The American Architect who opened up new horizons worldwide.
Frank Lloyd Wright was one of America’s most prominent architects and is internationally renowned for pushing the limits in architecture. He designed 1,114 architectural works of all types. 532 of those projects were realised and acknowledged as some of the most innovative spaces across the United States. Wright’s several ingenious work fastened his place as the “greatest American architects of all time” listed by the American Institute of Architects.
A few of his most influential works.
A few of his most influential works.
Fallingwater, Pennsylvania, USA
When people think of Frank Lloyd Wright, they think of Fallingwater. This multilevel, minimal icon atop a forest fringed waterfall is by far one of his most exemplary works. This project is considered a comeback for the American architect whose career was on a downward trajectory at the time. According to legend, Fallingwater was sketched in two hours. His inspiration was drawn from Japanese architecture wherein building a relationship between man and nature is imperative. The house was thereby designed to allow the residents to connect with nature – each bedroom has it’s own private terrace. Fallingwater was designed in 1935 and completed in 1939 after Wright convinced the president of the Kaufmann department store chain that the home they were currently living in wasn’t worthy of their residence. With this project, he redefined the harmonious relationship between nature and man.
Fallingwater, Pennsylvania, USA
When people think of Frank Lloyd Wright, they think of Fallingwater. This multilevel, minimal icon atop a forest fringed waterfall is by far one of his most exemplary works. This project is considered a comeback for the American architect whose career was on a downward trajectory at the time. According to legend, Fallingwater was sketched in two hours. His inspiration was drawn from Japanese architecture wherein building a relationship between man and nature is imperative. The house was thereby designed to allow the residents to connect with nature – each bedroom has it’s own private terrace. Fallingwater was designed in 1935 and completed in 1939 after Wright convinced the president of the Kaufmann department store chain that the home they were currently living in wasn’t worthy of their residence. With this project, he redefined the harmonious relationship between nature and man.
The Solomon R Guggenheim Museum, New York City, USA
The Guggenheim Museum was originally meant to be called The Museum of Non-Objective Painting and this project was commissioned by Guggenheim in 1943. The curving design of the museum is a world away from Wright’s usual blocky cubism-inspired properties such as Fallingwater, however it still has various Frank Lloyd Wright trademarks. For starters, the use of the exposed concrete and an inclusion of a large glass dome. The design was initially critiqued for taking away from the art that the museum was meant to keep but is considered one of the most influential pieces of architecture in American history and is studied by most architecture and design students. Wright had originally wanted the exterior of the museum to be painted a bright red which he believed was “the colour of creation”.
The Solomon R Guggenheim Museum, New York City, USA
The Guggenheim Museum was originally meant to be called The Museum of Non-Objective Painting and this project was commissioned by Guggenheim in 1943. The curving design of the museum is a world away from Wright’s usual blocky cubism-inspired properties such as Fallingwater, however it still has various Frank Lloyd Wright trademarks. For starters, the use of the exposed concrete and an inclusion of a large glass dome. The design was initially critiqued for taking away from the art that the museum was meant to keep but is considered one of the most influential pieces of architecture in American history and is studied by most architecture and design students. Wright had originally wanted the exterior of the museum to be painted a bright red which he believed was “the colour of creation”.
Gordon House, Oregon, USA
Frank Llyod Wright designed several structures throughout his illustrious career but The Gordon House was the only one he built in the state of Oregon. The project was comussioned by Conrad and Evelyn Gordon. Wright was 88 years old when he designed this home on the couple’s acres of farmland that overlooked the Willamette River in Wilsonville. Sadly, Wright passed away before the project was completed but is marked as Wright’s final Usonian design structure. The property was sold by the heirs of the family in 2000 and the new owners planned to demolish the house to make way for a much larger home on that very same spot. Fortunately, at the bidding of the Frank Llyod Wright Building Conservancy organisation, the new owners agreed to donate the house on condition that it moved from that piece of land. In early 2001, the house was deconstructed meticulously such that the pieces were moved 24 miles south where it was re-assembled, restored and opened to the public for daily tours.
Gordon House, Oregon, USA
Frank Llyod Wright designed several structures throughout his illustrious career but The Gordon House was the only one he built in the state of Oregon. The project was comussioned by Conrad and Evelyn Gordon. Wright was 88 years old when he designed this home on the couple’s acres of farmland that overlooked the Willamette River in Wilsonville. Sadly, Wright passed away before the project was completed but is marked as Wright’s final Usonian design structure. The property was sold by the heirs of the family in 2000 and the new owners planned to demolish the house to make way for a much larger home on that very same spot. Fortunately, at the bidding of the Frank Llyod Wright Building Conservancy organisation, the new owners agreed to donate the house on condition that it moved from that piece of land. In early 2001, the house was deconstructed meticulously such that the pieces were moved 24 miles south where it was re-assembled, restored and opened to the public for daily tours.
Picture Credits
Cover Image : Photo by Gensa Hub on Unsplash, Falling Water : Photo by Kirk Thornton on Unsplash, Guggenheim Museum : Photo by Claudia Lorusso on Unsplash, Gordon House : Photo by Taylor Simpson on Unsplash
Picture Credits
Cover Image : Photo by Gensa Hub on Unsplash, Falling Water : Photo by Kirk Thornton on Unsplash, Guggenheim Museum : Photo by Claudia Lorusso on Unsplash, Gordon House : Photo by Taylor Simpson on Unsplash
