Issue 189 February 19th 2020

The Headlines

Nominations Open For 2020 Wright Spirit Awards

The Frank Lloyd Wright Conservancy announced that nominations are now open for the Wright Spirit Awards, and the deadline is March 20, 2020. The Wright Spirit Awards were established in 1991 to honor individuals and organizations who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to preserving Wright’s legacy. The Conservancy’s Awards Committee selects the honorees, and awards will be presented at the 2020 Annual Conference in Buffalo, New York. Lean more or submit a nomination here.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Lasting Architectural Influence

Frank Lloyd Wright’s ongoing influence has long inspired architecture around the globe, and continues to today. In the current issue of the Frank Lloyd Wright Quarterly magazine, “UNESCO World Heritage: The 20th Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright,” Foundation President & CEO, Stuart Graff, shares more about this influence here. Be sure to become a member of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation here to get your own copy of the Quarterly.

The 5 C's Of Arizona At Taliesin West

Frank Lloyd Wright’s deep connection and fondness of Arizona first began through his frequent visits to the state throughout the 1920s. In 1937, Wright sent a telegram to the Fellowship in Wisconsin, telling apprentices of a beautiful new desert site in Arizona that would later become the site for Taliesin West, his winter home and desert laboratory. Today, Wright’s signature architectural influence can be seen all over the Grand Canyon State.

Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation is celebrating Arizona’s 108th statehood birthday by highlighting Taliesin West’s uniquely Southwestern roots through the “Five C’s” of Arizona. According to the Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records, in the early years of the state, the “Five C’s” (copper, cattle, cotton, citrus, and climate) served an important role in the economy, with many jobs in agriculture, ranching, and mining. Although the “Five C’s” only represent a modest impact on Arizona’s economy today, they still play a great cultural role. Read more here.

Taliesin Student Project To Bring Bandstand To Mazomanie Almost Finished

A bandstand, designed by students at the School of Architecture at Taliesin, is nearing completion in the Village of Mazomanie, Wisconsin after nearly two years, providing the town with a permanent venue for the city’s performing arts program. Mazomanie has been anticipating a bandstand for years, in hopes that it could help revitalize their entire downtown. The design was drawn by a student in a summer immersion program at the School of Architecture at Taliesin in 2018. Construction on the building began two weeks ago. Students at the School of Architecture at Taliesin get a “hands-on experience,” and “learn by doing,” according to a faculty member, Floyd Hamblen. The bandstand could also be one of the School of Architecture at Taliesin’s final projects. The School has announced that operations will cease after this semester, according to their website. Read and see more about the bandstand project here.

Bruce Goff-Designed Northfield, IL Home Sells Above Asking

A Northfield, Illinois home designed by organic architect Bruce Goff in the late 1930s sold last week above its asking price. Goff, the innovative architectural iconoclast — a lifelong friend of Frank Lloyd Wright — designed the home in 1939. The sellers accepted an offer soon after it hit the market quickly and the deal closed just a month after the house was publicly listed.

The five-bedroom, two-bathroom home has nearly 3,100 square feet of living area on a nearly half-acre down a private driveway off Wagner Road. It features floor-to-ceiling walls at its corners, hardwood and parquet flooring. Outside there's a patio, fire pit, and tennis court.

Some have noted the similarities between Goff's design and the Usonian homes of Frank Lloyd Wright. "Looking at these houses I got the biggest thrill I ever had. For the next two years I couldn't eat, sleep, or think anything but Frank Lloyd Wright," Goff said. He began corresponding with Wright, and struck up a "long-time, indirect apprenticeship for Bruce and a life-long friendship between the two architects." See the photos here.

Wright's Louis Fredrick House Now On The National Register Of Historic Places

Frank Lloyd Wright's Louis Fredrick House in Barrington Hills, Illinois is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1957, the former residence of interior designer Louis Fredrick was one of about 60 "Usonian" homes designed by Wright. The famed architect created the homes, usually one-story structures, for "the typical American family," according to the nominating application for the Frederick House. The original owner actually rejected Wright's concepts for his "dream home" until finally approving a modified version of a house designed for an unbuilt project in Michigan.

The privately owned home recently underwent a meticulous restoration. Sitting on 10 acres, nestled into a hillside, the house features Wright's distinctive use of natural materials and glass panels to provide a connection to the natural world. Read more here.

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