Abstract This paper discusses FrankLloydWright, an American architect who is widely-regarded as one of the most influential figures on 20th century design. It looks at how his 70-year career ushered in several important social and cultural dimensions to the field of architecture. It examines the design philosophy, influences and major achievements of one of the towering and most controversial figures of American architecture.
Outline
Biography
Influences and Principles
Major Design Styles Innovations and Contributions
From the Paper "Like his professional life, Wright's personal life was also fraught with conflict and controversy. Wright married his first wife Catherine in 1889, and they eventually had six children. However, echoing his father's actions, Wright left his family in 1909 for Mamah Cheney, a wife of one of his clients. Although still married to Catherine, he returned with Cheney to Wisconsin in 1911, where the couple built a home and took up residence. In 1914, however, a servant murdered Cheney, her two children and four other people before setting the house on fire (Constantino 12)."
Abstract The paper discusses where Wright found inspiration for his ideas and techniques and how he enhanced and embellished these lessons to create his own unique style. The paper explains how the societal influences of his upbringing, as well as the Japanese design exhibit at the Chicago Exposition of 1893, profoundly impacted Wright's style. The paper describes his "prairiestyle" houses that shattered tradition and made architectural history.
From the Paper "Frank Lloyd Wright, always a great showman and popularizer of his own architectural works, did nothing to discourage the legends and mythology surrounding their creation. From his writings, one can easily draw the implication that they sprang "sui generous", germinating in some kind of virgin birth from the mind and spirit of the great master himself. In fact, all of his brilliant innovative works, including his extraordinary Prairie Style houses, are built on a foundation that came before. They are the logical result of antecedents found in the architectural environment and society in which Wright was born and raised, and from lessons he eagerly learned. He was both a product of, and a contributor to, the dynamic and rapidly changing mid-Western society of late 19th Century America."
Abstract The paper relates that FrankLloydWright is recognized as one of the most prominent and influential architects in American design. The paper focuses on his characteristic "prairiestyle" designs. The paper explains that, while Wright's work tends to be praised as unique, this assumption tends to discard the influences on Wright from antecedents found within other aspects of American design and architecture. The paper looks at how Wright in turn helped establish a legacy in design.
From the Paper "Wright had established himself as a prominent architect in the late 1890s, and frequently accepted commissions for buildings that were purposefully selected to test his skills and to promote specific outcomes. While still in his infancy as a designer, the prairie style home was built at the request of the Ladies' Home Journal, a popular magazine that had sought out Wright and commissioned a home design. The Journal asked Wright to envision and execute the home of the future, one in which the resident would feel comfortable yet stylish. Prior to this, the Journal believed that the majority of American homes could either have one or the other; a dwelling that was clean and comfortable was quite frequently an eyesore, while the ostentatious homes of the wealthy were not conducive to the comfort of its inhabitants."
Abstract Architect FrankLloydWright designed houses which were known as "Prairie School" because of their distinct style. This paper traces the history and the reason why this form of architecture came about, and how it was a reflection of a developing American trend of modernism.
From the Paper "One of the most striking things about Wright's houses is their lack of porches. They sink gracefully and beautifully into the ground ? and how can we fault them for this? ? but they also turn their backs on their neighbors. These are houses into which individual families can shut themselves away ? the first sign in at least a psychological sense of the suburbanization of America."
Abstract This ten-page paper presents a detailed look at the life of famed architecture guru FrankLloydWright. The writer takes the reader on a tour of Wright's life as well as many of his works and outlines why he is considered one of the top architects in the world. There were six sources used to complete this paper.
Abstract This paper presents a detailed examination of the life of FrankLloydWright, who is presented as one of the most influential architects in history. The writer explores Wright's childhood and its influences, his works and his life as they relate to the contribution he made to the world. The paper shows photos of some of his more famous works.
From the Paper "Wright was born in Wisconsin in a town called Richland Center. His childhood was filled with happiness and warmth surrounded by the love of a mother and other family members who knew he would succeed as soon as he found his passion.
That passion turned out to be architecture. He spent several semesters studying at the school of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin before he decided in 1887 to go to Chicago and pursue his dreams(The Early Years http://www.delmars.com/wright/flw1.htm).
An uncle who was a minister in a church in the area got Wright an apprentice position where is first work was a Silsbee commission. In this project he designed a Hillside Homeschool for his aunt(The Early Years http://www.delmars.com/wright/flw1.htm)."
Abstract In this paper the author presents a brief history of Western architecture, highlighting the major epochs in European architecture, and modern architecture in the US. The paper further discusses the function of architectural space, its use and its aesthetic. Various architectural techniques and their historical development are analyzed. The paper concludes with an an examination of modern architects, including FrankLloydWright, whose designs are considered a culmination of the works that preceded him.
From the Paper "It would seem logical to start our exploration of the history of architecture with one of the greatest artists of all time--Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475--1564), regarded by many as the "father of architecture in Europe and the greatest designer of the last 500 years" (Lowry, 167). Of all his architectural designs, the vestibule of the Laurentian Library, built to house the immense collections of the Medici family in Florence, Italy, stands out above all others. This vestibule gives the impression of a vertically compressed, shaft-like space which is dominated by a vast, flowing staircase that almost fills the interior, and unlike his contemporaries, Michelangelo ignored classical architectural ideals by placing his columns in pairs which are sunk into the walls; he breaks columns around corners and placed beneath them consoles not meant as support. In essence, Michelangelo "did away with classical architecture so prevalent in the High Renaissance and greatly influenced all architectural designs and forms that followed him" (Copplestone, 178)."
