The plot on which the house ended up is also surrounded by the “Bear’s river”. The forest of deciduous trees remains almost completely untamed, interrupted only by a discreet pedestrian access which is the only way of reaching the house. The house is located on a huge plot of land in the middle of the wild Pennsylvania forest. The integration of water, trees, rocks, sky and nature throughout the house closes off a certain romantic vision of the house, but opens up a new spatial-temporal dimension for man’s refuge. With this work, Wright achieved the maximum freedom of expression, while maintaining harmony with the surroundings. The upper terrace gives the house a more intimate character. Amongst other purposes, they reflect the natural light and project it, indirectly, toward the interior. The use of large windows eliminates the separation between rooms and their terraces. The large living room has a glass wall which allows those inside to enjoy the view of the waterfall, as well as hearing its relaxing murmur. The interior space had to be light and spacious, and so he set out to avoid limitations as much as possible. The habitability of the interior was what truly preoccupied the architect. The architect decided to employ natural materials- wood, brick, rock- with which he achieved an impressive integration between the building and the forest which surrounds it. The exterior of the house maintains an intimate relationship with the surrounding nature. In creating this impression, Wright was inspired by Japanese architecture. In reality, they are terraces limited by smooth concrete plates. In this way, it can be modified, as in organic architecture the construction is conceived as a living thing and can alter its form.Įach level is marked by wide projections which protrude asymmetrically in various directions. The building grows from inside out and extends according to the needs of its inhabitants. The vertical axis is defined by the chimney, which towers over the roof. It’s composition is horizontal, though somewhat complex. Not if you wanted to do it the Wright way, that is.This building, constructed over three levels, sits on a rock over a natural waterfall. Because, as my husband has repeatedly assured me, with building restrictions these days, you could never build a modern-day Fallingwater “to Code”. It took imagination and ingenuity in the 1930s to build a house that extends out over a waterfall, and one that is not easily replicated even today. Because I couldn’t help feeling very jealous of the Kaufman family that called this place their summer home until 1963. Henk, being a contractor, had a more practical perspective, but there was one word we both agreed on: enviable. I’m no expert on architecture but visiting Fallingwater can’t help but elicit descriptors like ‘harmonious’, ‘tranquil’, and ‘inspiring’. The two-story building is not as elaborate as the main house, but the long, low rooflines are similar and Wright designed everything inside and out with the same care and quality as he did in the main house, including the built-in furniture.Ī dream cottage, a work of art, an architectural game-changer? You can decide. But this is certainly no rudimentary ‘bunkie’. The guest cottage (part of which was used as servants’ quarters) is located up a gradual slope above the main house and is accessed via a covered walkway which provided protection in case of rain. Wright also designed space for guests of the Kaufmann family, but like everything else at Fallingwater, he ensured that nothing would disturb the owners’ privacy or the views from the main house. He took Kaufmann’s request to the extreme: instead of situating the house with a commanding view of the waterfall, Wright built the house literally on top of it. The fact that there’s nothing much around is what adds to the beauty and peacefulness of Fallingwater.Ĭommissioned by Edgar Kaufmann to build a new summer home that would take advantage of the waterfall feature on the property, Frank Lloyd Wright took the opportunity to realize a revolutionary new design. It’s not that Wright was purposely trying to hide the house – he was just building where the wealthy Kaufmann family of Pittsburgh already had a country getaway. Located about 90 minutes south of Pittsburgh, you need to drive through the middle of Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands, a beautifully wooded, very hilly part of the state, before you reach the road to the house. Let’s start by saying that if you aren’t looking for it, you won’t accidentally stumble onto Fallingwater.
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