Fallingwater® Mill Run, Pennsylvania Building Instructions Booklet available on: Architectural Drawings Livret disponible sur: Folleto disponible en: Architecture.LEGO.com The History of Fallingwater 21005_BI.indd 1 01/03/2011 6:28 PM Fallingwater Courtesy of Western Pennsylvania Conservancy 2 21005_Fallingwater_BI_book_Rettelser_Aug_09.indd 2 9/2/09 11:13:38 AM Contents Frank Lloyd Wright ...........................................................................................5 History of Fallingwater®................................................................................ 6 Facts from the Project ...................................................................................8 The Architect’s Thoughts about the Building ................................9 Building Instructions ......................................................................................11 A Word from the Artist ..............................................................................104 LEGO® Architecture: Bringing two worlds together ..............105 References .......................................................................................................107 3 21005_Fallingwater_BI_book_Rettelser_Aug_09.indd 3 9/2/09 11:13:38 AM © F.L. Wright Fdn. 4 21005_Fallingwater_BI_book_Rettelser_Aug_09.indd 4 9/2/09 11:13:43 AM Frank Lloyd Wright Frank Lloyd Wright, 1867–1959, is recognized worldwide as one of the greatest architects of the 20th century. His work heralded a new approach to architecture using innovations in design and engineering made possible by newly developed technology and materials. No other American architect’s work endures, or remains as Photo: OBMA. ® F.L. Wright Fdn. compelling, as that of Frank Lloyd Wright. His was a unique style rooted in nature, that he called “organic architecture,” emphasizing the harmonious relationship between a building and its landscape. It changed how we came to view our buildings, towns, and the land around us. © F.L. Wright Fdn. 5 21005_Fallingwater_BI_book_Rettelser_Aug_09.indd 5 9/2/09 11:13:46 AM History of Fallingwater® “He had the design totally in his head, as always, and balconies above it, emphasizes this element of as he recommended to the apprentices, if no whole projecting forms merging building and landscape. idea, no architecture.” John Lautner, letter of June 20, In most architecture of the world, balconies are smaller 1974. Lautner was an apprentice from 1933 to 1939. features of a larger, more stable mass. At Fallingwater, the entire house is composed of these projections “Mr. Wright was not at all disturbed by the fact that not from and above the rock ledges. one line had been drawn. As was normal, he asked me to bring him the topographical map of Bear Run The rooms themselves, with their adjacent outdoor to his draughting table in the sloping-roofed studio terraces, are all a part of broad-sweeping balconies at Taliesin, a rustic but wondrous room in itself... reaching out to the branches of the surrounding I stood by, on his right side, keeping his colored trees, and over the stream and waterfalls below.[2]” pencils sharpened. Every line he drew, vertically and especially horizontally, I watched with complete “Fallingwater is a country home, and in the annals of fascination... Mr. Kaufmann arrived and Mr. Wright so-called country homes it differs from any other greeted him in his wondrously warm manner. In the ever built up to that time... Fallingwater achieves studio, Mr. Wright explained the sketches to his client. something that no country home successfully had Mr. Kaufmann, a very intelligent but practical before: it emphasizes, in every place and at every gentleman, merely said... ‘I thought you would place turn, the wonder and beauty of nature in this the house near the waterfall, not over it.’ Mr. Wright woodland setting.[3]” said quietly, ‘E.J. I want you to live with the waterfall, not just to look at it, but for it to become an integral “Fallingwater is that rare work which is composed of part of your lives.’ And it did just that.” Bob Mosher, such delicate balacing of forces and counterforces, Letter of Jan. 20, 1974. transformed into spaces thrusting horizontally, vertically and diagonally, that the whole achieves the “In 1963, Edgar Kaufmann Jr. gave his home, Fallingwater, serenity which marks all great works of art.[4]” to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy with the intent that it be open to the public for tours. His gift constitutes one of the most magnanimous acts in the annals of architectural and fine art history. This one building, undoubtedly the most famous private residence built in a free, democratic society, has been widely published the world over since its completion in 1939, and its influence continues to this day.