This post is based on a BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast, Centurions, about Frank Lloyd Wright and Falling Water.
One of FLW's main features in his architecture is 'organic'; whether this be the nature which surrounds the building or the natural materials he uses to create it. This is a theme which is reflected throughout the broadcast. Throughout his life he had a philosophical approach to his work, whether he was designing a museum or a home; his work is about democracy and nature.
Falling Water, 1936-39, is one of the most famous houses of the 20th century and was built to be a weekend retreat for a client. It sits, cantilevered, over a waterfall, and although its form is not entirely 'natural' it fits in the landscape by using natural materials such as stone. It was built around the site and uses the context to influence the design.
I like FLW and his work, especially after listening to this clip, as I now now how the context of the area and site have influenced how he designs the project. I feel that my architecture could be more influenced by its site and could be more vernacular in its design; I think that this will influence me to look more at what the surroundings are made from, eg. wood in a forest or stone in a hard landscape, and use this to influence the materiality of my design. I found it interesting that, although the word 'organic' was used lots of times in the piece, the forms of his architecture are not necessarily 'organic'; many of the forms of the architecture are quite boxy, eg. Falling Water, but the materiality is what they are describing as organic. I think to be the design of 'organic' architecture the form of the building needs to have more freedom, as well as being made with natural materials.
One of FLW's main features in his architecture is 'organic'; whether this be the nature which surrounds the building or the natural materials he uses to create it. This is a theme which is reflected throughout the broadcast. Throughout his life he had a philosophical approach to his work, whether he was designing a museum or a home; his work is about democracy and nature.
Falling Water, 1936-39, is one of the most famous houses of the 20th century and was built to be a weekend retreat for a client. It sits, cantilevered, over a waterfall, and although its form is not entirely 'natural' it fits in the landscape by using natural materials such as stone. It was built around the site and uses the context to influence the design.
I like FLW and his work, especially after listening to this clip, as I now now how the context of the area and site have influenced how he designs the project. I feel that my architecture could be more influenced by its site and could be more vernacular in its design; I think that this will influence me to look more at what the surroundings are made from, eg. wood in a forest or stone in a hard landscape, and use this to influence the materiality of my design. I found it interesting that, although the word 'organic' was used lots of times in the piece, the forms of his architecture are not necessarily 'organic'; many of the forms of the architecture are quite boxy, eg. Falling Water, but the materiality is what they are describing as organic. I think to be the design of 'organic' architecture the form of the building needs to have more freedom, as well as being made with natural materials.