Reviews (2)

good complementary book on Frank Lloyd Wright
This book explored the origin, the life of Frank Lloyd Wright. The author didn't discuss FLW's other works as such but did explain the nature why Taliesin & its other counterpart were built, & unbeknown to the architect would one day become 2 of the most important buildings in the States. The book contained many pictures (good quality) of the communes participating in many subsistence activities, FKW giving guidance to his disciples, lavish parties & performances that were held there, many aspects of those buildings. On the sideline, the book also displayed the graphics that were utilised by the Taliesin Foundation, Asian art works that were collected by FKW during his trip to Japan (in particular). For the benefit of the readers, building plans were enclosed to relate to the pictures provided.

Visually stunning treatment of FLW's East West homesteads.
The endlessly creative mind of FLW took two wildly different locales and managed to create important landmarks of twentieth-century architecture in both -- Spring Green, WI, and Scottsdale, AZ. Following a historical glimpse into Wright's origins, this beautiful volume traces the multiple purposes of Taliesin and Taliesin West. The book closes with a unique look at Wright's collect of Asian art, an important influence on his life and work. A definite treat for Wright fans, the book helps show why these two vastly different architectural gems stand as "his autobiography in wood and stone." ... Read more

Book Description

With four color photographs throughout, this is a spectacular look at the most famous of Wright's public buildings, including corporate structures, churches, hotels, and museums. This remarkable book features some of his greatest designs--Unity Temple, the Guggenheim Museum, Price Tower, Japan's Imperial Hotel, and many others. ... Read more

Book Description

The textile-block system was a fascinating experiment that Frank Lloyd Wright conducted from about 1922 to 1932 as part of his quest to find a new system of construction using a standardized building material based on the idea of twentieth-century machine technology. Robert Sweeney has meticulously researched the textile block system, providing a case-by-case account of each project, commenting on Wright's clients, collaborators, and contractors, and positioning Wright's experiment firmly within the larger historical context of concrete block technology. Sweeney traces the forms of several of the early concrete block projects to Wright's own earlier work, clarifies an array of important technical challenges the architect faced, and notes the numerous block shapes required for execution

The concrete block experiment was firmly rooted in the concept of architectural simplification that Wright established at the outset of his career. It was begun in Hollywood, where he was living at the time, but was part of a larger vision with global application. Wright pursued the concept with a sense of mission, designing approximately thirty projects through the decade. Sweeney shows, however that this technical evolution can be explained in just three designs: the canonical Millard house of February 1923; and in two unexecuted projects, the Community Playhouse, "Little Dipper," for Aline Barnsdall, and in designs for a resort hotel for the Arizona desert.

Although Wright began with structure, Sweeney points out that he was primarily interested in form: technology of assembly was only a path to architectural creation. As the structural system matured - a process coinciding with the evolution of the minimalist International Style in Europe - the buildings became increasingly architectonic; forms were simplified, and the initial fascination with ornament all but disappeared.

Robert L. Sweeney is Executive Director of the R. M. Shindler House in Los Angeles. His comprehensive annotated bibliography on Wright was published in 1978. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Making a splash...
Carla Lind's small-format, 58-page book on 'Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater' is an excellent introduction both to this remarkable structure, but also to the interesting life of the architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The book is very short, and could almost qualify as a Cliff's Notes version of Wright's architectural style and principles, as well as being a remarkably thorough introduction to Fallingwater, which is perhaps the most famous modern home in America.

Built in the midst of the Great Depression, 'Fallingwater' was one of the projects that resurrected Frank Lloyd Wright's faltering career. His own famous Wisconsin home, 'Taliesin', burned twice and was ultimately seized during bankruptcy and divorce proceedings. For the ten years prior to getting the nod to design Fallingwater, only five commissions of Wright's were built. However, during this time, Wright was not unproductive. He wrote his autobiography (which was later revised in 1943), began planning for Taliesin West, and eventually earned a cover of 'Time' magazine as Fallingwater was being built.

Wright was reactionary against the International Style, which took hold after 1932. Wright had been partly responsible for the new aesthetic, and was in fact influenced by its developments, but he recoiled at the idea, and wanted his work to have more spirit, more poetry, than the austere and functional/mechanical designs in vogue seemed to hold.

