The Art And Craft Of The Machine Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer, and educator. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest American architects of all time. Wright believed that architecture should reflect the needs of the people who use it, and he sought to create designs that were both beautiful and functional.
The Machine Age
Wright was born in 1867, at the dawn of the Machine Age, a time when new technologies and innovations were rapidly transforming the world. He was fascinated by the possibilities that these new machines offered, and he saw them as a way to revolutionize the field of architecture.
Wright believed that the Machine Age offered architects the opportunity to create buildings that were not only aesthetically pleasing but also efficient, affordable, and easy to construct. He believed that the key to achieving this was to embrace new materials and construction techniques that were made possible by the Machine Age.
The Prairie Style
In the early 1900s, Wright developed what is now known as the Prairie Style of architecture. This style was characterized by low, horizontal lines, open floor plans, and an emphasis on natural materials such as wood and stone.
Wright's Prairie Style homes were designed to blend in with their surroundings, and they often featured large windows that provided ample natural light and connected the interior of the home to the outdoors. The homes were also designed to be affordable and easy to construct, making them accessible to a wide range of people.
The Usonian House
In the 1930s, Wright developed a new type of home called the Usonian House. These homes were designed to be affordable and efficient, and they featured many of the same design elements as Wright's earlier Prairie Style homes.
However, the Usonian House was also designed to be completely self-sufficient. The homes were often built on small plots of land, and they featured a wide range of sustainable features such as rainwater harvesting systems, passive solar design, and natural ventilation.
The Johnson Wax Building
One of Wright's most famous designs is the Johnson Wax Building in Racine, Wisconsin. Completed in 1939, the building was designed to serve as the headquarters for the Johnson Wax Company.
The building is characterized by its unique mushroom-like columns, which support a series of cantilevered balconies. The interior of the building is also notable for its use of natural light and open spaces, which were designed to foster creativity and collaboration among the employees of the Johnson Wax Company.
The Guggenheim Museum
Perhaps Wright's most famous design is the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City. Completed in 1959, the museum is characterized by its spiraling ramp that leads visitors through the galleries.
The museum was designed to showcase the Guggenheim's collection of modern and contemporary art, and Wright believed that the ramp design would allow visitors to experience the art in a new and dynamic way. The building has become a cultural icon and is widely considered to be one of the greatest works of architecture of the 20th century.
Conclusion
Frank Lloyd Wright was a visionary architect who sought to revolutionize the field of architecture by embracing new technologies and materials. His designs were both beautiful and functional, and his ideas continue to inspire architects around the world.
Whether he was designing a home, an office building, or a museum, Wright always sought to create spaces that reflected the needs of the people who used them. His legacy lives on in the many buildings he designed, as well as in the countless architects who have been inspired by his work.
