Fallingwater house
Fallingwater is an iconic house designed by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, located near Ohiopyle in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Commissioned by Edgar Kaufmann, Jr. for his parents, Edgar and Liliane Kaufmann, the home was built between 1935 and 1937, perched above the serene Bear Run waterfalls. Notable for its integration with the natural landscape, Fallingwater features innovative elements such as cantilevered terraces and a portion of the living room floor that incorporates a natural boulder. The architectural design reflects Wright's philosophy of organic architecture, emphasizing harmony between human habitation and the surrounding environment. Fallingwater gained national attention through a feature in Time magazine in 1938 and an exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Its aesthetic appeal and groundbreaking design not only captivated the public but also inspired a shift toward suburban living during a time of economic hardship and global conflict. Today, Fallingwater stands as a testament to Wright's creative vision and continues to influence architects and design enthusiasts worldwide.
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Fallingwater house
Identification Architecturally innovative country house built over a natural waterfall
Architect Frank Lloyd Wright
Date Completed on July 22, 1937
Place Bear Run, Pennsylvania
Considered the capstone of Frank Lloyd Wright’s later career and the most innovative American residence of its time, Fallingwater exemplified the architect’s belief in seamlessly blending nature with construction materials. In addition, the home showcased Wright’s application of 1930’s European modernism, along with his penchant for the bold and daring in architectural design.
Fallingwater might never have been built had Edgar Kaufmann, Jr., not read Wright’s Frank Lloyd Wright: An Autobiography (1932). Highly impressed with Wright’s approach to the creative process, Kaufmann brought the architect to the attention of his parents, Edgar “E. J.” and Liliane Kaufmann, owners of the chain of Pittsburgh-based department stores bearing their name. While the senior Kaufmann and Wright met to discuss civic and commercial projects, Liliane’s desire to build a weekend home on their Bear Run property came to light. The initial plans for what became Fallingwater were submitted by Wright in the fall of 1935.
Construction on Fallingwater began the following year. Apprentices from Taliesin, Wright’s studio in Spring Green, Wisconsin, and engineers and builders from the Pittsburgh area executed the on-site work. As the name “Fallingwater” suggests, the home was constructed directly above the Bear Run waterfalls. Other innovative features included the retention of a natural boulder as part of the living room floor and the recurring motif of cantilevered terraces and ledges spanning all three floors. Americans learned of Fallingwater in early 1938 thanks to a feature article in the January 17 issue of Time magazine, an edition of Architectural Form dedicated to Wright, and an exhibit of photographs at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
Impact
The aesthetics, innovation, and sophistication of Fallingwater provided a diversion for Americans, shifting their focus from economic depression and world conflict. Also, Fallingwater provided inspiration for Americans to consider living outside crowded metropolitan areas, thus serving as a catalyst for the future migration to the suburbs.
Bibliography
Hoffman, Donald. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater: The House and Its History. 2d rev. ed. New York: Dover, 1993.
Toker, Franklin. Fallingwater Rising: Frank Lloyd Wright, E. J. Kaufmann, and America’s Most Extraordinary House. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005.