explored the April 2019 archived bundle from The Studio... check it out! Hundertwasser’s designs take the idea of Organic Architecture to a whole new level!
April 2020 12 Frank Lloyd Wright’s The Studiowith Organic Architecture ART HIST RY KIDS
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE GUIDE The evolving style of Wright’s architectural design
Let’s take a look at some of the different styles Frank Lloyd Wright used in his designs over the decades. Notice how the theme of ‘Organic Architecture’ is a common thread through all of them. The buildings reside in harmony with their natural surroundings.
Prairie Style (an Arts and Crafts variation) The Robie House 1910
Dramatic horizontal lines
Overhanging eaves
Natural materials
Continuous windows
Click to see inside!
Wright created the Prairie Style in response the architecture that was popular at the time. While other archi- tects were inspired by ornate elements from European styles – Gothic Revival, French Empire, and Italianate – Wright drew his inspiration from the landscape of his childhood... the flat and expansive prairie land of Ameri- ca's Midwest. The Prairie Style is America’s first unique architectural style. The interior living spaces were open plan, and sometimes had a fireplace as a room divider. The windows are often decorated with geomet- ric designs and colored glass. The Robie House was named a US National Historic Landmark in 1963, and in 1991, one of the 10 most significant structures of the 20th century by the American Institute of Architects.
April 2020 13 Frank Lloyd Wright’s The Studiowith Organic Architecture ART HIST RY KIDS
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE GUIDE The evolving style of Wright’s architectural design
Let’s take a look at some of the different styles Frank Lloyd Wright used in his designs over the decades. Notice how the theme of ‘Organic Architecture’ is a common thread through all of them. The buildings reside in harmony with their natural surroundings.
Textile Block (an Art Deco variation) The Ennis House 1924
The name ‘Textile Block’ comes from the way the individual blocks in these homes are ‘woven’ together with steel rods.
This home has been the set for numer- ous films and television productions.
Click to see inside! This grand home sits in the hills above Los Angeles. It belongs to a style called Mayan Revival, and you can see why! Doesn’t this look a little bit like an ancient temple? Frank Lloyd Wright briefly explored an Art Deco inspired style called Textile Block. The blocks (over 27,000 of them!) were created using concrete. He mixed the concrete from gravel, granite, and sand that was found at the site. Wright thought concrete would be a good choice for creating affordable housing. At the time, it wasn’t widely used in residential construction. He created a system to fabricate the blocks with their patterned surfaces from aluminum molds. The finished blocks (measuring 16”x16”x3.5”) were secured with steel rods and then arranged in a grid formation in the exterior and interior of the house.
April 2020 14 Frank Lloyd Wright’s The Studiowith Organic Architecture ART HIST RY KIDS
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE GUIDE The evolving style of Wright’s architectural design
Let’s take a look at some of the different styles Frank Lloyd Wright used in his designs over the decades. Notice how the theme of ‘Organic Architecture’ is a common thread through all of them. The buildings reside in harmony with their natural surroundings.
Usonian (Modernism) Affleck House 1941
Used space efficiently
Low cost
Flat roof
Simplified heating and lighting
Click to see inside! In an effort to bring style to the masses (and not just the rich elite), Frank Lloyd Wright came up with the idea (and the phrase) of ‘Usonian Houses.’ These homes would provide a stylish option for middle class Ameri- cans. Wright said, "Style is important. A style is not." These houses featured built in furniture, lots of natural light, and an open floor plan. Wright had a vision for a new landscape in America that featured beautiful homes, integrated with their surroundings. They were meant for average American families who had to live more simply after the Great Depression, but Wright believed that families still deserved homes that were beautiful. (Wright used the word Usonia to refer to the United States in general. Some think it’s an abbrevia- tion for United States of North America.)
April 2020 15 Frank Lloyd Wright’s The Studiowith Organic Architecture ART HIST RY KIDS
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE GUIDE The evolving style of Wright’s architectural design
Let’s take a look at some of the different styles Frank Lloyd Wright used in his designs over the decades. Notice how the theme of ‘Organic Architecture’ is a common thread through all of them. The buildings reside in harmony with their natural surroundings.
Frank Lloyd Wright Style (Geometric)
HC Price Company Tower 1956
Patterned exterior
Uses natural materials: copper and glass
Asymmetrical yet balanced design
Click to see inside!
This is the tallest building Frank Lloyd Wright ever constructed. He described his only sky scraper as “the tree that escaped the crowded forest." It was no secret that Wright preferred the suburban landscape to cities, so it makes sense that he would approach a high rise thinking in terms of natural elements like trees in the forest.
This building is 19 stories high, and consist of rhythmically placed angular walls that look different depending on where you are standing. The top half of the building is a hotel you can stay in!
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ARCHITECTURE AS AN ART FORM Elements of Art and Design Each month, we talk about the elements of art that we see in a particular painting, illustration, or sculpture. We can look at the same things in the architectural designs of Frank Lloyd Wright! Take a look at the build- ings in this week’s guide, and find an example of each of these. Write down your observations!