'Fallingwater, Wright's polemic response to modernism, arises from ideas and imagery that flowed in such profusion from his pen and pencil in the years around 1900.'
- Joseph Connors, Wright on Nature and the Machine

Fallingwater would, in fact, not seem out of place in the Bauhaus school of design, though Wright would probably not have appreciated the connection.

'It was an extraordinary moment with the full force of Wright's concept became apparent. Father enjoyed bold ideas and challenges, and my mother found sources of graceful livability in an unusual setting.'
- Edgar Kaufmann, Jr., Fallingwater

Edgar and Lillian Kaufmann commissioned the project that was destined to reinvigorate Wright's career. A wealthy Pittsburgh couple, they were noted for interest in artistic and imaginative endeavours. The Kaufmanns' son was an apprentice at Taliesin in 1934 when they visited and became inspired to hire Wright to design their new home in Mill Run, Pennsylvania. It was a perfect site for Wright's imagination.

'If Fallingwater is viewed as a perfect marriage of building and site, the leading partner is nature. Wright's habitat is an extension of the Appalachian terrain in which it rests so respectfully. Deep in the rugged forest, where dogwood, rhododendron, oak, maple, birch, and hickory flourish, Bear Run hurries to meet the Youghiogheny River in the valley below. The Kaufmanns, committed to conservation of the site, regarded the largest of Bear Run's rocky waterfualls as the heart of their property, a place to picnic and lie in the sun.'

The house is anchored by four giant boulders built over the waterfall, and the sense of steps, ledges, drops, and waterfall shapes are thoroughly pervasive throughout the house and guesthouse. Exposed stone layers are primary design and aesthetic values; rectilinear shapes are dominant with circular and curved elements as secondary components. Windows are everywhere, as nature is never excluded even in the deepest part of the house. Many rooms have terraces, which go in different directions around the property.

The house became an immediate showplace, one that has remained an architectural marvel of world renown. In 1963, Edgar Kaufmann Jr. donated the house and its grounds (over 1500 acres) as a privately-held public memorial to his parents and to Wright's genius. The son of the original owners, Kaufmann Jr. was destined to remain at Taliesin for only a short time, but as the primary go-between on development and construction of Fallingwater, he secured a permanent place for himself in American architectural history. Eventually he went on to a distinguished career of teaching and writing in the architectural field, including the larger, definitive study of Fallingwater (review coming shortly!). He was also on the design staff of the Museum of Modern Art.

Fallingwater receives over 100,000 visitors per year.

This book is a proud tribute to the house - a small format that nonetheless captures a great spirit. Every page has beautiful, full-colour photographs that illustrate the design and decoration of the house in its natural environment. There are also a few construction photos that show development stages. The book also includes several handy time-lines and bullet-point pages, including one of Wright's pre-Fallingwater history, and one highlighting the major aspects of the design considerations.

Of course, the best place to purchase this book is where I purchased it, at Fallingwater itself. The house is open to the public on weekends throughout the year, and also on Tuesdays and Fridays from April to November. It is about an hour-and-a-half drive from Pittsburgh, through generally gorgeous countryside.

Carla Lind, the author of this text, is also the author of 'The Wright Style' and 'Lost Wright'. She has worked to preserve Wright buildings for several decades, and worked in various foundations and organisations dedicated to maintaining Wright's designs and structures.

A lovely tribute to an architectural masterpiece
"Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater," by Carla Lind, is one of a series of books that celebrate the work of this visionary architect. This volume in the series is devoted to Fallingwater, the amazing modern house designed by Wright in 1935 for Liliane and Edgar J. Kaufmann. This is a "mini-book," but despite its small size, it is an impressive tribute to a landmark of home architecture.

Carla Lind's concise but informative text is complemented by many glorious full-color photographs of Fallingwater. There are both exterior and interior shots that capture many of the home's memorable features: the rough stone walls, the cantilevered balconies, the bold use of glass, the remarkable asymmetrical fireplaces, and more. There are also some fascinating black-and-white historical photos.

Lind also includes a bibliography and a chronology. The text is further complemented by a series of sidebar quotes from Wright, Edgar Kaufmann Jr., and others.

