fRANK LLOYD WRIGHT
Over a waterfall at Bear Run in Western Pennsylvania is the most naturally bold architectural statement in Frank Lloyd Wright’s late working career. Creating an organic form from Wright’s astonishing imagination, which was in keeping with its forest place, which was sure to become the house of the century.
With its cantilevered construction, the integration of the majestic waterfall, the cascading staircases, organic use of ornament and the successful use of reinforced concrete. The view of the house on first impression leaves people surprised to see a series of horizontal terraces that drift without visible means of support. |
“When Wright came to the site he appreciated the powerful sounds of the falls, the vitality of the young forest, the dramatic rock ledges and boulders; these were elements to be interwoven with the serenely soaring spaces of his structure.”
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater The House and Its History, by Edgar Kaufmann, JR. Introduction. |
Falling water is the name of a very special house that is built over a waterfall. Frank Lloyd Wright, America’s most famous architect, designed the house for his clients, the Kaufmann family. This was built for a weekend house for them family of 3 which was the father, mother and son. Falling water was built between 1936 and 1939 in Mill Run, Pennsylvania in the Bear Run Nature Reserve where a stream flows at 1298 feet above sea level. Falling Water is the most famous work in architecture, considered an architectural masterpiece. The style of the structure is a fusion between nature and architecture.
Western Pennsylvania conservancy (2nd october) www.fallingwater.org.
The Concept
The building has a relationship with the environment that becomes an adaptation to nature, Some of the rocks over the width of the first floor hanging over next to the fireplace. Much of the house is in overhang at the top of the creek. Reading this we find out that the engineers who wright had employed did not trust that this structure would stand and advised Wright to repair. Allowing him to give up being only a few metal pieces that hold the cantilever, which is still standing after suffering the effects of a terrible disaster from a tornado. On the north side of the house there are a number of structures as an blind spot that elapse from the outer wall of stone which is the road to entry which makes The house shadow of blurring within the trees.
http://en.wikiarquitectura.com/index.php/Fallingwater_House
"the house in conceived I want you to live with the waterfall, not just to look at it, but for it to become an integral part of your lives".
Western Pennsylvania conservancy (2nd october) www.fallingwater.org.
The purpose of the building:
The purpose of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s operation of Fallingwater is
The building location:
Set in a very unusual location, the ideas in the house are a highly dramatic and original combination of modern technology within a natural setting. The notion of a house sitting over a waterfall. Falling water was built between 1936 and 1939 in Mill Run, Pennsylvania in the Bear Run Nature Reserve where a stream flows at 1298 feet above sea level.At the same time, The cantilevered (which is a beam anchored at only one end. The beam carries the load to the support where it is forced against by a moment house which sits on a waterfall that is audible rather than visible was Frank Lloyd Wright’s unique achievement.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallingwater
The spaces within the building
looking at research about that spaces within the house, we felt was important because of the way the house was developed, reading this made us feel like we were actually there experiencing Falling Water. Upon entering the house through the main entrance, located on the north face, we access to a small room with function hall located under the stairs leading to the second floor. living room, the largest carrier of the house from which you can enjoy a splendid view of the forest surrounding the house.. The walls of the room, like the rest of the house, are equal to the outside, with parts of stone masonry of the place., The roof has a design that wraps the lamps included in it, designed expressly for this house.
As you enter the dining room on your right is the fireplace, surrounded by rocks. To his left is the "ball of wine," a red circular container fitted with a hinge that allows placing it on the fire to warm the drink contains. On the second floor there are two bedrooms, two bathrooms and the office of Mr. Kaufmann, as well as three terraces and stairs that lead to the lookout on the third floor.
http://en.wikiarquitectura.com/index.php/Fallingwater_House
Japanese architect Tadao Ando has stated: "I think Wright learned the most important aspect of architecture, the treatment of space, from Japanese Architecture When I visited Fallingwater in Pennsylvania, I found that same sensibility of space. But there was the additional sounds of nature that appealed to me."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallingwater
The materiality
The materials chosen for Falling water are used honourably and reflect the old looking character of the site. The stone, native sandstone was developed on the site and laid in a rough, however comparing it to the rock ledge that is out over the bear run upstream from the house, it makes us feel like its a material like the natural boulders which are set beside the stream which gives the same texture as the terraces.
