Frank Lloyd Wright the Usonian House Had a Beating Heart, Forever Fluctuating Convenience, with House Economy, and Comfort

An Historical View of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian Concept

What was it? What were the cost-reductive strategies? Was he successful?

by Michael Wildman

Housing Seminar 1 ARC 301-630A Fall 2000 Submitted 22-Nov-2000 the usonian homes of frank lloyd wright the usonian homes of frank lloyd wright The Term Usonia...... Page6 Key CostReductiveStrategies...... Page23 Materials andConstruction...... Page10 Introduction...... Page 4 The Different Usonians...... Page16 Bibliography...... Page 27 Works Cited...... Page25 List ofImages...... Page26 Table ofContents Page 3 the usonian homes of frank lloyd wright of construction in addition to the training of the future of architectural designers. designers. cost architectural reduced of for future City Broad-Acre larger the the of part allowed was it element, separate of a as House Usonian This the to addition In training the construction. to building addition the in apprentices in send construction assist actually of would to Wright site being, the into to came West Taliesin Wright’s Lloyd method. construction easy an of made spaces. extraneous of deletion were the for allowed they strategies design Togethersimplified these and with furniture built-in contained spaces These functionality. greater for motion. in allowing and one time become to in together melded spaces The the intent of feeling. To Frank Lloyd Wright the Usonian House had a beating heart, forever fluctuating convenience, with house economy, and comfort. small But the concept did not stop there. In addition to architectural a design, there is of design open warm a to way gave Usonia term the short, In attempt will be made to show how this term applied as a concept to create a cost-effective residence. Lloyd Wright came to use this term as well as how he applied this term to architecture. In addition, an Frank how discuss to attempt will document This architecture. practical to word this interpreted he to where this term came from and how he invented the word, what his ideas were and ultimately how Usonia was a term invented by Frank Lloyd Wright in the early 1900’s. There is much speculation as Fig. 1:HenryFord’s Model T Assembly Line As the Usonian House concept devolved and Frank Frank and devolved concept cheap. House and Usonian effectively the a As was building, line the The in assemble 1). was to it (Fig. way as plant T just Model used Ford’s was Henry line assembly This line. assembly an of hint a also is There House. Usonian the of construction the in module a incorporated Wright Lloyd Frank Introduction Page 4 the usonian homes of frank lloyd wright purely theoretical construct that led to simplification and ultimately the Usonian House. House. Usonian the a ultimately and however, was It Broad-Acre simplification of to things. led many concept that the Wright construct Lloyd belittle Frank theoretical to and purely not is architecture taught statement it for This City, were. singularity Houses their Usonian many in whereas constructed never was City Broad-Acre that note to important is It City. Broad-Acre in found be could that residences the just of view abstracted an was House Usonian The operations. service and facilities educational institutions, religious centers, shopping as such elements programmatic community; a create that facilities the all also but homes only not project. However, Broad-Acre City was more of a utopian society lacking in a realistic form. It included the usonian homes of frank lloyd wright Frank Lloyd Wright felt all the spaces of a building should flow around a central space. space. central a that around flow 1900’s, should early the building in a of also spaces was the It all owner. felt their Wright Lloyd resemble Frank should began houses Wright that Lloyd Frank feel 1908, early to In before. years with up came Wright ideas Lloyd upon touched Frank it that Wright; Lloyd Frank for idea new a completely wasn’t This concept. and was exactly what Frank Lloyd Wright wanted. It would also create an evolution over time in both form that and different House Usonian every make would for.This built is it people the and built is it site the light” (Two Lecture on Architecture 185). He felt that the building should work together in both; the into and ground the of “out said, Wrightonce Lloyd Frank breathed. and lived that building a wanted that came only from earth and sits in a way that relates to earth. Frank Lloyd Wright wanted more, he knowledge. of expansion There and was also the idea of organic architecture. However, it was nature, not just a building that used of materials observing Wright. Lloyd Frank individualism, on are 1854, in written influences Walden, life, These in Thoreau’s democracy of more influence create the any, show if can loans and bank less require would philosophy this under constructed Buildings cultural. as well as economic both be would create to intended Wright Lloyd architecture. the University of Virginia, or even buildings in the form of old the Pantheon, the type of architecture Frank and new Lloyd Wright it went a both bit further than the construction of