I have visited Fallingwater. It is a stunning architectural achievement which, I think, no book could completely capture. But Carla Lind has done a good job of celebrating the spirit of this remarkable house.

Nice - but outgunned and outclassed
There is nothing wrong with this book. In fact, it is a good value for the price. The problem is that this book is a handgun blasted apart by a cannon. The cannon is the larger, heavier, more expensive (but well worth it) book on Fallingwater by Edgar Kaufman Jr. (Wright's pupil and son of the client).

For a less expensive gift - this is the book.

For yourself, a Frank Lloyd Wright fan, or a lover of Fallingwater; invest in the cannon - it will blow you away! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

GOOD REVIEW
I felt this was an interesting review of Wright's transition from Adler & Sullivan, the Prarie homes through the Usonian years. It is necessary to supplement this book with those which describe his life and philosphies in more detail to get the most out of "In The Nature of Materials." This is mostly a chronological review of how his home and commercial designs, concepts and use of materials matured over his working life. The second half of the book features photo examples of each step, and these are amply referred to by number in the text so you can easily refer to them. I enjoyed this book a great deal and recommend it for those who want more than just a Wright picture book.

Classic
A classic book and must have for an architectural library. The only problem being that you will need other Wright books to get more detailed documentation of his buildings. ... Read more

Book Description

The Frank Lloyd Wright Field Guide series provides the first comprehensive visitors’ guide to all of Wright’s buildings in the United States. Each guide is written and compiled by an acknowledged expert on Frank Lloyd Wright, Thomas A Heinz. With his highly readable and informative style, Heinz presents each building page by page, providing brief histories and background details, information on accessibility and viewing, and directions from Interstate routes. Every entry is accompanied by a photograph and location map produced by the author. There are four books in the Field Guide series: Upper Great Lakes, MetroChicago, West, and East. Each guide is arranged geographically, beginning in the northwest and ending in the southeast of the region covered. Full alphabetical and geographical lists enable buildings to be easily accessed either by location or name. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An excellent guide book-good photos & maps, but....
As tour coordinator at the H.F. Johnson House, Wingspread, I've met many Wright enthusiasts who rely on this guide when visiting the Midwest. The following incorrect information has been brought to my attention several times and we have notified the publisher in case the book is re-printed. I would still recommend the book as an excellent guide. Just be aware that the information on page 88 about "accessibility" to the Herbert F. Johnson House, Wingspread is incorrect. Wingspread is a Conference Center today and when conferences or meetings are not in session it is available for self-guided tours M-F, 9am to 4pm. Call the Wingspread Tour Coordinator(414)681-3353 to check availability.

Excellent reference for "Wright-Sighters"
An excellent reference book for Wright enthusiasts who enjoy hunting for his built works. Contains color pictures, addresses, local maps and even GPS coordinates to help travelers find Wright-designed buildings. Also contains several paragraphs of information plus a rating for each site. Aids travelers with limited amounts of time to focus on the best sites. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

nice pictures and text but for fans rather than experts
the lack of floor plans of engineering drawings makes this more of a fanzine for the textile block houses. nice photos and text though. look elsewhere for informaiton useful to designers, students or architects.

A visually stunning tribute to some of Wright's best work
"Frank Lloyd Wright's California Houses," by Carla Lind, is one of a series of "mini-books" by the author, each of which focuses on a particular facet of this great architect's work. This volume focuses on a remarkable group of homes designed by Wright between 1917 and 1927.

Like other volumes in this series, this book combines a brief but informative text with a wealth of full-color photos. Lind also includes a bibliography, a chronology, black-and-white historical photos, and sidebar quotes from various sources.

The photos of the California houses capture many interior and exterior details. These marvelous homes reflect the spirit of the pre-Columbian civilizations of Mexico and Central America; in fact, they look like modern versions of ancient Mayan temples. It is amazing to look at the patterned concrete blocks, the innovative use of glass, and the other distinctive features of these homes.

Wright's California homes are majestic, yet inviting buildings that have a timeless beauty and grace to them. This little book is a wonderful tribute to these great homes.

