Issue 352 April 5th 2023

The Headlines

How Staying In A Wright House Taught Me The Art Of Doing Nothing

Writer Kristine Hansen shares her experiences of staying in Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural masterpieces—and how she still carries their sense of calm with her on a stressful day at home.

"Most of Wright’s properties—of which only a few are open for overnight stays—feature small, cramped bedrooms. The kitchens are also tight, usually in a galley layout. Wright loved to eat and entertain, but cooking? Not so much. As a result, there’s no other place to hang out—at least if you’re seeking comfort—than the sprawling living room, which is always anchored by a fireplace, like the stacked sandstone version at the Seth Peterson Cottage. Wright’s characteristic open layout translates to an easy flow between rooms, and the lack of interior walls feels freeing. Somehow, even when my husband left the cottage for a short walk and I sat studying the way light bounces on the honey-stained walls floor and flagstone flooring, I never felt truly alone."

Click here for the entire article.

Frank Lloyd Wright Trail Launches New Website Highlighting Wisconsin Ties

Architecture enthusiasts can now embark on a road trip to explore the works of legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright, with the launch of the new Frank Lloyd Wright Trail website.

With over 40 of Wright’s built works located in Wisconsin, the website features a 200-mile route through southern Wisconsin, including nine public sites, and provides visitors with information and reservation details for each site.

Wright’s Wisconsin ties run deep, as he spent his formative years working on his uncle’s farm in the Wisconsin River valley near Spring Green. He studied at the University of Wisconsin before leaving for Chicago to work as an architect under Louis Sullivan.

Wright designed several homes, schools, churches, and rural structures in Wisconsin, including his iconic Taliesin home and studio in Spring Green. Despite a fire that destroyed the home in 1914, Wright rebuilt it and eventually founded an architectural school at the site.

The Frank Lloyd Wright Trail website offers visitors the opportunity to explore several significant sites, including the SC Johnson Administration Building, Monona Terrace, and A.D. German Warehouse. Tours can fill up quickly during the summer travel season, so visitors are encouraged to make reservations in advance.

The launch of the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail website has excited many Wisconsin residents who appreciate Wright’s influence on American architecture. The trail offers a unique opportunity to experience Wright’s work firsthand and learn about the architect’s deep Wisconsin roots. Click here for more information.

Architectural Prank Season

In case you missed it, Saturday April 1 was April Fools’ Day. Across the globe, buildings, museums, and government bodies partook in the fun by sharing jokes on social media to prank the public. From a loud car on Amtrak, to slides wrapping around iconic buildings, to a Guggenheim turned red, check out these fresh gags. Did you fall for any of these stunts?

A One-of-a-Kind Home by Robert Oshatz For Sale

Robert Harvey Oshatz studied architecture at Arizona State University before graduating in 1968. In the years since opening his own firm in 1971, he’s been dubbed an organic architect. “I see architecture as a synthesis of logic and emotion, exploring and fulfilling the dreams, fantasies, and realities of my clients,” writes Oshatz, who also worked and studied under Lloyd Wright during summers in college and after completing his degree. His works are creatively daring flights of fancy that recall the creative fearlessness of organic architects like Bruce Goff and his students. Read more here.

If you want to see some of Oshatz's designs up close, then plan to attend the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy's Out & About Wright event in Portland, OR on May 5-7. More details here.

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