Issue 255  May 26th 2021

Hardy House: Photo Proof Positive

Mark Hertzberg's blog, Wright in Racine, informs us that several features of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Thomas P. Hardy House in Racine, Wisconsin (1906), have been the subject of speculation for years because of the dearth of historic photos. Three newly discovered 1908 photos of the house acquired by the Organic Architecture + Design Archives and shared with Hertzberg and other scholars end the speculation. Read more about this exciting news here.

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Camp Taliesin West - The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Summer Camp Program For Kids

Here's a summer camp that we wish was around when we were kids: Camp Taliesin West. Created by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, this STEAM-heavy camp consists of a series of architecture, science, engineering, art, and photography programs designed to teach young students the principles of one of America’s most celebrated architects: Frank Lloyd Wright.

Camp Taliesin West will take place in Scottsdale, Arizona at Wright's iconic desert laboratory, Taliesin West. Campers are invited for the week between June and August, where they will follow strict public health protocols to ensure a safe experience. (Those who feel more comfortable learning from home, or who don't live in the area, can attend virtual sessions that are also available for a reduced price.) Here's what programs will be offered—some more than once during the summer!

Click for more details: housebeautiful.com  

Lee Bey Receives The 2021 Julius Shulman Institute Excellence In Photography Award

The Julius Shulman Institute (JSI) at Woodbury University is pleased to announce Lee Bey as the 2021 recipient of the Julius Shulman Institute Excellence in Photography Award. Bey is a photographer, writer, lecturer, and consultant who documents and interprets the built environment. His work investigates complex political, social, and racial forces that shape spaces and places.

Bey’s writing and photographic work have been consistent in creating public discussion on the importance of architecture as cultural expression and civic engagement. “Bey’s work embodies the mission of the Julius Shulman Institute, which is to engage architectural and social discourse through photographic images of the built environment — including architecture communities, industrial spaces, and beyond,” said JSI Executive Director Barbara Bestor.

In his most recent book, Southern Exposure: The Overlooked Architecture of Chicago’s South Side, Bey exalts the far-too-unrecognized architecture of Chicago’s South Side. Southern Exposure challenges the assumptive notion that beautiful works of architectural expression cannot exist in under-served communities. Visiting sixty sites, Bey includes works from notable Black architects such as Walter T. Bailey, John Moutoussamy, and Roger Margerym, along with relatively unknown work by other architects including Jeanne Gang, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Eero Saarinen. More about Lee Bey here.

Click for more details: archinect.com  

A Walter Burley Griffin Knitlock House For Sale In Australia

Designed around an open central courtyard and on approx. 660 sqm secluded private garden, this single level 3-bedroom family home, one of the few remaining Walter Burley Griffin designed homes in Australia, has undergone a comprehensive architect -led restoration to bring it in line with contemporary needs for modern living. The home features iconic Griffin design elements, including timber-framed casement windows in a chevron pattern and deep roof eaves, form a flowing series of practical and beautiful living spaces — a pair of living rooms, each with open fireplaces, and a dining room looking out to the garden and entertaining deck. Check out more info and images here.

Click for more details: realestate.com.au  

20 Documentaries About Famous Architects And Great Architecture

How many of these documentaries have you seen?

It is no secret that great designers often get their start by learning about the pioneers that came before them. That is why My Modern Met gathered some of the best architecture documentaries to help you get inspired!

Some of these selections cover famous architects that most of you will recognize. Others explore broader topics facing the field of architecture like Microtopia—which explores alternative ideas about dwelling—or First Earth: Uncompromising Ecological Architecture—which documents a back-to-basics approach towards environmental design.

No matter what you want to learn and what makes you feel inspired, click here to find the right educational movie night selection in My Modern Met's favorite 20 documentaries for architects and architecture lovers.

Click for more details: mymodernmet.com  

Frank Lloyd Wright Inspired Textile Blocks And 3D Cement Tiles Now Available For Sale

The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation has partnered with Southern California building materials company EsoSurfaces to create iconic textile blocks and 3D cement tiles from the Frank Lloyd Wright archive.

In the first part of the 20th Century, Wright worked with molded concrete tiles and blocks to create structurally innovative buildings. Using patterned molds allowed Wright to incorporate forms and patterns that gave rich life to a humble material.

Among the initial offerings is several of the iconic 1920s California concrete block house designs, including the Millard, Ennis, and Storer House blocks. Another standout from the initial launch is the Ablin Textile Block. A uniquely shaped concrete block that can be made into walls allowing light and breeze to flow freely. This marks the first time a design from the Ablin House in Bakersfield, CA has been licensed for development as a consumer product.

“Eso’s stunning interpretations of Wright’s work are executed to the highest quality standards so designers, architects, and homeowners can be inspired to bring this rich legacy into homes, offices, and landscapes.”Stuart Graff, Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation CEO. More information here.

Click for more details: franklloydwright.org