Montessori Schools, developments such as for Frank to But ideals. Jeffersonian old using something America redefine to needed the felt Wright Lloyd Frank meant it name, the Regardless of America. birth reconstructed this the for Wright of Lloyd just been Frank by could’ve it Or, created name Africa. South random with a States United the USONA. to confuse to acronym not their as so change was to This America of States United or U.S.A. the wanted actually Europeans the trip, European a on when that are explanations these of Some Usonia. word the with up came Wright Lloyd Frank where to as explanations possible many are there earlier stated As The Term Usonia Page 6 the usonian homes of frank lloyd wright idea, was the Zoned House of 1934, this was an attempt to define spaces by their character not by walls. road to the Usonian House. Another project that preceded the Usonian House and played a role in its was the Broad-Acre City project, however this was an impractical Usonia and ultimately left him on the a sense of cohesion nor a sense of space. His goal was neither tohad they changethings; about lied houses this.that American felt Wright HisLloyd Frank firsttruth. in insincerity attempt in the early 1930’s for desire the and basement the of removal the including values Housing WarI WorldAmerican pre traditional of dissolving the and walls, to opposed as zoning spatial together, working pieces the all to due feeling homey a systems, mechanical modest with simplification stairs, of subtraction the with orientation horizontal closets, dirty of loss the closets, many with bedrooms small areas, living plan open but, kitchen the around revolving aforementioned the only not included building of way Usonian. such as This were it from created houses the and building of way a essentially was Usonia it. create to use House things the Natural outweighs (The far room of themselves” function the walls that is and means roof to he the What by 220). not walls, and roof the by enclose in-house revolved around it (Fig. 2). The servants of the house were moved nearer the kitchen. kitchen. the nearer moved were house the of servants The 2). (Fig. it around revolved in-house the dining room was removed entirely. The new hub of the home became the kitchen and everything revolved around it. By 1937, and the beginning of the Usonian Housing era, the space spaces changed, subsequent in all fact and room dining the was space this Houses Prairie Wright’s Lloyd Frank In Wright said, “the reality of a home was to be found in the spaces the in found be to was home Lloyd a of reality “the said, Wright Frank eat. to is sleep subtract you once house their in are people time the of most because building sense common a refrigerator,the made stove, this Wrightthat Lloyd felt Frank etc. the sink, the up: it make that elements the by but walls four by privacy.for made concession a was defined which not was it But, bedroom, a from aside defined completely space only the was It Fig. 2:PewHouseWorkspace the usonian homes of frank lloyd wright construct, not in their outward appearance. appearance. outward their in theoretical the of not adaptation the becomes thus style the to construct, relation the houses, home The (FIg.3). man rich the of home the be to pretend not and for constructed was it whom show should home the thought Wright Lloyd Frank untrue. be to found was this but architect, man’s rich a be to thought traditionally was Wright Lloyd originality.Frank and excellence artistic keeping still while man average the for cost moderate a at homes of building the was study, his of worthy also was felt Wright Lloyd Frank that one time, this in on going was that problem Another American form. in untouched often were them houses of most many and 1980’s owners original the their in of family performed the in study still a were in However, 22). form its (Sergeant change own her renovate or actually his could on client the come to years over In evolve house. would the family would a so as time universe, ever-expanding the Like alive. were it if as grow, still opened the door for another idea in Usonian house. This idea is that once the building is built, it could also It construction. its of part be could anyone almost home the design to needed was architect an construction of the House. This idea was one that would revolutionize the building industry. Although line. Frank Lloyd Wright would send apprentices from his Taliesin West facility to assist the client with Ford’sModel Tassembly today,Henry say of we adaptation as an housing, was in production mass or idea line. This assembly the of idea the was house built the and created spaces the to addition In Fig. 3: Traditional North American Housing for a lack of consistency between the the between consistency of lack a for allowed evolution This application. every in appearances unique to lead site, the and client the around revolved it way the through later,but discuss shall we which types, five its in only not House Usonian the of evolution the Through apparent. became thus architecture in Truth it. behind man average the display should the usonian homes of frank lloyd wright f hs tps f oss a b fud n h otkrs f on, n ht e o cl Exurbia. call now we what in towns, of