Frank Lloyd Wright's
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
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.” April 2020 11 Frank Lloyd Wright’s The Studiowith Organic Architecture ART HIST RY KIDS 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! April 2020 16 Frank Lloyd Wright’s The Studiowith Organic Architecture ART HIST RY KIDS 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– April 2020 17 Frank Lloyd Wright’s The Studiowith Organic Architecture ART HIST RY KIDS 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. April 2020 18 Frank Lloyd Wright’s The Studiowith Organic Architecture ART HIST RY KIDS 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.