Date of Award

6-2011

Document Type

Open Access

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Visual Arts

First Advisor

Fernando Orellana

Language

English

Keywords

architecture, design, Frank Lloyd Wright, structure

Abstract

Fallingwater is the country home designed in 1935 for the wealthy Pittsburgh merchant Edgar Kaufmann Sr. by the architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Since its completion in 1940 it has enthralled the American public and architectural enthusiasts; received countless awards and recognitions; and is generally held as one of the greatest pieces of architecture of the modern world. It is the most well known residential building in the world excluding those made for royalty. Whether this great fame is deserved or not is a matter of opinion but there are a number of features of this buildings design that cause it to be held in such high esteem. An important part of Wright's method was an integration of nature and the surroundings into the building, which became a central theme of the Kauffman house. His departure from the rigid “Victorian box” of earlier styles into a more open plan is also dramatically exemplified by this building. Wright's daring and audacious use of new materials in an unprecedentedly bold structure astounds even modern visitors. These factors and the thoroughness of design all come together to make his architecture, incredibly influential on architecture, society, and culture in general. Fallingwater is a primary example of this influence. These factors also show that Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater is a masterpiece of art and structural mechanics. Studying its design and constructing an architectural model of it will result in a deeper understanding of the principles of architecture.

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