outskirts the on found be can houses of types uses these the of Today Frank perceived. was that America time in this architecture housing during way also the was changed It Wright Lloyd House. Usonian the of concept the as houses perfected Usonian as important well most the created Wright Lloyd Frank that time this during was It The high point in the maturation of the Usonian House occurred between the years of 1936 and 1941. Style the building did not look aesthetically like the nature it was within and was completely devout of it. International Style that Frank Lloyd Wright also studied. The difference being that in the International the of opposite itself. the be building to the out of turns construction This the into but design the to in just not incorporated were furniture and pictures way the be would this of example same. An the in one is it of inside person the and building the how that is this, from take can we What 175). House Natural (The body” human the down tear also building the down tear that conditions “external said, once Wright Lloyd Frank home. in elements external the using naturally constructed was similarly of building was constructed within and between the trees and made of the trees. The Usonian House This appearance change was not a new idea, but relates to the old idea of the primitive hut. This type the usonian homes of frank lloyd wright Lloyd Wright designed the wood construction system with with system construction wood the designed Wright Lloyd Frank that say can We renovation. or construction later for colors system, as it would be easy to recreate the components laminated together in the Usonian House. It was however a true wood of pieces different of made wall composite a as 4) (Fig. Wall Batten and Board the is this of example An together. work they how modified and dimensions standard of pieces took Wright Lloyd Frank that is means, this What system. closed a created and components standard the modified Wright Lloyd Frank that was system, Usonian the to downfall the perhaps is it and Ultimately model. a in together fit that pieces using by construction and design of ease the as well as grow to appearing product final the assembly.and production of system craft Wright’sand Lloyd forms Frank in for change allowed This the a with them combines and system modular the case, this in Revolution, uses Industrial the of advantages strategy building the that is means this What Craft. Post-Industrialized of category the into falls that system a was 1930’s mid to early the in invented before, said as system Usonian The not perfect. It was however a thrust in the right direction for Frank Lloyd Wright and his design career. ordered fashion dictated by the drawings that came with them. This system, although revolutionary, was from the pieces that were picked and delivered the building would then be constructed according to an factory to the exact size andspecificationsshippedto the site whereverthat may be. At the site, the at cut pre then was lumber of piece Each planned. be then would building the and approach, design and size in variety great a was there drawings of number the to Do wanted. she or he that strategy design the and pieces the pick drawings, the through go would Wright Lloyd Frank with working client the system this In specifications. and details of drawings 966 of comprised was that at Taliesinwork its began the which system, System. This Cut Ready American system a West,was In the early part of the 20th century from approximately 1915 to 1917, Frank Lloyd Wright worked on Materials andConstruction Fig. 4: Typical Board andBatten Construction Page 1 0 the usonian homes of frank lloyd wright sufficient tolerancesforflexibility(Figs.5-12). Figs. 5-10: Typical ConstructionProcessof a UsonianHouse Section Wall Usonian 11:Fig. Typical Usonian Wall Wall Usonian Fig. 12: Typical Details the usonian homes of frank lloyd wright the walls and windows filled in after. after. in filled did he as implemented, Wright Lloyd Frank gesture another was area garden the of maximization windows on the site, even adjacent to the street line, while still restricting views to the inside of the house. The odors out and light in. Another innovation was street privacy allowing for the building to be anywhere and keep to windows clearstory and walls high with galley ship’s efficient an as out laid was kitchen The variable low-cost construction with centralized services and the kitchen as the focal point of the plan. walls Part of the Usonian System’s genius was the planning innovations it incorporated. Some of these are the thatwascompleted Once work. to environment asheltered creating thus first, masonry bearing was the construction method. This method was Japanese in origin, it was to build the roofs and load West the from came that aspect whole. Another a as world the to old of but States America, United the to new were efficient more becoming thus energy more retain shaded which materials cooled and creating interiors, colors natural of materials them, bound that joints the hiding form final their into ground the from growing elements of comprised Wright Lloyd Frank to which architecture organic of concept East. The the from came and old were ideas his