Concrete, Organic Architecture, and Kinship with the Terrain
The book is so specific that just by reading it you could build the exact same house on your own in no time! Extensive info on all the residences including furniture set-ups. Lots and lots of quotes from the master himself. Descriptives will take you on a virtual reality tour. ... Read more

Book Description

For his critics and biographers, the 1930s have always been the most challenging period of Frank Lloyd Wright's career. This fresh account by Donald Johnson, the first to make use of the architect's long-inaccessible archives at Taliesin West, is also the first to provide a balanced evaluation of Wright in the 1930s. It separates Wright's design activities from his self-promotion and places his philosophy of individualism within the context of the times. ... Read more

Book Description

This volume offers a unique perspective on sixteen of Frank Lloyd Wright's greatest and most adventurous works.Each eight-page gatefold--opening out to almost three feet--presents the author's original rendering in full size, allowing readers to appreciate in detail Wright's original conception of the building.

* Thirty-two pages of gatefold pullouts, featuring sixteen full-color renderings

* Includes some of Wright's most celebrated residential, public, and religious structures, including Wright's own home and studio, the Dana-Thomas house, Unity Temple, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

* Accompanying text, interior and exterior photos, and scaled floor plans detail the course of commissioning and construction for each building ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Interesting and More
This incredible fold-out book (called a gatefold) presents 16 of Frank Lloyd Wright's designs. Each structure is rendered (the original drawing)in a sepia tone that pulls out to a 2.5 foot gatefold.

On the other side of this gatefold are full-color photos of the structure, as well as a floor plan. The accompanying text describes how the commission was obtained, the construction, etc.

The book includes some of Wright's most famous residences, religious buildings, and public structures.

While not a complete overview of Wright's work, I gave it 5 stars because of the uniqueness of its presentation. I was just fascinated by the book's design-- it is beautiful, elegant, and informative.

Good illustrations
This volume presents 16 gatefold illustrations of as many outstanding buildings by architect Frank Ll. Wright, along with photos and brief appreciations. The gatefolds are Wright's own presentation drawings. You can almost see the individual bits of texture in the colored drawing leads. These pastel colored drawings have some beauty in themselves--Wright was a man of many talents--and are valuable to show what the architect found the centers of interest in each project.

The layout of the portfolio is ingenious: bound loose-leaf and prefaced by a page of appreciation, the gatefolds on medium stock will lay flat to the right for examination, or can be wholly removed. The reverse side of each contains another page of discussion, a small plan by William Storrer, and colored photos of interior as well as exterior views. I suppose one could cut off and frame the long drawings. All the text can be read without opening the gatefolds. Text and headings are set in a most attractive, 1930-ish Wrightian typeface ("Eaglefeather," I believe). This is not an essential study of Wright, but for the price it is impossible to go wrong with this quick overview of his most spectacular works. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

not an exact reprint
Apprentice to Genius is good reading but any buyer should be aware that the Dover reprint differs significantly from the original. Originally, most of the photos were in color but the reprint's photos are all b&w. It was disappointing to be deprived of the beautiful original photography.

Tafel's years with Frank Lloyd Wright
I bought this book since Edgar Tafel designed the home we live in and I wanted to learn more about him and his relationship with FLW. The book is very informative, shares the experiences and gives one a flavor of what it must have been like to live and work with FLW. Tafel was one of the first class of FLW apprentices....and later became part of the fabric of the school of architecture.

