Issue 235 January 6th 2021

The Headlines

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Alabama Architectural Treasure

Sixty years after his passing, Frank Lloyd Wright remains America’s seminal architect. Born on the heels of the Civil War, Wright produced residential and commercial projects until his passing in 1959. A game changing commission was Wright’s Rosenbaum residence, built in 1939 in Florence, Alabama.

Even though America was still in the midst of the Great Depression, visionaries like Wright and his clients, such as the Rosenbaum family, were taking the long view and did not let the economy stop them from dreaming and actualizing their visions.

Join correspondent Tom Wilmer at Wright’s Rosenbaum residence for a conversation with architect and Wright aficionado Robert Whitten for the rest of the story on KCBX public radio, here.

Henry Whiting Discusses Teater's Knoll

Not Too Serious Architecture Hour host Tim Totten and his co-host Stan Ecklund recently interviewed Henry Whiting from his home at Teater's Knoll, an art studio designed by famed Architect Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1950s. Whiting takes the audience through a photo tour of his home and describes his efforts to restore and renovate the property to accommodate year-round living. Watch it here.

Wright's Marin County Civic Center Shot On Film By Skyler Dahan

Nestled in the quiet city of San Rafael, California, is one of Frank Lloyd Wright‘s final commissions and largest public project: Marin County Civic Center. Wright was selected in 1957 to design the massive building. then following the architect’s death two years later, the project was completed by Wright’s protégé, Aaron Green. Distinguished by its bright blue roof, the main structure of the civic center is composed of an 80 ft wide rotunda that joins an administration building and hall of justice.

LA-based photographer, Skyler Dahan, first came across the civic center on a hiking trip in northern California. Having done a little research on the building beforehand, he stopped and captured some photos of the mid-century architecture. "The moment I stepped foot inside I instantly felt transported back to the 60s. All the details echoed throughout every inch of the building. From the buttons on the elevators, to the phone booths, to the long hallways covered with arcs, to the calm courtyards, it felt less like a civic center and more like a museum. Surprisingly enough the building still serves as an active civic center with a justice hall and other legal entities but as mentioned before, that all fades away the moment you walk in," comments Dahan. See the photos here.

Beautiful Allan Gelbin-Designed House For Rent

Nestled into a hillside overlooking Woodcock Nature Center pond, this Zen-like rental retreat is on a distinctive property in Wilton, CT and was built by famed architect Allan Gelbin, an apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright. The $5000 a month rental has freshly painted cement floors, teak walls with built-ins, a central fireplace in the living room and a myriad of windows that bring the outdoors inside. The dining room in this home - which was built in 1961 and sits on 2.60-acres - has lots of windows that overlooks the pond. There is an additional 914-square-foot studio featuring large windows and built-in benches that is ideal for office space, an art/music studio, or at-home classroom. Follow the link to see more.

Steven Reiss Discussion On The History of the Pope-Leighey House

Steven Reiss is giving a free Zoom presentation on January 10, 2021, 2:00 p.m., eastern, as part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's 80th anniversary celebration of the Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House.

Steven M. Reiss is an architect and author. He has had a career-long interest in the work of Frank Lloyd Wright with a special interest in Wright’s small house designs, the Usonians. Reiss has been involved with the Pope-Leighey house for nearly twenty years starting as a docent for weekend and technical tours of the house. In 2002 he met Loren Pope, the original owner of the Pope-Leighey house. Their friendship offered Reiss an unusually personal perspective on the challenges of building and living in a Wright house. They remained close friends until Loren’s death in 2008. Loren gifted to Reiss his personal files, correspondence, and photographs on the design and construction of the Pope House. These formed the basis for his book The Pope-Leighey House published in 2014 by the University of Virginia Press. For more information and to register, click here.

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