construction, Housing American The interesting twist to the Usonian system is that although Frank Lloyd Wright wanted to revolutionize Fig. 13:Menconstructinghouse would be and put that in the initial design. Another as stated stated as Another design. initial the in that put and be would garden the where decided actually He built. was building the after over left space residual the garden the make to want not Fig. 14:Skilledcraftsmenassembling stairs furniture, pictures, pictures, furniture, as such components House 13-14). (Figs. costs construction cut building the in assist clients and apprentices earlier,the having was the usonian homes of frank lloyd wright would retain the ability of being changed. changed. being in. Today home nearby our in find would that we elements with standards these associate would we of easy assembly of the structure. This also allowed for sheet standards to be used that would easily fit actual building itself. The advantage of this was the easy location of components thus ability resulting in the the in and drawings the on both shown were grids These grid. 1’-1” a was it section 4’in x and grid, 2’a was it plan, In section. grid. in and planning the plan of in both implementation worked grid This the the with start shall We innovations. general above the without worked have not specific would innovations these that note important is it construction, the of elements individual into move we As retain would it time throughout finished, never was building the that was enough, stated be cannot that one and House Usonian the of innovations important most the Lastly,of elements. one these perhaps of and placement the about thinking of way new a for allowed also It construct. to easy building the made such as heating, lighting, sanitation, and structure into one element not only helped cut costs but also was building building the for a services of combining story. way The story,its a tell the to building the of allowing constructed revealing the innovation; another of creation the This to etc. led paint, trims, immediately plastering, as such finishes apply to the needed of work nature the true relieved the materials, of revealing The design. in freedom more and work construction interior less to leading plan, open the of use the and construction the in included be can bric-a-brac and Fig. 15:Standardbuildingsupplies fromahomerenovationstore assembly that appeared in the the in appeared that component assembly of idea module This used. be to materials standard of ease the allowing not complex more and larger far were there grids the however houses, prairie earlier the in Wright used grids. Grids had appeared Lloyd Frank that time first the not was This 15-19). (Figs. store renovation the usonian homes of frank lloyd wright sun. Additionally, the massive size of the masonry walls and the heavy roots of the floors helped to helped floors the of roots heavy the and walls masonry the of sun. size Additionally,massive the means that the house was always within a reasonable temperature level purely by its exposure to the light. a on turns heat. one background the before daytime the in light ambient This to similar is This The heating system used in the Usonian House was also revolutionary. For starters, the sun supplied time. windows in an effort to open the House to the exterior and allow a its temperature change between the two. between inside and out even if the enclosure was transparent. Frank Lloyd Wright used large, glazed as well as insect and rodent protection. It was also effective in maintaining the temperature difference before on both the inside and outside. According to Frank Lloyd Wright, this system panels finishing and membrane damp-proof a with core plywood a Batten. had and system wall This was effective in fire protection Board the termed, wall panel sandwich a created He used. walls years bearing load masonry of amount the minimalize to Wright’sattempt Lloyd Frank was it this, of Because process. building the of parts time-consuming 60 as well as expensive most the of one perhaps is labor on-site construction building American North In elements. translucent also but opaque only not of comprised was system wall This genius. construction its of part major a was House Usonian the of system almost wall composite have The we that culture do-it-yourself the of start the be to today, said be could House Usonian Figs. 16-19: Tools thatcanbeusedbypeopleforconstruction.Clockwise from left;hammer, mitersaw, nailgun,andcircularsaw the usonian homes of frank lloyd wright This combination of under-floor heating and lack of air-conditioning, a warmth and naturalness for which I was totally unprepared” (28). building shaded, lit, and insulated itself. These houses expressed the of fabric the for themselves, air-conditioned that homes be to found out as he visited the Bazett and Hanna Houses, “I found them lack of air-conditioning within the structures, but as John Sergeant the to as criticism much been has there years the Throughout effective. more far is warm them keeping feet the in terminate heating in-floor an using North by in this found did typically He were that 20). (Fig. homes American radiators large the remove to strove he living, more allow