The book is full of photos and intimate glimpses. I enjoyed reading it...and I share it with friends. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wright and Fallingwater
Frank Lloyd Wright advised in his autobiography that "no home should ever be on a hill"; instead, it should be "of the hill, belonging to it." Just as gestalt theory described the holistic connections between figures and backgrounds, Wright emphasized the interdependence of an architectural structures and their surroundings. It is said that he always decided the site before considering a building's style, its spatial orientation, or the materials with which to build it. Of all his projects, there may be no better example of that than Fallingwater (c. 1938), a small but elaborate home in the woods (commissioned by a wealthy Pittsburgh department store owner named Edgar J. Kaufmann) in which the building is embedded in the landscape, making it inseparable from the waterfall, woods, and cantilevered rock ledges of its location. While much has been written about Fallingwater as a completed structure, less has been said about its preparatory drawings, the friendship between merchant prince and master builder, and the dozen projects that Wright and the Kaufmanns intended to build (few of which were ever realized) from 1934 until the architect's death in 1959. This is the full-color catalog for an exhibition of fifty of the more than 600 Wright drawings for projects commissioned by Kaufmann, which opened on 10 April and continues through 3 October 1999 at the Heinz Architectural Center at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh. (Copyright by Roy R. Behrens from Ballast Quarterly Review, Vol. 14, No. 4, Summer 1999.) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Dining with Frank Lloyd Wright
"Frank Lloyd Wright's Dining Rooms," by Carla Lind, is one of a series of "mini-books," each of which spotlights a particular facet of Wright's amazing career. This volume contains many excellent full color photographs of dining rooms and furniture designed by the master architect. Other useful features in the book are Lind's interesting text, a series of sidebar quotes from Wright and others, and a bibliography.

Lind describes how Wright's dining rooms, over the course of his career, mirrored societal changes. Houses pictured in the book include the Rosenbaum house, Taliesin West, Fallingwater, and others. Each photo demonstrates Wright's mastery of color, space, form, and light. If you are interested in the work of Wright or in home design in general, you might really enjoy this book.

For Frank Lloyd Wright fans, this book is a must.
My wife and I are big fans of Arts and Crafts decor and are currently planning to build a timber frame home in which the designs seen in this book will definitely be an influence on our design. The interiors in the book are warm and inviting and are definitely not run of the mill. For Frank Lloyd Wright fans, this should be a part of your collection. ... Read more

Book Description

The Frank Lloyd Wright Field Guide series provides the first comprehensive visitors' guide to all of Wright's buildings in the United States. Each guide is written and compiled by an acknowledged expert on Frank Lloyd Wright, Thomas A Heinz. With his highly readable and informative style, Heinz presents each building page by page, providing brief histories and background details, information on accessibility and viewing, and directions from Interstate routes. Every entry is accompanied by a photograph and location map produced by the author. There are four books in the Field Guide series: Upper Great Lakes. MetroChicago, West, and East, Each guide is arranged geographically, beginning in the northwest and ending in the southeast of the region covered. Full alphabetical and geographical lists enable buildings to be easily accessed either by location or name. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Perfect Guide for the Pilgrims
This book presents information not found elsewhere, new and very important information about Wright and his work in Chicago. It explains, for the very first time, the contents of Wright's contract with his employer, Louis Sullivan. It has long been held that this was an empoyment contract when it is no such thing. It is simply a loan agreement, or mortgage.

While space is indeed limited, there is more vital information about the clients and their relationships with Wright and between each other. There are many revealing things here including the true relationship between Charles E. Roberts, the key figure on the Unity Temple building committee who hired Wright for the Landmark design, and Isabel Roberts, an employee of Wright's who worked in his Oak Park Studio. You'll have to read the book to see what that relationship is.

The maps and directions are what this book is real about. They are clear and detailed, giving addional warnings where they are warrented. The GPS notations will prevent all from ever getting lost. This is the purpose of the book. All the rest is gravy and welcomed gravy at that.

Heinz seems to have always much to give. His books are meaty with new information and yet he continues to ask important questions that others cannot. He has always been an advanced thinker and his books popularity always show this. His photography has the insights of an architect, which he is.

Heinz always gives us what we need. This is a great book to use while traveling as well as a place to go for new material on a favorite subjest.

Chicago Guide-Not so great
I found the cost to quality/content ratio of this book to be fairly poor. The pictures are pretty good but small and there isn't as much up to date info on the houses as I had hoped for.

Many of the houses listed were classified as private, view from street. I found little value in theselistings.

You'll get more off of FLW Websites and it will cost less!

Perfect for real or virtual visits to Chicago
This slim volume provides color pictures, maps and addresses of more than 100 FLW building in the Chicago area.It's the perfect guide for planning a visit or just enjoying the photos and brief histories of the houses.Asa field guide, it's very well done.Hence, my 4 star rating.

