In reading this book so far, I haven't seen many things that I've been interested in, but Wright's designs were amazing. He was influenced by Japanese art and developed an appreciation of the connection between setting and structure. He also used the concept of keeping the building low to the ground, which I like a lot compared to the designs of Le Corbusier and Gropius.
I was very impressed with his ability to blend a man-made object with the natural surroundings. Wright uses a lot of natural stone in his designs, which creates a oneness with its surroundings. The Kaufmann house is a perfect example of this. It is nestled in the woods on a flowing stream. I have never seen a house like it before, but it is definitely one of the coolest houses ever.
Kaufmann House
Wright’s work was very original. For example, he used the first welded steel beam in residential construction on the Robie house. He also lead the way in the Prairie School of architecture.
Robie House
Wright made good use of the cantilever, which can be seen in most of his designs. The roofs on his houses are one part that really stands out to me. They protrude and project but do not seem intrusive or overwhelming. The book says it is as abstract as Cubist painting, but I disagree. His work is very crisp and easy to see, while Cubism looks like a jumble of shapes that I drew when I was three.
Overall, I think Wright’s work was amazing, and he correctly deserves the title “the greatest American architect of all time”.