to plan the in space free effortto an in but heating, against wasn’t He itself. cool should house a that believed he conditioning; air against very was Wright Lloyd Frank counterparts. inland their of that than range temperature smaller a have areas coastal that way the to similar is This cold. or hot either in temperatures, in extremes prevent Fig. 20: Typical heatingsysteminhomes but since most of the nerve endings of the body the of endings nerve the of most since but the head is kept warm and the feet are kept cold, system, heating typical a in because effective is This 22). (Fig. cool head and warm feet the keep was did system this What bed. gravel a water piping within the floor slab, which sat upon system (Fig. 21). This system used steam or hot Fig. 21:Infloorheating Fig. 22: Heat exchange between between exchange Heat 22: Fig. building andperson the usonian homes of frank lloyd wright now move into some houses themselves. themselves. houses some into move now As we have now discussed the overall concept, as well as the materials and construction used we shall them up. The only accessible wiring were the ends that went to wall outlets or to the unfinished bulbs. word found is used lightly, within the concrete that was actually poured around them, essentially covering not found in exposed conduits nor were they found in covered conduits. They were often found, and the wiring system that made it difficult to alter. The electrical wires that ran through a Usonian House were a and bulbs bare unfinished were had it all constructed was House after TypicallyHouse. Usonian the of shortcoming major the was unfortunately This system. lighting and electrical the is at look should we that system construction the in point main last The cold. too slightly or warm too slightly either became they zones other in built were houses As used. first was house Usonian the where States United the of zone temperate the in effective most was employed, Wright Lloyd Frank which the usonian homes of frank lloyd wright located in the center. A person standing there was essentially in the middle of it all. John John all. it an of - position open middle but central a the in then in was kitchen the in working essentially “anyone wrote, once was Sergeant there standing person A center. the in located were bathroom and kitchen the used, was services centralized of idea the As designs. Wright’s Lloyd Frank of most in common was as fireplace large very a given was wing public The views. allow to glazing with garden the to adjacent side one had wing private The quality. special a given was wing Each other. the at were terraces and alcove, dining the area, living the as such spaces open the while wing one at were study and workshop, bedroom, the as such spaces private the that means This kitchen. the around pinwheel spaces similar had that plan shape” “L and incorporated It space. garden large a and privacy street of level high a maintain still however; did It line. street the to adjacent site small a on placed was it as feet, square 1,500 was House Jacobs cliffs. The on build to Wright Lloyd Frank allowed that designs later the of some to opposed as site flat a on used only was that one also was It implemented. one first the was it as design used frequently most the was It form. in rectilinear mostly was it as design, tadpole a considered also was Usonian Polliwog time. given The Housing. traditional American to compared marvel a considered a was This $5,500. cost house at this construction of time the at because for unfortunate is This Building. WaxAdministration Johnson within designing fit was to the and WaterPennsylvania Falling in of construction the by shadowed over was Wisconsin 23-24), inMadison(Fig. House Jacobs building with the Wright 1936 in a introduced Usonian, Polliwog the type, create Lloyd first The to Frank effort an that really was location is the Usonian invention The types. different older the the using of stopped Wright a Lloyd once that Frank mean introduced not does was This type new implementation. Usonian of years five within introduced all were They appearance. their in differ but concept their in other each resemble Usonians of types different These Usonian. Raised the and Usonian, Hexagonal the Usonian, In-line the Usonian, Diagonal the Usonian, Polliwog the were They designs. Usonian of types different five were There The DifferentUsonians Page 1 7 the usonian homes of frank lloyd wright tioning that was created by allowing airflow through the house from the ends by screened windows to the living area to give views of the outside Dallas landscape. This Usonian incorporated natural air-condi in Dallas, Texas, was the earliest of the diagonals. It contained a long horizontal publicplan and with private a zones very or generousthe service and serviced zones. The Marcus House (Figs. 25-27), built 1937the between difference the example, For house. the in changes zoning potential show to introduced was change geometry The Houses. Prairie earlier Wright’s Lloyd Frank in used grid hexagonal the The diagonal elements were not meant to incorporate a different grid form from the Polliwog such as elements. diagonal with Usonian Polliwog a basically was Usonian, Diagonal the type, second