Issue 49 June 14th 2017

Announcements

Explore Wright Newsletter Subscriptions Now Open

If you missed it this past weekend...

In light of the celebration—Eric, Lisa and I thought it would be nice to release a special gift to our community. The question was, "What should we share with everyone?"

Well, on the heels of launching the Wright Society Supporter Program—we received several requests from readers asking to just get a copy of the new Explore Wright newsletter offered at our Silver Level.

So we decided to offer a complimentary digital copy of the inaugural issue in PDF format that can viewed on any device. Download here.

As an extra special offer, we're providing three types of subscriptions just for the bi-monthly Explore Wright newsletter...should you find this issue enjoyable and be interested in future ones.

[$15] Digital Only Subscription: You’ll receive 6 bi-monthly newsletter issues per year. They'll be delivered via email in a digital PDF format, which you may view on any device.

[$25] Print Only Subscription: You’ll receive 6 bi-monthly newsletter issues per year. They'll be delivered via USPS mail in paper format. We will send it to you anywhere in the world.

[$35] Combo (Digital + Print) Subscription: You’ll receive 6 bi-monthly newsletter issues per year. They'll be delivered in two formats: (1) via email in a digital PDF format, which you may view on any device; (2) via USPS mail in paper format, which we will send to you anywhere in the world.

Of course, your purchase goes directly towards supporting the content curation and creation efforts it takes to produce the weekly Wright Society email and the Wright Society Virtual Summit. Thanks in advance.

The Headlines

Robie House Most "Consummate Expression" of Prairie School Designs

The Robie House, named a US National Historic Landmark in 1963, and in 1991, one of the 10 most significant structures of the 20th century by the American Institute of Architects, is considered Wright's consummate expression of his Prairie School design. Currently being restored by the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust and preservation firm Harboe Architects, the Robie House is located in the South Side neighborhood of Chicago's Hyde Park, forming part of the campus of the University of Chicago. Read more.

Curbed Is All Wright With Us

Our friends at Curbed have gone all-in on the Frank Lloyd Wright coverage recently...and we couldn't be more thrilled! It's nice to see another site give Wright the level of attention we've been promoting for over a decade (starting with our old PrairieMod blog). Be sure to check out the multiple Wright-related stories at Curbed. Read more.

10 Facts About Wright You May Not Have Known

For all that’s common knowledge about Frank Lloyd Wright, there are a number of tantalizing details not widely known. Architectural Digest, in honor of the architect’s sesquicentennial, has picked ten little-known facts that offer a glimpse into the architect’s fascinating life. How many of these do you know? Read more.

Architect Goes Usonain in Lake Forest, IL

Since her days studying architecture at SCI-Arc in Los Angeles, Megan Beidler has loved Frank Lloyd Wright’s designs. Even so, she never dreamed she would actually own a home by the noted architect. While planning a move to Chicago, she came face-to-face with a Wright home that would change her life. The Charles F. Glore residence in Lake Forest, IL was created by Wright in 1951, and is considered a fine example of his later Usonian designs. Read more.

Wright's Enduring, Demolished, and Unrealized Contributions To NYC

Ever wonder why New York City has a relative lack of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings? A recent article from Gothamist examines Wright's existing and demolished New York structures, as well as his plan to transform the East Village that never came to be. Read more.

An Architect Breathes New Life into a Frank Lloyd Wright House

The 1948 cypress wood-and-cinder-block home built in Fox Point, Wisconsin for Albert Adelman is a beautiful example of Wright's Usonian architecture. More than 60 years later, in 2011, the house was in need of some tender loving care. The original Wright client's youngest son, Craig Adelman, contacted Allen Washatko, co-founder of Wisconsin-based Kubala Washatko Architects, for the restoration of the property. The results are amazing. Read more.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Influence Remains in NW Indiana

Patricia and John Peterson were the sixth owners of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Armstrong home built in Ogden Dunes, Indiana. Noting the house was in terrible shape, John Peterson, a mechanical engineer, felt he could do a lot of the restoration. Then in 1959, the year Wright died, the Petersons met Wright's chief draftsman, John Howe, who was agreeable to help them with the remodeling and expansion projects, keeping within the home's original Unisonian design. Read more.

Virtually Viewing Upstairs At Hollyhock House

The Hollyhock House, which became a public museum in the late 1970s after undergoing a city-led renovation, has enormous architectural significance and is currently under consideration for the UNESCO World Heritage List. Because it's a National Historic Landmark and architectural icon, there is no way to make alterations to meet handicap accessibility regulations. Any area that a wheelchair could not access had to be roped off, which meant that more than 50 percent of the house could not be entered. By creating an online virtual reality tour of Hollyhock House, virtual access to previously inaccessible areas to visitors with disabilities means Hollyhock will meet the ADA requirements and be able to open up the upstairs to any visitors who wish to see it. Read more.

Wright Authors Interviewed On NPR's Here & Now

NPR's show, Here & Now, recently featured interviews with authors Kathryn Smith and Kim Bixler on Frank Lloyd Wright's enduring influence on Architecture 150 years after his birth. Read more.

"Lost" Lautner House Is Found and Restored

Trina Turk and her husband, Jonathan Skow, are passionate about architecture and design. When they heard about a house designed by the late mid-century architect John Lautner that had mysteriously slipped off the radar for 65 years, they knew they had to have it and restore it. Read more.

David Wright House Donated To School of Architecture at Taliesin

Owner Zach Rawling announced on Frank Lloyd Wright's 150th birthday that he is giving the David and Gladys Wright House to the School of Architecture at Taliesin. Architecture faculty and students would live and work at the iconic home, with public tours and events still part of the scaled-down vision. While there are conditions to be met as part of the donation, it's an interesting and hopeful future plan for this once imperiled work of architecture. Read more.

About

This weekly Wright Society update is brought to you by Eric O'Malley with Bryan and Lisa Kelly from PrairieMod. If you enjoy these free, curated updates—please forward our sign-up page and/or share on Social Media.

If you’d like to submit content to be featured here, please reach out by emailing us at mail[at]wrightsociety.com.