Issue 198 April 22nd 2020

The Headlines

Rediscovering Frank Lloyd Wright's Roloson Houses And The Unbuilt Roloson Apartments

The newest Journal of Organic Architecture + Design is now available! In 1894, Robert W. Roloson commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright to design a group of houses to be built on Calumet Avenue near 32nd Street in Chicago. The four adjacent row houses were completed early the following year. Roloson returned to Wright several years later for plans to expand and convert the houses to apartments. Working drawings were completed, but Roloson chose not to proceed with the project. Wright never published or wrote about the Roloson Houses and they remained unknown until 1940 when rediscovered by architectural historian Grant Carpenter Manson.

The second, unexecuted project has remained entirely unknown until now. Thanks to Gregory Brewer's scholarship, these largely ignored and misunderstood designs receive an accurate history and a fresh reassessment. With never-before-published photos and drawings, this 64-page journal provides insights that will help shed light on these important early Wright designs. Order your copy here or save money and don't miss any issue by becoming an annual subscriber here.

Wright And New York: An Unexpected Friendship

One wouldn't call Frank Lloyd Wright New York's biggest fan, but the city helped catapult Wright to stardom. Wisconsin Public Radio talked to architect and historian, Anthony Alofsin, author of Wright and New York, about the relationship between the Wisconsin architect and New York City. More here.

Two Buffalo Wright Houses Finally Get Local Landmark Status

Two Buffalo houses designed by Frank Lloyd Wright were designated as local landmarks by the Common Council on March 17. The change in status for the William R. Heath House and the Walter V. Davidson House followed a State Supreme Court judge's ruling in favor of the Campaign for Greater Buffalo History, Architecture and Culture. While The Buffalo Preservation Board had unanimously recommended the landmark designations, the buildings' owners opposed the local designation, saying it would be an unnecessary imposition and lead to more "gawkers" on their property. Read more about it here.

Rush Creek Village Usonian For Sale

News reaches us that one of Rush Creek Village's Usonian homes, inspired heavily by Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural ideas, has come to the market for $390K. The mid-century home near Columbus, OH features cypress, cinder block, quarry tile, built-in furniture, expansive windows and sits on a 1.3 acre lot. Check out he listing and more photos here.

Willey House Stories Part 19: Nothing Lasts Forever

Every house has stories to tell, particularly if the house was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Some stories are familiar. Some are even true. Some, true or not, have been lost to time, while others are yet to be told. Steve Sikora, co-owner of the Malcom Willey House in Minneapolis, MN, continues his exploration of the home and its influence on architecture and society. Read more here.

Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings You Can Visit Virtually

Just a reminder in this era of COVID-19, you can now virtually tour 17 Frank Lloyd Wright buildings. The #WrightVirtualVisits initiative is a collaboration between the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy, the Unity Temple Restoration Foundation, and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation (which runs Taliesin and Taliesin West). The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust, which manages the artist’s home and studio and four other buildings in the Chicago area, is also involved.

Hollyhock House, Taliesin, Taliesen West, Unity Temple, the Emil Bach House, Fallingwater, the Westcott House, the Kraus House, the Laurent House, the Seth Peterson House, the Gordon House, Graycliff, the Martin House, the Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio, the Rookery, the Robie House, the Willey House, and Samara are taking part. The managing organizations of these properties will share a short video of another Wright-designed house on their social media channels at 12 p.m. CST every Thursday over the coming weeks during a virtual swap. More here.

Booth Cottage Update

Ed Goodale of the Glencoe Historical Society sent word and some images about the organization's work to save, relocate, and restore the Sherman and Elizabeth Booth Cottage in Glencoe, Illinois. The contractor has removed the three subsequent additions to the original structure, and installation of internal structural bracing is in progress. When pandemic social distancing measures will allow, final preparations for the building hoisting and relocation will be performed, and the Cottage will be moved to its new home in a public park roughly 800 feet south of the current location.

The Glencoe Historical Society is working on a major update of their website, and will soon have a dedicated page about the Booth Cottage work progress to keep interested parties in touch with the project. You can also learn more about saving the Booth Cottage at the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy website here.

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