The (51). advance ofsomesociologicalsignificance” and JacobsHouseviewfromgarden. Figs. 23-24:JacobsHouseplan(left) - the usonian homes of frank lloyd wright where the living area acted as the circulation space to the bedrooms. The key parts of this design this of parts key The bedrooms. the to space circulation the as acted area living the where House (Figs. 28-31) built in 1939 in Brentwood Heights, California was an extremely compact design to the Polliwog design but shorter in its circulation routes and having a smaller perimeter. The Sturges The third type of Usonian House was the In-line Usonian. This type is typically a single block plan similar orthogonal. all purely of designs the from line Wright apart was the Lloyd spaces as these Frank angle well in setting as This angle, element 45-degree terrace this noticeable street. and upon a touched the study always is The from that wall entry elements. of fireplace the living angle house. the the by site’s to up the angle picked to 45-degree then a part at in up set due was was pattern This entry car The chimney. central and elevation(below) plan (above),sections(left), Figs. 25-27:MarcusHouse; the usonian homes of frank lloyd wright of the House with the upper portion. portion. upper the with House the of the portion lower roofline, the back tied the essentially This formation. Above batten drip special a in support. inward went battens for other each lap to panels exterior the with allowed replaced This and roofline studs. the below system the from omitted was core plywood The stability. additional for allow to altered was system Batten and Board the Here hill. the to support for house the of rear the at masses masonry large of use the was Water Falling to similar again, Once side. the off cantilever two-thirds a with hill a on some perched was Water Falling bearing of ideas the to building resemblance This Angeles. Los of view southward a offering terraces large the were interesting hexagon designs. This house was essentially hexagonal version of the original Polliwog. most Wright’s Lloyd Frank of one was California Hillsborough, in 1940 in built 31-32) (Figs. House the most efficient, is the reason the hexagonal was always a favorite of Frank Lloyd Wright. The Bazett as different angles could be used. Perhaps even the spirit of a circular plan, which ultimately would its be with spaces more design for allowed designs, initial his House in felt Wright Lloyd Frank as grid, Prairie This grid. hexagonal the of reminiscent was Usonian Hexagonal the type, fourth The (above), sections (above right), and and plan right), (above House; sections (above), Sturges 28-30: Figs. elevation (right) the usonian homes of frank lloyd wright storage and washing facilities that are almost unnoticeable to the naked eye. eye. naked the to unnoticeable almost are that facilities washing conceal to able was and Wright the Lloyd in Frank hexagon storage space, the living Using the and wall. the bedrooms the within between seat in divide built 20-foot large a includes also living the space addition, In space. garden the overlooking wall glass large the contains now that one corner of the garden. In this version of the Usonian, unlike the Jacobs House, the living space is the the around wrapped that wings two the created thus hexagon the by made angle 60-degree The Lloyd Wright incorporated steel within the walls in an effort to increase stability and lower costs. The the house, it is noticed that it actually frames a view of the site and of the ravine. In this building, Frank contained two floors with livingspaces on the lowerand bedroomson the upper. Uponapproaching It neighbors. its from itself differentiate to order in it on diagonally sat actually house the and one, narrow a was house this for site The Usonians. raised early the of one was began project Usonian edge or near water. The Pew House (Figs. 33-35) built 1940, back in Madison, Wisconsin where the covers all Usonians that were lifted off the ground. They were typically used and found on a ravine’s simply it as type broad a is This Usonian. Raised the was type, fifth the design, Usonian last The and elevation(above) (left) plan House; Bazett 31-32: Figs. the usonian homes of frank lloyd wright strategy. The next section will retouch some of the key points to show its money saving methods. saving money its show to points key the of some retouch will section next The strategy. its and design Usonian the about know to need we all concludes ultimately This Usonians. of types five the and construction, and materials its House, Usonian the concept the covered have we far So minating near it. This makes the small house successful in its design by opening it to the outside world. terrace and view. This terrace is the key aspect of the design as is noticed by all parts of the house ter easy loading and unloading of packages. The living space on the lower floor leads to a generously sized workspace was small and efficient and had access to the front door and carport. This allowed for the (above), andelevation(left) plan floor second left), (above plan Figs. 33-35: Pew House; ground floor - the usonian homes of frank lloyd wright conform to this module Frank Lloyd Wright also employed materials