The core sets the style for stonework throughout the house. Flat stone slabs, extracted just up the hill from the house, are laid up in irregular horizontal layers that resemble pieces which have been taken from slabs, wright has given a texture like its been broken.
The spaces of FallingWater, are used creatively and differently, you wouldn't see anything like this before in a house because wright has used his creativty to do something different.he has thought about materials such as weather condition in order require protection from the weather. The back part to the house which is facing a cliff, is protected mostly by stone and, around the bathrooms, by regular wood stud and plaster walls. Around the rest of the house we can see, Wright used clear plate glass elegantly framed in thin metal frames.
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:lBHUBnQjvvYJ:www.fallingwater.org/assets/14_Background_On_Fallingwaters_Structure.pdf+&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=safari
Frank Lloyd had the desire to create a unified and organic composition, this limited the colour pallet that he used, only two colours were used throughout, a light ochre for the concrete and his signature cherokee red for the steel.
he worked with PPG Pittsburgh paints to develop eco friendly paints that would withstand the enviromental challenges of the site..
www.laurelheighlands.org
Cost
The original estimated cost-US$35,000.
The final cost for the home and guest house- US$155,000,
House $75,000
Furnishing $22,000
Guest house, & Garage - $50,000
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallingwater
Size
The size of this is extraordinary the main house uses 5,330 square feet. (2885 sq. ft. interior; 2445 sq. ft. terraces) while the guest house uses 1,700 square. feet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallingwater
Western Pennsylvania conservancy (2nd october) www.fallingwater.org.
The Concept
The building has a relationship with the environment that becomes an adaptation to nature, Some of the rocks over the width of the first floor hanging over next to the fireplace. Much of the house is in overhang at the top of the creek. Reading this we find out that the engineers who wright had employed did not trust that this structure would stand and advised Wright to repair. Allowing him to give up being only a few metal pieces that hold the cantilever, which is still standing after suffering the effects of a terrible disaster from a tornado. On the north side of the house there are a number of structures as an blind spot that elapse from the outer wall of stone which is the road to entry which makes The house shadow of blurring within the trees.
http://en.wikiarquitectura.com/index.php/Fallingwater_House
"the house in conceived I want you to live with the waterfall, not just to look at it, but for it to become an integral part of your lives".
Western Pennsylvania conservancy (2nd october) www.fallingwater.org.
The purpose of the building:
The purpose of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s operation of Fallingwater is
- to preserve, maintain and make available for public education and appreciation.
- to demonstrate by the harmonious union of man’s work with nature.
- to maintain as a weekend home.
- to preserve its original furnishings, art and household objects, exhibiting now in a public museum
- to conserve the land and watershed into which Fallingwater was designed to fit, as a continuing source of inspiration through a 5000 acre nature reserve intended for both recreation and study.
The building location:
Set in a very unusual location, the ideas in the house are a highly dramatic and original combination of modern technology within a natural setting. The notion of a house sitting over a waterfall. Falling water was built between 1936 and 1939 in Mill Run, Pennsylvania in the Bear Run Nature Reserve where a stream flows at 1298 feet above sea level.At the same time, The cantilevered (which is a beam anchored at only one end. The beam carries the load to the support where it is forced against by a moment house which sits on a waterfall that is audible rather than visible was Frank Lloyd Wright’s unique achievement.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallingwater
The spaces within the building
looking at research about that spaces within the house, we felt was important because of the way the house was developed, reading this made us feel like we were actually there experiencing Falling Water. Upon entering the house through the main entrance, located on the north face, we access to a small room with function hall located under the stairs leading to the second floor. living room, the largest carrier of the house from which you can enjoy a splendid view of the forest surrounding the house.. The walls of the room, like the rest of the house, are equal to the outside, with parts of stone masonry of the place., The roof has a design that wraps the lamps included in it, designed expressly for this house.
