Fallingwater Facts
Frank Lloyd Wright designed this house for his clients, the Kaufmann family. They wanted a vacation houses in the mountains and turned to Wright to design it. Fallingwater was built between 1936 and 1939 over a waterfall in the mountains of Pennsylvania. The main house is 5,330 square feet, while the guest house is an additional 1,700 square. feet. The total cost to complete the house was $155,000 which is around $11.2 million now. Today, it is a National Historic Landmark that is preserved by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.
Floorplan
Simplistic Interior
The main floor of the building has an open concept with almost all floor to ceiling windows. This allows the inhabitants to feel as if they are apart of the environment around them. The addition of the rustic furniture continues the theme of nature and the outdoors.
Organic Exterior
Four materials were used to build Fallingwater. These included sandstone, reinforced concrete, steel, and glass. Frank Lloyd Wright designed Fallingwater to be in harmony with nature. The house’s terraces echo the pattern of the rock ledges below. Trees and wildlife surround the house as water and boulders are underneath. Every aspect of this house was designed to be apart of the environment that surrounds it.
Aerial View
As it is seen in the picture above, Fallingwater is exactly where Frank Lloyd Wright intended it to be. Right in the middle of nature. The house is completely surrounded by trees. Even the top of the building is partially covered by the long branches of the trees in Western Pennsylvanis.
My Drawing of Fallingwater
This is my take on the Fallingwater. I wanted to focus on how the building fit perfectly among the waterfall and trees.
A Timeless Classic
Even though this house was built in the 1930s, Frank Lloyd Wright was able to create something that today is still captivating and breathtaking. Fallingwater is an absolute masterpiece. Wright was way ahead of his time as he built this dramatic and daring piece of art.
Another's Perspective
Windows used to regulate breeze and sound
In the blog below, this couple visited Fallingwater and were astonished by the amount of detail Wright put into the design of the building. One particular example is the windows. Wright installed little windows in the home that could control the level of breeze and the sound of the rushing water below. It is evident that Wright paid very close attention to every detail and made sure every aspect of the design had a particular purpose.
Link: http://www.ablogaboutlove.com/2013/04/an-amazing-place-to-visit-fallingwater.html
Link: http://www.ablogaboutlove.com/2013/04/an-amazing-place-to-visit-fallingwater.html
Precise Detail of Fallingwater
Example of narrow passageway and low ceiling
An article from Arch Daily further describes the details of Fallingwater. The inspiration for the design of the house was greatly influenced by Japanese architecture which focused on harmony and nature. In order to physically incorporate nature into the house, Wright made the fireplace the focal point of the house by having an actual rock from the waterfall below cut into it. The circulation through the house consists of dark, narrow passageways, intended this way so that people experience a feeling of compression compared to the expansion felt by being closer to the outdoors. The ceilings of the house are relatively low in order to direct the human eye horizontally to look toward nature. Even though the house needs constant maintenance for structural issues, the house was designed with such precision and grace. Every detail in the house only furthers the feel of nature and harmony.
Link: http://www.archdaily.com/60022/ad-classics-fallingwater-frank-lloyd-wright/
Link: http://www.archdaily.com/60022/ad-classics-fallingwater-frank-lloyd-wright/
Useful Books About Fallingwater
Frank Lloyd Wright, His Life and His Architecture by Robert C. Twombly
In this novel, the author explains the meanings behind Fallingwater and what it represents. He demonstrates how Wright was generations ahead of his time and how striking this piece of architecture is. The author can not put into words the fascination with this building.
In this novel, the author explains the meanings behind Fallingwater and what it represents. He demonstrates how Wright was generations ahead of his time and how striking this piece of architecture is. The author can not put into words the fascination with this building.
Wrightscapes: Frank Lloyd Wright's Landscape Design by Charles E. Aguar and Berdeana Aguar
This book provides more in depth knowledge on the design of Fallingwater. In the parts where the house is mentioned, it describes Wright's thought process behind the design but also acknowledges the structural issues it has due to nature.
This book provides more in depth knowledge on the design of Fallingwater. In the parts where the house is mentioned, it describes Wright's thought process behind the design but also acknowledges the structural issues it has due to nature.
Frank Lloyd Wright's Perspective on Fallingwater
Quotes from Frank Lloyd Wright in his interview with Hugh Downs
"There in a beautiful forest was a solid, high rock-ledge rising beside a waterfall,
and the natural thing seemed to be to cantilever the house from that rock-bank
over the falling water….Then came of course Mr. Kaufmann’s love for the
beautiful site. He loved the site where the house was built and liked to listen to
the waterfall. So that was the prime motive in the design. I think you can hear
the waterfall when you look at the design. At least it is there, and he lives
intimately with the thing he loves."
Frank Lloyd Wright, Hugh Downs interview, 1952
"A building should grace its environment rather than disgrace it."
Frank Lloyd Wright, Hugh Downs interview, 1952
Link: http://www.fallingwater.org/explore&to=1
"There in a beautiful forest was a solid, high rock-ledge rising beside a waterfall,
and the natural thing seemed to be to cantilever the house from that rock-bank
over the falling water….Then came of course Mr. Kaufmann’s love for the
beautiful site. He loved the site where the house was built and liked to listen to
the waterfall. So that was the prime motive in the design. I think you can hear
the waterfall when you look at the design. At least it is there, and he lives
intimately with the thing he loves."
Frank Lloyd Wright, Hugh Downs interview, 1952
"A building should grace its environment rather than disgrace it."
Frank Lloyd Wright, Hugh Downs interview, 1952
Link: http://www.fallingwater.org/explore&to=1
Frank Lloyd Wright: The Man Himself
In the website below, it provides information on the architect of Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright.
Here are three facts about him
1. Wright was inspired by the social and technological changes made possible by the Industrial Revolution which initiated his own architectural revolution.
2. As an architect, his goal was to create an architecture that addressed the individual physical, social, and spiritual needs of the modern American citizen.
3. To Wright, architecture was not just about buildings, it was about nourishing the lives of those sheltered within them.
http://www.franklloydwright.org/about/Overview.html
Here are three facts about him
1. Wright was inspired by the social and technological changes made possible by the Industrial Revolution which initiated his own architectural revolution.
2. As an architect, his goal was to create an architecture that addressed the individual physical, social, and spiritual needs of the modern American citizen.
3. To Wright, architecture was not just about buildings, it was about nourishing the lives of those sheltered within them.
http://www.franklloydwright.org/about/Overview.html