Balance– Color–
Harmony– Pattern–
Form– Texture–
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LOOKING CLOSER AT THE ART
Fun Facts: Fallingwater
Fallingwater is located in the mountains of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Frank Lloyd Wright designed it in 1935 for a Pittsburgh department store owner. It was his private residence and weekend home.
The home uses natural sandstone and other native materials quarried from the property.
Today, Fallingwater is open to the public as a museum.
It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 10, 2019. Fallingwater is also designated as a National Historic Landmark and Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania Treasure. The home has been named the “best all-time work of American architecture” in a Click to see inside! poll of members of the Ameri- can Institute of Architects.
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LOOKING CLOSER AT THE ART
Fun Facts: Norman Lykes House This house is located in Phoenix Arizona. It the last residential home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
It’s been nicknamed the "Circular Sun House.”
Wright was inspired by the curves and forms of the surrounding mountains. The home features a 180-degree view of the landscape. The interior walls and windows all echo the circular and semicircular geometric design.
Inside, custom built-ins, and original Wright-designed furniture complete the design.
Click to see inside!
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LOOKING CLOSER AT THE ART
Fun Facts: Imperial Hotel Dinnerware The Imperial Hotel is the most famous of the 14 structures that Frank Lloyd Wright designed in Japan – the only country outside of America where he lived and worked.
The hotel opened in 1923. In addition to the architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright also designed the furnishings and this dinnerware.
The concept was all about ‘East meets West.’ The design was also influenced by the popular Art Deco style of the time.
In the dinnerware design, Wright is exploring an asym- metrical geometric pattern, and an interesting combina- tion of colors. Click to learn more!
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LOOKING CLOSER AT THE ART
Fun Facts: Dana-Thomas House Window These windows were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright as part of his Dana-Thomas house in Springfield Illinois.
The owner of the home – Susan Lawrence Dana – commissioned Wright to remodel this home in 1902 after she inherited it from her father. She lived a very modern lifestyle for the time, entertaining and working for social causes.
Wright was inspired by the pattern on a butterfly’s wings, and he created this design by abstracting the natural form into geometric Click to see inside! shapes.
Throughout his career, Wright designed many pieces of glass art like this.
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LOOKING CLOSER AT THE ART
Fun Facts: Guggenheim Museum Frank Lloyd Wright was commissioned to design this building in 1943. It opened in 1959, and was the last project Wright worked on.
Wright said that this space was “the best possible atmosphere in which to show fine paintings or listen to music.”
He balances grand open interior spaces with intimate galleries that are divided like the membranes in a citrus fruit.
In August 1990, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum was designated an official New York City Click to see inside and learn more about the design! landmark – the youngest building ever to receive this status.
What objects or themes from nature do you see in this design? What might have inspired Frank Lloyd Wright to create this design for the Guggenheim Museum?
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DISCOVER MORE ABOUT THE JOB How do architects work? The word architect comes from the Greek word for "chief carpenter," architektōn. Architects were originally builders, but the profession has evolved and now they don’t do the actual building at all. Architects create designs and specify the materials that will be used in the creation of new spaces. In the United States, architecture became a licensed profession in 1857. So, architects today need to complete their education and prove they know enough to become an architect. And there’s a lot to know! They are part artists, and part engineers. When an architect comes up with an idea for a house, or a hotel, or a museum, or a shop- ping center, they need to know how it can be built in a safe way. The process of designing a new building begins with research and creative sketching. Once the design concept has been finalized, detailed sketches are made with accurate measurements. Many times a scale model of the new structure will be created. Next, building materials are selected- what kind of wood, stone, etc. will be used? And then, the actual construction begins! The architect normally visits the site throughout construction to make sure things are going according to plan. “The mission of an Tools of the Trade Architects use special tools to create architect is to help their designs. They use tools for people understand drawing, measuring, and modeling, and also special computer software. how to make life Some common items include: more beautiful, the vellum paper world a better one for an engineer’s scale an adjustable triangle living in, and to give a compass French curves reason, rhyme, and drafting dots meaning to life.” various pencils and pens (click to see more) –Frank Lloyd Wright
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NOW IT’S YOUR TURN... This week you can design a building inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s style of The longer I Organic Architecture. live, the more What if you could design a building, and it would actually be beautiful life built! Imagine all of the details... where would it go? What would happen inside– would it be a house for a family, a becomes. museum, a hotel, an office building, or something else? What kind of shapes and colors would you use? –Frank Lloyd Wright Think about all of the possibilities, and remember to keep the idea of Organic Architecture in mind as you create! 1. Choose your building Consider this: What kind of structure will you design? Something to consider as 2. Choose your inspiration you make your art... Gather inspiration from nature. Collect twigs, leaves, moss, shells, sand, flowers, and any other natural material that you find visually What about materials? What will the builders use to actually bring your interesting. design to life? If you have certain ideas for different kinds of wood, 3. Create your sketch metal, stone, or other materials, Get out some paper and pencils and start make sure to note them in your sketching. It may be fun to show what the sketch. Do you have thoughts about structure would look like from different per- color? Include those ideas in your spectives. You can also name your building! sketch as well! The more detail you share with the construction team, the 4. Share your masterpiece better your final building will look! Post a photo in our facebook group, or email them to [email protected]!
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