As you enter the dining room on your right is the fireplace, surrounded by rocks. To his left is the "ball of wine," a red circular container fitted with a hinge that allows placing it on the fire to warm the drink contains. On the second floor there are two bedrooms, two bathrooms and the office of Mr. Kaufmann, as well as three terraces and stairs that lead to the lookout on the third floor.
http://en.wikiarquitectura.com/index.php/Fallingwater_House
Japanese architect Tadao Ando has stated: "I think Wright learned the most important aspect of architecture, the treatment of space, from Japanese Architecture When I visited Fallingwater in Pennsylvania, I found that same sensibility of space. But there was the additional sounds of nature that appealed to me."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallingwater
The materiality
The materials chosen for Falling water are used honourably and reflect the old looking character of the site. The stone, native sandstone was developed on the site and laid in a rough, however comparing it to the rock ledge that is out over the bear run upstream from the house, it makes us feel like its a material like the natural boulders which are set beside the stream which gives the same texture as the terraces.
The core sets the style for stonework throughout the house. Flat stone slabs, extracted just up the hill from the house, are laid up in irregular horizontal layers that resemble pieces which have been taken from slabs, wright has given a texture like its been broken.
The spaces of FallingWater, are used creatively and differently, you wouldn't see anything like this before in a house because wright has used his creativty to do something different.he has thought about materials such as weather condition in order require protection from the weather. The back part to the house which is facing a cliff, is protected mostly by stone and, around the bathrooms, by regular wood stud and plaster walls. Around the rest of the house we can see, Wright used clear plate glass elegantly framed in thin metal frames.
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:lBHUBnQjvvYJ:www.fallingwater.org/assets/14_Background_On_Fallingwaters_Structure.pdf+&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=safari
Frank Lloyd had the desire to create a unified and organic composition, this limited the colour pallet that he used, only two colours were used throughout, a light ochre for the concrete and his signature cherokee red for the steel.
he worked with PPG Pittsburgh paints to develop eco friendly paints that would withstand the enviromental challenges of the site..
www.laurelheighlands.org
Cost
The original estimated cost-US$35,000.
The final cost for the home and guest house- US$155,000,
House $75,000
Furnishing $22,000
Guest house, & Garage - $50,000
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallingwater
Size
The size of this is extraordinary the main house uses 5,330 square feet. (2885 sq. ft. interior; 2445 sq. ft. terraces) while the guest house uses 1,700 square. feet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallingwater
The history and current status of building
The history and current status of falling water is that its still running and its still open for tours, however its not open to the public anymore like it was back in the day, you now have to contact the owner to organise a private visit.
The building itself is still in its original condition when it was built. nothing new has been built in or around the area of it. the main cause behind all the deflection issues was insufficient structural capacity of the cantilevered girders. As one of the first floor cantilevers was being constructed, the reinforced concrete contractor, noticed that there were only 8 reinforcing bars in the girder which is a very small amount of reinforcing steel for the particular girder. http://failures.wikispaces.com/Fallingwater |
PHOTOGRAPHS:- |
Falling water- Parallel planes projecting from a stone core, cantilevered out over the waterfall, allowing the lodgers to inhabit a series of layered spaces starting with the surface of the stream below, continuing with the stone covered terraces balanced one above the other, and finishing in the foliage of the trees.
Concrete, steel, stone, and glass. Only two colors were used throughout: a light ocher for the concrete and Cherokee red for the steel Mccarter (1994) pg 31 and 41) Reference photo:- http://ideasgn.com/architecture/fallingwater-frank-lloyd-wright/attachment/fallingwater-by-frank-lloyd-wright-003/ |
The house seen through the trees from the hillside on the opposite bank of the stream. Similar to the view first seen in the above picture, when approaching the house, we are looking directly into the elevation, which This vantage point appears to be tranquil of a series of floating parallel planes with no apparent means of support.
The house itself is paradoxically read as stable against the constant stream movement that flows beneath it. Mccarter (1994) pg 31 and 41) Reference photo:- http://ideasgn.com/architecture/fallingwater-frank-lloyd-wright/attachment/fallingwater-by-frank-lloyd-wright-007/uni The Vertical Core
Worked on a bold vertical wall structure that, inside and out, acts as the core of Falling water. From research we can see wright has designed the majority of his houses around central cores that included fireplaces. Here the core includes the hearth and chimney and is the highest element of the main house. The fire place Frank Lloyd designed the fireplace to be a gathering for the family, a vocal point for falling water. The boulders that were used to create it were found on site. rock cuts in to the fireplace, physically bringing in the waterfall in to the house., by dramatically extending the chimney upwards to make it the highest point on the exterior of the house.. www.wright-house.com |
Grand Designs
Season 14 Episode 4
Architect Patrick Bradley has come up with an strange £100,000 house design built out of four 45ft shipping containers, soldered together to form a enormous cross and cantilevered (which is a beam anchored at only one end. The beam carries the load to the support where it is forced against by a moment) over the top of a stream just like falling water. He wants to make his project glorious just like his inspiration, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling water house in Pennsylvania. http://www.channel4.com/programmes/grand-designs/episode-guide |
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ORTHOGRAPHICS- AUTO CAD
Here are our AUTO-CAD drawings we were given, however we needed to scale them down to the appropriate scale given on the \
project brief. For the
Site Plan 1: 200
Elevation- 1:100
Cross Section -1:200
Floor Plans- 1:50
So these were the scales given to us and we went off to scale them down, surprisingly all of them fitted onto an A3 sheet therefore all of our drawings are the same size, which makes it more neater and looks like its done in a series.
