— Fallingwater —
Mill Run, Pennsylvania
When the Kaufmanns first saw Wright’s plans for their summer home in the Laurel Highlands, they expressed shock. They imagined the house sitting next to the falls, not on top of them.
But Wright convinced them to have their home become one with the falls, which led to the construction of one of his most well known structures: Fallingwater. Built between 1936 and 1939, the home instantly became famous with an appearance on the cover of Time magazine in 1938.
When the Kaufmanns’ son donated the house to be used as a museum, he stipulated that it keep its original furnishings.
“The son really didn’t want the house to be roped off,” said Allison Schlesinger, director of communications for the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. “He wanted visitors to feel like people are still living there. Because of that, there is real warmth to the house.”
During a tour, groups can admire the interplay between the house and the outdoors. For example, Wright built around the waterfall’s giant boulders.
The house even mimics the formation of the falls, as its upper and lower terraces line up with the tiers in the waterfall.
“The house is a perfect teeter-totter,” said Schlesinger. “If you think of a board being pivoted on a rock, and that’s essentially the house’s construction.”
— Frederick Robie House —
Chicago
Twice the Frederick Robie House seemed doomed for demolition. Both times, Wright fought for his creation with letter-writing campaigns and publicity, which narrowly managed to save the home. Wright never attempted to save any of his works except for the Robie House, which speaks to the importance the home played to both Wright and architecture.
“It’s unique because it is such a beautiful example of prairie architecture,” said Laura Dodd, director of operations and guest experience for the Robie House. “But it also stands out because it is in the midst of restoration. Groups can watch all stages of restoration as they go to different levels of the house.”
Built near the beginning of Wright’s career while he lived in Chicago, the Robie House has become known as Wright’s Prairie-style masterpiece. Tour guides point out the Prairie-style elements at play in the house, such as the use of horizontal lines, the overhanging eves and the open floor plan.
The expansive living space at the heart of the home remains one of the structure’s most celebrated rooms for its use of light and a central chimney.
“There are over 175 art glass windows, so that is something that definitely stands out,” said Dodd. “When you go in the house, it is like seeing artwork everywhere you go because of these beautiful glass windows.”