with certain thermal qualities. thermal certain with materials employed also Wright Lloyd Frank module this to conform that materials using with Along cost. their cuts greatly production mass and non-specificity The anyone. for available and also lumber. made arbitrarily are materials These of cost. construction reduced greatly Wright pieces Lloyd 2”x12” Frank expensive that aspect another was materials building standard from used Wright Lloyd Frank that module The of materials, instead fewer pieces 2”x4” using by laminated use money to chose saving materials. less to use it because simply addition this chose In he Frank roof, that flat system a roof was The employed floor. Wright ground Lloyd the on walls bearing load less for allowed design floor single the Additionally, structure. the from stairs of subtraction the to due costs the cut have work themselves. Also, His initial design idea of building a house with only a single floorthe would surely do to unable be would apprentices or clients the and expensive as equally are construct they elements masonry the and expensive are masons skilled because was this construction, masonry of use the minimalized Wright Lloyd Frank Similarly, walls. there foundation large for excavated need no be also was to needed longer no earth of amounts large as building, the the of in cost reduction overall drastic a be to seems surely storage fuel and facilities laundry for space small dramatically. He did not however stop there, the removal of a large basement with the exception of a field labor by allowing the client and apprentices to assemble the building, the price tag then dropped The simplest and most logical move was when Frank Lloyd Wright cut the larger extraneous costs of building. the of price overall the on advantages their to as assumption logical a use to try will construction, I Housing American North traditional to comparison in cost construction overall the of the Usonian system. As it is impossible to completely know how much each individual item lessened of the Usonian Houses, and individual houses themselves; will revisit the key cost reduction strategies Now that we visited the history of the term Usonia, the materials and the methods of the construction Key CostReductiveStrategies Page 2 3 the usonian homes of frank lloyd wright the inside of the house, Frank Lloyd Wright also felt that since cars were becoming mainstream in mainstream becoming were cars since that felt also Wright Lloyd Frank house, the of inside the on spaces wasted of elimination the With construct. to money costs that space wasted of amount the reduces it as plans the in efficiency greater for allows zoning spatial This walls. interior less for need the of because cost reduced section and plan the in incorporated concept zoning spatial The and buy them. This made the enclosure system a functional element beyond inside/outside separation. reduced the building cost bric-a-bracelements because once the building was completed the ofthese clients did not have to go out inclusion The artwork. of hint a even and chairs built-in find could one walls the Within home. structure a make that extras the were construction the in incorporated floor Frank Lloyd Wright opened more space to be used by the people who occupied the house. Also building’s the in heating the incorporating By covers. radiator and radiators eliminating by building the of cost the cut system. This heating floor under an implementing by this achieved He elements. heating the for space less use to wanted also Wright Lloyd Frank heat, less needing to addition In WrightLloyd Frank allowed designs. his in heating of amounts large and conditioning air eliminate to thus materials These cooling. for good and heating for good both were that materials for looked He utopia is a long-lived concept of a place and Usonia was the vehicle to get there. there. get to vehicle the was Usonia that and is two place the a of between concept difference The each long-lived Utopia Usonia. a is American American his his utopia of ever creating homes in piece a affordable built successful he most was the time Wright of Lloyd some them Frank making still constructed. while live to places efficient, elegant Houses Usonian the made 73). what are House ideas and strategies Natural these together, the all The put on When (Wright, used downspouts he or system gutters roof as flat the such He with extras money. house for saved the of necessary fixtures exterior not light was fancy it of that non-usage found saved initial he also his walls the note removing lesser By a On carport. covered money. a with box expensive the replaced He . needed longer no were garages appearance, initial their than sturdier becoming as well as society the usonian homes of frank lloyd wright Wright, FrankL. Two Lectureson Architecture. Chicago: The Art Institute,1931 Wright, FrankL. The NaturalHouse.New York: HorizonPress,1954 Sergeant, John.FrankLloydWright’s UsonianHouses: The CaseforOrganic Architecture. New York: Watson-Guptill Publications,1976 Works Cited Page 2 5 the usonian homes of frank lloyd wright 30. 29. 28. 27. 26. 25. 24. 23. 22. 21. 20. 19. 18. 17. 16. 15. 14. 13. 12. 11. 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1.