project brief. For the
Site Plan 1: 200
Elevation- 1:100
Cross Section -1:200
Floor Plans- 1:50
So these were the scales given to us and we went off to scale them down, surprisingly all of them fitted onto an A3 sheet therefore all of our drawings are the same size, which makes it more neater and looks like its done in a series.
Below are the falling water plans which we have taken form there website because it helped us to create our drawings and by using colour it helped us to see which colour is where, not only that but using pen and the weight of it looking at the different plans was useful because at first we didn't know how to start but looking at this for a guideline and following it was a good idea.
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A set of scaled drawings of the house were completed several years ago by L. D. Astorino, an architectural firm located in Pittsburgh.
Western Pennsylvania conservancy (2nd october) www.fallingwater.org. |
Kentuck kNOB: FRank lloyd wright
Frank lloyd wrights other architectural gem on the mountaintop of the PA Laurel Highlands, not far from falling water, Frank Lloyd Wright's mountain house., which was built on a bluff 2,050 feet above sea level, It stands just below the ridge of the mountain And facing east, just beyond the home's back terrace, one sees an incredible panorama: a long stretch of the Youghiogheny River Gorge, surrounded by wooded mountainsides.
Laurel highlands (2014) www.laurelhighlands.org
Laurel highlands (2014) www.laurelhighlands.org
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We have found a quote in which one of the families have stayed here before, which we have read and interested to what they thought about the house, as we can't physically go see it we thought about looking up at some quotes which other people have said about it. The Hagans spent thirty wonderful years at Kentuck Knob. “There is a sense of beauty, comfort, serenity and harmony in the house and all of its surroundings,” Kentuck Knob (2014) www.kentuckknob.com picture for bottom Kentuck Knob (2014) www.kentuckknob.com |
TAKE A TOUR ?
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This video will show you the Virtual tour of falling water, this interested us because it shows the construction of the house which was interesting to watch because it felt like we were there to see it getting built, it shows the foundation of the building being developed over time.
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Falling Water |
KENTUCK KNOB |
So looking at both of the map's above we can see Falling Water and Kentuck Knob is near each other. both being around the same area however looking back at research Falling water is in the forest surrounded by nature, whereas Kentuck Knob is high up a mountain which where a different kind of nature will set like wintery conditions. with a blanket of snow surrounding it.
SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES
There are many similarities, of course. In addition to their natural building materials, both houses make great use of windows and skylights and feature open floor plans and built-in furniture. The contrast between the rough stone and smooth wood also makes them both very tactile houses. You can't help but want to touch what you see..
both homes cost a lot more than their owners had anticipated. Liliane and Edgar Kaufmann Sr. originally budgeted $45,000 for the 5,300-square-foot home but ended up spending $155,000 on Fallingwater. The Hagans planned on spending about $60,000 on 2,300-square-foot Kentuck Knob instead of the nearly $100,000 it actually cost.
http://old.post-gazette.com/homes/20010623wright0623fnp3.asp
both homes cost a lot more than their owners had anticipated. Liliane and Edgar Kaufmann Sr. originally budgeted $45,000 for the 5,300-square-foot home but ended up spending $155,000 on Fallingwater. The Hagans planned on spending about $60,000 on 2,300-square-foot Kentuck Knob instead of the nearly $100,000 it actually cost.
http://old.post-gazette.com/homes/20010623wright0623fnp3.asp
Our thoughts
Chloe Dent
Having already had a great interest in Frank Lloyd Wright and his work, in particular Falling Water being given it as our study was pleasing. With reams of information, on such a well-known building, it was interesting to explore further the plans and elevations of the building itself. To fully get to grips with the study, immersing yourself in the building was essential, and made drawing much easier. Alongside the overall effect of the building as an endless flow of lines into the natural environment, it has been the smaller details that have made me appreciate the building most in its organic state such as how the glass meets stone walls there is no metal frame but the glass and dividers are run into a caulked recess in the stonework so that the stone walls appear uninterrupted by glazing.
