Fallingwater

 

On May 11, 2022, I did a presentation in my art class explaining how this original work of art inspires me. I studied the work designed by an American architect Frank Lloyd Wright called the Fallingwater, and created a new version of this work of art with use of my own imagination. It is a vacation house designed and constructed in 1935, which consists of approximately 5,100 acres of natural land around it. The bottom part is filled with rocks and waterfalls flowing through the stream.  The house rises at least thirty feet above the waterways supported by contilevvered concrete. Beneath the surface of the grounds are coal and clay that move up the mountain.

I chose the piece of artwork because Fallingwater is one of the most inspiring places across the globe to millions of people that view its strength of architecture and nature. It is located in Western Pennsylvania which became known as Mill Run. It has been open to the public since late ‘60s as a historical center for guided tours where anyone can go inside the house and observe the surroundings of nature. One thing I liked about the work is that the house and site together formed an image of a man’s desire to engage with nature. This figure is an example of how people appreciate nature as a concept of their daily lives. I am struck by the point where Wright’s partnership with Edgar Koufman was a huge success in developing ideas about modern design and natural beauty.

After the construction of Fallingwater began, the floor plan isn’t the same as in most private homes. It is made out of stone instead of wooden surfaces or tile, with very low ceilings and corner windows that break the box of a house. On the first floor is a compact kitchen, living room, and simple rooms. There are three small bedrooms on the second floor and a study room on the third floor. The chimneys are made to be the highest point of the house.

In my imagination, Frank Lloyd Wright is one of the greatest architects of all time, because he introduced organic architecture as a pharmanon that many artists show interest in the visual arts field. Organic architecture is a term used to describe the harmony between humans and the natural environment. I find these design features interesting because when Wright put together his work he used glass and cantilever as the main elements of Fallingwater, along with a central core for stone and fireplaces. In addition to his work he added sculpture to terraces made of reinforced concrete with corners in right angles.

I’ve always wanted to feel connected with the natural world through observation of Wright’s artwork. Organic architecture is my favorite of all the topics I’ve studied this semester. With that in mind, I’m even hoping to visit Fallingwater one day and take a tour around it. If you were like me, the pieces of advice I would give you are to learn more about his journey and development of architectural techniques that are relevant to art history. There are tons of articles and publications available to read about the architect, so don’t feel discouraged when reading. You can select whichever sources you find that you feel are most accurate to you.