Abstract This paper explains how Wright was a highly innovative influence on modern architecture. It examines how his designs were influenced by current day events as well as by his travels to Europe and Japan. In particular, it describes the Robie House, Prairiestyle homes, Taliesin, Imperial Hotel, Hollyhock House, Fallingwater, Marin County Civic Center, and Guggenheim Museum.
From the Paper "In 1911, Wright moved to Wisconsin and built a home for himself and his mistress that he named Taliesin. In the architectural design for Taliesin, Wright included concepts from organic architecture. Organic architecture is a type of architecture that promotes harmony between man and nature through design. Organic architectural designs integrate the building and its furnishings into its surroundings. Wright accomplished this at Taliesin by constructing the chimneys and stone piers out of a local limestone which was laid by stonemasons in the house in a way that reflected the outcroppings of Wisconsin's landscape. Wright also used sand from the Wisconsin River in the house's stucco walls to bring to mind the river's sandbars."
Abstract This report provides the reader with a chronology of the construction of FrankLloydWright's; famous house, "Fallingwater".The author gives a brief overview of the history of the house, as well as Wright himself and describes the uniqueness of the house as a prime example of organic architecture.
Table of Contents
What is Fallingwater?
a. Located in Ohio Pyle, PA
b. Built as a summer home
c. Designed by FrankLloydWright
II. FrankLloydWright
a. Three periods of work- pre WWI, early 1930?s, late 1930"s
b. Invented the Usonian house and Prairiehouse
c. Died 1959, had designed over 800 buildings
III. What makes Fallingwater unique"
a. Cantilevered terraces
b. Organic Architecture
Fallingwater's future
From the Paper "In the 1930’s Edgar Kaufman, a department store owner, commissioned architect Frank Lloyd Wright to build a summer house for Kaufman’s family on a plot of land in Ohio Pyle, Pa. The land is set in the woods, with a small river running through it, and plenty of rocky ledges, several of which create waterfalls. The Kaufman’s had imagined a house set downstream from the waterfalls, at a point where the falls could be viewed from below. However, their architect was a man of great creativity and genius, and it was his idea to build the house directly above the falls, so that it actually overhung them."
Abstract This paper discusses the talent of architect FrankLloydWright and describes an unusual house he designed - Hollyhock House. The author has provided a history of this building as well as some photographs.
Outline:
History of Hollyhock House FrankLloydWright's philosophy
Design Challenges
From the Paper "Hollyhock House was built between 1919 and 1923 in Los Angeles . One of the key challenges that Wright faced was that he wanted to make certain that the design of Hollyhock House blended with the established architectural style of Southern California. Although Wright's designs often stood out from those in the local area, he still did not want his designs to look out of place. Wright referred to the architectural style of Southern California as California Romanza, which means "freedom to makes one's own form" .
"One of the key features of Wrights' designs is their ability to take advantage of the natural surroundings. The key was to work with the natural landscape and climate, rather than to attempt to change it. Wright's designs appear to spring from the land itself, rather than appear to be "placed" there by human intervention. This philosophy permeates throughout Wright's work and Hollyhock House is no exception."
Discusses the architectural plans of Broadacre City by FrankLloydWright and how it related to the idea of a "Ville Radieuse" by Swiss architect Le Corbusier.
525 words (approx. 2.1 pages), 6 sources, 2002, $ 21.95
Abstract Wright sought an architecture that responded to nature and human needs. His focus was on harmonizing environment, structure, objects, outfittings, and inhabitants during the 1930s. The Swiss-born Le Corbusier had proposed a "Ville Radieuse" in a 1932 article in the "New York Times Magazine". Le Corbusier' s plan was a cluster of high-rises in the midst of large grassy areas. Wright responded with his own vision in a March 20, 1932, "New York Times Magazine" article.
Abstract The paper discusses how FrankLloydWright's architectural designs were reflections of societal changes and progressive movements in both technology and society itself. The paper discusses the changing gender roles in particular that greatly influenced Wright's evolution of new designs.
From the Paper "Frank Lloyd Wright is often regarded as the defining architect of the last two centuries. He is still regarded today as the most famous and influential American architect in modern history. Many of his designs still continue to influence traditional thinking today and entirely revolutionized the field of architecture. His influence and his subsequent designs were not made blindly, but were reflections of societal changes and progressive movements in both technology and society itself. Wright's special talent was in developing a key understanding of the shifting needs of individuals and families. He was able to translate these needs to redefining architecture as a genre to fit the changing tastes and needs of individuals."
Abstract The paper discusses the works of FrankLloydWright, the greatest and most influential architect in the history of American art and design who gave us some of the most beautiful and dazzling structures. The author explains how he is remembered mainly for his residential houses as he was the first architect to change the design of American houses to make them suitable for modern living although he gained fame international fame with his design of Imperial Hotel in Tokyo.
From the Paper "American should be proud of those who have given it the reputation of being the country with most talented people. It should praise those who have added a new dimension to its art, literature and architecture. The reason being that a country is known by the people who belong to it and some of these people by the power of sheer genius can take their country to new heights of fame and pride. America boasts of numerous highly talented people in various fields, but it has only very few well-known personalities in the field of architecture and design. This is not because the country does not provide encouraging and conducive environment, but it is because of the nature of the work itself. Ceramics, Architecture and lighting may appear to be rigid fields, which allow introduction of new techniques, and style only rarely but it all depends on the magnitude of creative genius residing within the one who enters this area. Very few people in these fields art, design and ceramic work can bring dramatic changes to previous styles and design and introduce better techniques and give the country its own architectural identity. One such person was the American architect and artist, Frank Lloyd Wright."
Abstract This paper examines both the development and the construction of the Imperial Hotel in respect to its significance for FrankLloydWright. Sadly, the hotel no longer survives, having been demolished in 1968, but its significance still remains crucial to understanding the impact that the Japanese culture had on FrankLloydWright and his work.