Neerij Farmah
Looking at frank lloyd wright. work was quiet interesting, I didn't realise his work before this project was introduced to us, been given falling water to work around was interesting because looking into depth about how it was constructed and the foundation behind it was very interesting to explore., it was also interesting to explore further of the original plans and elevations from there website and comparing it with ours, which gave us ideas which we could add. engaging yourself with the building was essential because it made my work more easier to follow and all that research as my starting point. As a group we come across challenging points, as at first we all wanted to do different things and coming together and sitting down we all got allocated a plan each, so as a group we were working well and I also noticed that I have a strong and hard working group..
Jasmin Bhambra
I really enjoyed diving into learning about Frank Lloyd Wright and his turning point building in his later Architectural career. I also found out the fireplace was one the most important elements of the interior of Fallingwater, as it was interpreted as the heart of the home. I liked the way he juxtiposed his ideas of the waterfall into the floors inside the house, with a high shine waxy texture.
Hannah Boland
Researching falling water by Frank Lloyd Wright has been an enjoyable experience, the way in which he was inspired and taken influences from organic and Japanese architecture has been particularly interesting to learn about.
learning that the Kaufmann's had wanted to have a view of the waterfalls and Frank Lloyd Wright wanted them to be able to live with the falls and not for them to see them them every now and then, shows how imaginative and creative Frank Lloyd Wright's work was.
As a group we have been very lucky to have been given falling water, such a beautiful building with unusual and unique features.,
I feel the study has helped each of us become more aware of working together and dividing work equally and been respectful of others with in a group.. I will continue to research Frank Lloyds wright work and to gain more knowledge..
Having already had a great interest in Frank Lloyd Wright and his work, in particular Falling Water being given it as our study was pleasing. With reams of information, on such a well-known building, it was interesting to explore further the plans and elevations of the building itself. To fully get to grips with the study, immersing yourself in the building was essential, and made drawing much easier. Alongside the overall effect of the building as an endless flow of lines into the natural environment, it has been the smaller details that have made me appreciate the building most in its organic state such as how the glass meets stone walls there is no metal frame but the glass and dividers are run into a caulked recess in the stonework so that the stone walls appear uninterrupted by glazing.
Neerij Farmah
Looking at frank lloyd wright. work was quiet interesting, I didn't realise his work before this project was introduced to us, been given falling water to work around was interesting because looking into depth about how it was constructed and the foundation behind it was very interesting to explore., it was also interesting to explore further of the original plans and elevations from there website and comparing it with ours, which gave us ideas which we could add. engaging yourself with the building was essential because it made my work more easier to follow and all that research as my starting point. As a group we come across challenging points, as at first we all wanted to do different things and coming together and sitting down we all got allocated a plan each, so as a group we were working well and I also noticed that I have a strong and hard working group..
Jasmin Bhambra
I really enjoyed diving into learning about Frank Lloyd Wright and his turning point building in his later Architectural career. I also found out the fireplace was one the most important elements of the interior of Fallingwater, as it was interpreted as the heart of the home. I liked the way he juxtiposed his ideas of the waterfall into the floors inside the house, with a high shine waxy texture.
Hannah Boland
Researching falling water by Frank Lloyd Wright has been an enjoyable experience, the way in which he was inspired and taken influences from organic and Japanese architecture has been particularly interesting to learn about.
learning that the Kaufmann's had wanted to have a view of the waterfalls and Frank Lloyd Wright wanted them to be able to live with the falls and not for them to see them them every now and then, shows how imaginative and creative Frank Lloyd Wright's work was.
As a group we have been very lucky to have been given falling water, such a beautiful building with unusual and unique features.,
I feel the study has helped each of us become more aware of working together and dividing work equally and been respectful of others with in a group.. I will continue to research Frank Lloyds wright work and to gain more knowledge..