Issue 93 April 18th 2018

The Headlines

Penwern: Wright Greenhouse To Be Rebuilt

Mark Hertzberg's Wright in Racine blog reports that the owners of Frank Lloyd Wright's Penwern estate in Lake Delavan will be faithfully rebuilding the greenhouse that was once attached to the Gate Lodge. Read more.

Frank Lloyd Wright Classic About To Be Reborn In Buffalo

The two decade restoration Frank Lloyd Wright's Darwin Martin Estate is drawing near a close. Work is underway to restore the Delta and George Barton House, the first structure built on the campus. Martin House Executive Director Mary Roberts tells us, "The Barton House along with the Martin House and gardener's cottage represent a microcosm of what Wright was doing early in his career. He's famous because he could design residences both grand and modest and The Barton House is the medium size residence on the estate."

Roberts goes on to say, "In terms of restoration, this building has much the same challenges as the Martin House, but on a smaller scale. So where The Martin House is a 15-thousand square foot building, this is a 4,000 square foot building."

But she adds that the Barton house was much more complete than the Martin House, for example all of the art glass was still in place while much of that high-priced detail work had been stripped through the years from the main house and had to be recreated. Read more.

Plan(s) for Greater Baghdad: How Hidden Stories Shape Iconic Cities

Commissioned as part of late King Faisal II’s plans to develop Baghdad’s infrastructure (fueled by higher shares of oil revenue, negotiated with the Iraq Petroleum Company in 1952), Le Corbusier, and other renowned architects, including Frank Lloyd Wright, Walter Gropius, José Luis Sert, Alvar and Aino Aalto and Gio Ponti, were invited to propose designs for universities, opera houses and ministry buildings. Few were fully realized amid the revolutions, coups and wars that ensued, affecting the country’s political, economic and cultural life.

Wright’s Plan for Greater Baghdad would have been located on an island in the middle of the Tigris River, and included a cultural center, opera house and university. None of them were realized . It is said that Frank Lloyd Wright was flying over Baghdad when he saw Um Al-Khanzeer Island and chose to set his project on it. Choosing to establish the cultural hub on an island does have resonance in the Gulf countries today; we have the Saadiyat Island in the United Arab Emirates, for instance. Read the entire conversation with Ala Younis, artist, writer and curator of Plan for Greater Baghdad here.

Wright Plus 2018 Limited Edition Souvenirs

The 2018 Wright Plus Housewalk is right around the corner and excitement for the annual event is starting to build. This year, there are two limited edition souvenirs available from the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust that feature illustrations of the Beachy House (which is on the tour this year) by Eric M. O'Malley: the 2018 Wright Plus T-Shirts and a collectible enamel lapel pin. Get yours by following the links and be sure to wear them at the event on May 19th!

Building a Brand: The Enduring Legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright

The Whirling Arrow has reprinted author Thomas de Monchaux's article that originally appeared in the Fall 2017 issue of the Frank Lloyd Wright Quarterly, “Elevation.” Monchaux looks into the past, present, and future of Frank Lloyd Wright’s ever evolving, yet enduring brand: The red square. Read more.

Finding Mr. Wright in Rural Wisconsin

Mary Lu Laffey of the Daily Journal followed a slice of the Wright Trail in Wisconsin that led from Racine through Madison to his beloved Taliesin in Spring Green.

"While in Racine, I stumbled upon a lecture about Wright, one of the many special events the state or local officials sponsor along the Trail. This one was given by Frank Lloyd Wright author and an authority on the architect, Mark Herzberg."

"In his address, Herzberg referenced Wright’s 'uncanny sense of what light would do during the day. [How] sunlight streaming through one of his houses projects patterns on the walls.' He teased his audience, too, suggesting once anyone tours a Wright structure, they often experience an 'attachment' to the architect and his architectural style. After three days along the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail, I could not disagree." Read more.

10 Frank Lloyd Wright–Designed Houses You Can Stay In

Architectural Digest looks at ten Frank Lloyd Wright homes that are available to rent right now for events or getaways. A couple of our favorites made the list, including the Schwartz House in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, and the Emil Bach House in Chicago. Many of the others are definitely on our wish list for the future. Read the list and make your plans here.

Restoring The Dana-Thomas House

The glorious Dana-Thomas House, built in 1904 by Frank Lloyd Wright for Susan Lawrence Dana, owned by the Thomas Publishing company for over 30 years, purchased by the state of Illinois in 1981, and restored painstakingly in the 1980s – will be open for special behind-the-scenes restoration tours on third Saturdays, April through July. Michael Jackson, preservation architect for the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency during the 1987-1990 restoration will be the tour guide. Read more.

Wright In Ruins

America is a veritable treasure trove of famous bridges, lighthouses, stadiums, and other architectural wonders that are as historically and culturally significant as they are artful. Yet the triple threats of vandalism, neglect, and harsh weather are taking a toll. Manasa Reddigari of the Bob Vila newsletter focuses on 13 U.S. architectural icons that are falling apart.

Number 8 on the list is Frank Lloyd Wright's Clifton Lewis House in Tallahassee, Florida. Saying, "One look at the rotted wood and deteriorating facade of this 64-year-old dwelling and it's plain to see that it's lost its original grandeur." Read more.

Aaron G. Green Book Wins Gold

Congratulations go out to author Randolph C. Henning! His book on Taliesin-trained architect Aaron G. Green that was published last year by ORO Editions recently received a gold award in the architecture category from the Independent Book Publishers Association. It also was the Gold Winner of the 2018 Benjamin Franklin Award by the Independent Book Publishers Association as well! If you have not gotten your copy yet, be sure to pick up a copy to enjoy this hefty and beautiful architectural tome. Get yours here.

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