The authorcould have improved the book by providing a cross reference by his"star" ratings.Also, he has a true believers conviction thatthe current home owners should be grateful to provide the author fullaccess to their family history.I hope that the author will grow moretolerant in his search for every last bit of information and remember thatmany of these structures were first and are still private family homes. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

... a magical visit with a different perspective ...
In the late '50s I had the unusual chance to personally ask FLW what school might be best to learn City Planning. Not knowing then that his inimitable, signature response would be "you can't learn that in a School, you have to learn by doing."

Later, I also had the pleasure of knowing Paul Bonfilio, and can attest that his own product here is a labor of love that reflects an intuitive, heartfelt resonance.

BTW, if you have the opportunity to personally visit Fallingwater, try to exactly time it to that week in May when the surrounding wooded Moutain Laurel canopy is in their full and profuse bloom for an added breathtakingly magical experience. ... Read more

Book Description

The Frank Lloyd Wright Field Guide series provides the first comprehensive visitor's guide to all of Wright's buildings in the US and overseas. Each guide is written and compiled by an acknowledged expert on Frank Lloyd Wright, Thomas A Heinz. With his highly readable and informative style. Heinz presents each building page by page, providing brief histories and background details, information on accessibility and viewing, and directions from Interstate routes. Every entry is accompanied by a photograph and location map produced by the author. There are four books in the Field Guide series: Upper Great Lakes. MetroChicago, West and East. Each guide is arranged geographically, beginning in the northwest and ending in the southeast of the region covered. Full alphabetical and geographical lists enable buildings to be easily accessed either by location or name. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Essential for Wright-seers
Has 2 critical and unique features for each site -- GPS address (in addition to street address) and the accessibility for public viewing.Before this book, I've wasting much travel time trying to find sites and then finding them completely hidden from view.

California Reader Extremely WRONG
As a practicing architect and architectural historian living inCalifornia, I have found this book to be an essential part to my researchfor projects designed by FLW. The photography is rich and alive. I havevisited most of the buildings included in this book, the photography couldnot be more powerful. What else can be expected from such a talented authoras Mr. Heinz? Another fine book by Mr. Heinz and cannot wait to see hisupcoming book on Green and Green's Blacker House.

California wrong
The reader from California must have the wrong book. There is no photo of a decorative detail of the Hollyhock House. I checked on the cities and found that some are noted differently than other texts but are accurate.One example is the Sturges House (page 49) listed in Los Angeles, mostothers list it in Brentwood. After the OJ trial, everyone now knowsBrentwood is actually a neighborhood of Los Angeles. The photo of theMillard House (page 61) is printed backwards but the house is symmetricaland is still recognizable.

The book reveals a great deal of new,previously unpublished material that adds a great deal to our understandingof Wright's work such as the sections on San Francisco and Los Angeles thatgive locations and information of the clients or sites for buildings thatare demolished to those only proposed. It helps to make the work more realand exciting.

The California reader must keep in mind that the purposeof this book is to assist all the Pilgrims making their way to every one ofWright's work. For that it is one of the greatest books available asWright's work needs to be seen in person to be appreciated.

I am sure weare all eagerly awaiting the last of the series, The East!

book available in June 1999, East don't know
this book is now available and the Publisher/Distributor, John Wiley & Sons, has it in their warehouse. It covers the Western US as well as Japan, Central America and South Asia. It is the first in the series to use colorin the maps which makes them much more readable. The binding has beenaltered from the first two volumes but should shill lie flat when opened.The GPS numbers are entered in full. The Alphabetical index at the backlocates all of the buildings for the first three volumes. There is aproblem with the last volume, #4, East. The publisher is hesitating tobring it out. If you are interested in seeing the series complete, pleasewrite to the publisher, John Wiley & Son, in New York and request thatit be published. These books bring a tremendous amount of new informationon the buildings but expecially on the people who comisioned them, theclients. There are many new findings on buildings that have been demolishedas well as those that were mereely planned. These make goot reading andmake the humt for each pilgrimage site much easier and effecient. Each siteis rated. The rating indicates how much effort one should expend to get tothe site. A low rating does not mean the building is not a good one butthat if you travel to see it, you may not be able to because it isinreachable or unseeable. Each community should take pride in having aworld class design in it. ... Read more