Sturges Houseexterior, p20 Sturges Housesection,p20 Sturges Houseplan,p20 Marcus Houseexterior, p19 Marcus Housesections,p19 Marcus Houseplan,p19 Jabobs Houseviewfromgarden,p18 Jacobs Houseplan,p18 Heat exhangebetweenbuildingandperson,p15 In-floor HeatingSystem,p15 Typical HeatingSystem,p15 Circularsaw, p14 Nail gun,p14 Mitersaw, p14 Hammer, p14 Home renovationstoreprefabricatedpieces,p13 Skilled craftsmenbuildingstairs,p12 Men assemblingwoodhouse,p12 Typical UsonianHousedetails,p11 Typical UsonianHousesection,p11 Typical UsonianHouseconstruction,p11 Typical UsonianHouseconstruction,p11 Typical UsonianHouseconstruction,p11 Typical UsonianHouseconstruction,p11 Typical UsonianHouseconstruction,p11 Typical UsonianHouseconstruction,p11 Typical BoardandBattenconstruction,p10 Traditional House,p8 Pew HouseWorkspace, p7 Ford Model T Assembly Line,p4 Syracuse UniversitySlideCollection Syracuse UniversitySlideCollection Syracuse UniversitySlideCollection Syracuse UniversitySlideCollection Syracuse UniversitySlideCollection Syracuse UniversitySlideCollection Syracuse UniversitySlideCollection Syracuse UniversitySlideCollection Dr. Avi Friedman,McGillUniversity, SlideCollecion Syracuse UniversitySlideCollection Syracuse UniversitySlideCollection Dr. Avi Friedman,McGillUniversity, SlideCollecion Dr. Avi Friedman,McGillUniversity, SlideCollecion Dr. Avi Friedman,McGillUniversity, SlideCollecion Dr. Avi Friedman,McGillUniversity, SlideCollecion Dr. Avi Friedman,McGillUniversity, SlideCollecion Dr. Avi Friedman,McGillUniversity, SlideCollecion Dr. Avi Friedman,McGillUniversity, SlideCollecion Syracuse UniversitySlideCollection Syracuse UniversitySlideCollection Syracuse UniversitySlideCollection Syracuse UniversitySlideCollection Syracuse UniversitySlideCollection Syracuse UniversitySlideCollection Syracuse UniversitySlideCollection Syracuse UniversitySlideCollection Syracuse UniversitySlideCollection Dr. Avi Friedman,McGillUniversity, SlideCollecion Syracuse UniversitySlideCollection Encyclopedia Britannica.com 35. 34. 33. 32. 31.

Pew Houseexterior, p22 plan,p22 Pew Housesecondfloor plan,p22 Pew Housegroundfloor Bazett Houseexterior, p21 Bazett Houseplan,p21 List ofImages Syracuse UniversitySlideCollection Syracuse UniversitySlideCollection Syracuse UniversitySlideCollection Syracuse UniversitySlideCollection Syracuse UniversitySlideCollection Page 2 6 the usonian homes of frank lloyd wright Wright, FrankL. Two Lectureson Architecture. Chicago: The Art Institute,1931 Wright, FrankL. The NaturalHouse.New York: HorizonPress,1954 Wright, FrankL.IntheCauseof Architecture. New York: McGrawHill,1975. Twombly, RobertC.FrankLloydWright: HisLifeand Architecture. New York: JohnWiley Storrer, William A. The Architecture ofFrankLloydWright. Cambridge: The Massachusetts Smith, NorrisK.FrankLloydWright: A Studyin Architectural Content.EnglewoodCliffs, NJ: Sergeant, John.FrankLloydWright’s UsonianHouses: The CaseforOrganic Architecture. New Pfeiffer, BruceB,andGeraldNorland.eds.FrankLloydWright: IntheRealmofIdeas. Pfeiffer, BruceB.FrankLloydWright: Drawings.New York: HarryH. Abrams Inc.,1996 Morse-Fortier, LeonardJ.“FrankLloydWright’s Usonian Automatic BuildingSystem: Lessons Hitchcock, Henry-Russel. Frank Lloyd Wright on Architecture: Selected Writings 1894-1940. New Hertz, DavidM.FrankLloydWright: InWord andForm. New York: G.K.Hall&Co.,1995 Hart, Spencer. FrankLloydWright. Greenwich,CT: BromptonBooksCorp.,1993 Frampton, Kenneth.“TheUsonianLegacy.” Architectural Review. 182.1090(1987):26-31 Forsee, Aylesa. FrankLloydWright: RebelinConcrete.Philadelphia:MacraeSmithCompany, Costantino, Maria.FrankLloydWright: Design.London:SaturnBooksLtd.,1995 York: Watson-Guptill Publications,1976 York: Duell,SloanandPearce,1942. & Sons,1979 Institute of Technology, 1974. Prentice Hall,1966 Carbondale: SouthernIllinoisUniversityPress,1988 (1994): 274-92 and LimitationsinaLostParadigm.”Journalof Architectural andPlanningResearch11 1959 Bibliography Page 2 7