[1]” “The famous view of the house, taken from downstream looking up to the water cascades and under the © F.L. Wright Fdn. 6 21005_Fallingwater_BI_book_Rettelser_Aug_09.indd 6 9/2/09 11:13:46 AM © F.L. Wright Fdn. Left: Elevation and Floor Plan Above: Scaffolding 7 21005_Fallingwater_BI_book_Rettelser_Aug_09.indd 7 9/2/09 11:13:48 AM Facts from the Project Architect: ...............................................................Frank Lloyd Wright Classification: ...........................................................Vacation Home Year: ................................................................................................................1935 Construction Type: ...........Reinforced Poured Concrete with Limestone Fascia Square Feet: .....................................................2,885 sq. ft. interior Original Cost: ............................................................................$ 155,000 Top right: Scaffolding Bottom left: Construction workers Bottom right: Construction 8 21005_Fallingwater_BI_book_Rettelser_Aug_09.indd 8 9/2/09 11:13:52 AM The Architect’s Thoughts about the Building “The rock-ledges of a stone-quarry are a story and a “This structure might serve to indicate that the sense longing to me. There is suggestion in the strata and of shelter…has no limitations as to form except the character in the formations. materials used and the methods by which they are I like to sit and feel it, as it is. Often I have thought, employed for what purpose.[7]” were great monumental buildings ever given me to “Looking back years later at what he had created build, I would go to the Grand Canyon of Arizona to there, in this enchanted glen, Wright said, ‘Fallingwater ponder them… For in the stony bone-work of the is a great blessing – one of the great blessings to be Earth, the principles that shaped stone as it lies, or as experienced here on earth. I think that nothing it rises and remains to be sculptured by winds and yet ever equaled the coordination, sympathetic tide – there sleep forms and styles enough for all the expression of the great principle of repose, where ages for all of Man.[5]” forest and stream and rock and all the elements of “The visit to the waterfall in the woods stays with me structure are combined so quietly that really you and a domicile has taken vague shape in my mind to listen not to any noise whatsoever, although the music the music of the stream. When contours come you of the stream is there. But you listen to Fallingwater will see it. Meantime, to you my affection. [6]” the way you listen to the quiet of the country.’[8]” © Hedrich-Blessing Above: Desk and view Left: Living Room © Yukio Futagawa 9 21005_Fallingwater_BI_book_Rettelser_Aug_09.indd 9 9/2/09 11:13:55 AM Side elevation Front elevation Adam Reed Tucker Architectural LEGO Artist Planview 21005_Fallingwater_BI_book_Rettelser_Aug_09.indd 10 9/2/09 11:13:59 AM Building Instructions 11 21005_Fallingwater_BI_book_Rettelser_Aug_09.indd 11 9/2/09 11:13:59 AM 2x 1x 2x 3x 1 12 21005_Fallingwater_BI_book_Rettelser_Aug_09.indd 12 9/2/09 11:14:00 AM 1x 1x 2x 1x 3x 8x 2 “Bring out the nature of the materials, let their nature intimately into your scheme ... Reveal the nature of the wood, plaster, brick or stone in your designs, they are all by nature friendly and beautiful.” – Frank Lloyd Wright, 1908 13 21005_Fallingwater_BI_book_Rettelser_Aug_09.indd 13 9/2/09 11:14:01 AM 2x 1x 1x 1x 1x 1x 3 14 21005_Fallingwater_BI_book_Rettelser_Aug_09.indd 14 9/2/09 11:14:02 AM 2x 1x 1x 2x 6x 4 15 21005_Fallingwater_BI_book_Rettelser_Aug_09.indd 15 9/2/09 11:14:03 AM 1x 2x 1x 1x 5 16 21005_Fallingwater_BI_book_Rettelser_Aug_09.indd 16 9/2/09 11:14:04 AM 5x 2x 1x 8x 6 17 21005_Fallingwater_BI_book_Rettelser_Aug_09.indd 17 9/2/09 11:14:05 AM 4x 1x 1x 2x 7 18 21005_Fallingwater_BI_book_Rettelser_Aug_09.indd 18 9/2/09 11:14:07 AM 1 3 4x 1x 1x 5x 1x 8 2 4 5 19 21005_Fallingwater_BI_book_Rettelser_Aug_09.indd 19 9/2/09 11:14:08 AM 6x 9 3x 20 21005_Fallingwater_BI_book_Rettelser_Aug_09.indd 20 9/2/09 11:14:09 AM 1x 2x 1x 1x 1x 10 21 21005_Fallingwater_BI_book_Rettelser_Aug_09.indd 21 9/2/09 11:14:10 AM 1x 1x 4x 1x 1x 1x 11 22 21005_Fallingwater_BI_book_Rettelser_Aug_09.indd 22 9/2/09 11:14:11 AM 1x 2x 1x 2x 1x 1x 12 23 21005_Fallingwater_BI_book_Rettelser_Aug_09.indd 23 9/2/09 11:14:12 AM 1x 2x 1x 1x 1x 3x 13 24 21005_Fallingwater_BI_book_Rettelser_Aug_09.indd 24 9/2/09 11:14:13 AM 3x 1x 1x 1x 1x 3x 1x 1x 9x 14 “By organic architecture I mean an architecture that develops from within outward in harmony with the conditions of its being, as distinguished from one that is applied from without.” – Frank Lloyd Wright, 1914 25 21005_Fallingwater_BI_book_Rettelser_Aug_09.indd 25 9/2/09 11:14:15 AM 1x 1x 3x 13x 15 26 21005_Fallingwater_BI_book_Rettelser_Aug_09.indd