The Wright Space: Pattern and Meaning in Frank Lloyd Wright's Houses
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.78 (809 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0295971088 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 192 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2015-10-11 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
Many of these clients subsequently returned to Write for another house, and sometimes more than one."Yet few houses of equal fame have embodied more conspicuous faults. Fireplaces, seating, ceiling form, glazing, terraces, and roof overhangs are seen to follow a repetitive organization or pattern characterized by complementary juxtapositions of what the English geographer Jay Appleton calls "prospect" (a condition in which one can see over a considerable distance) and "refuge" (a place where one can hide). According to Appleton's theory of landscape aesthetics, this juxtaposition offers the ability to see without being seen (or to hunt successfully without being, in turn, successfully hunted) and thus, eons ago, had survival value. There were problems of personality as well. "In both early and late life," write Grant Hildebrand, 'Wright had an enormous number of domestic clients. In many cases sever problems afflict the architectural fabric: leaking roofs, unserviceable detailing, even structural inadequacies. Many of Wright's plans defy reasonable furniture arrangements, many frustrate even the storage of reasonable and treasured possessions. Hildebrand finds a striking correlation in Wright's houses. They came to his drawing board in droves, and, having seen through to completio
Wright's Space Rightly Revealed Hildebrand really puts you into a selection of Wright's built spaces; you can imagine what it is like to move through and experience the changing spaces (height, length, turns) in several of Wright's famous houses, even if you've not visited in person. Hildebrand's extended discussion --and demonstration through stunning "3D" exploded diagrams-- of the primordial concepts of Refuge/shelter (those dark fireplace cores and inglenooks) and Prospect/outlook (distant elevated windows) applied. "Rosetta Stone of Wright's Magic" according to E. Jarolin. In this superb book, Hildebrand attempts no less than a definitive explanation of the method used by Wright to weave his architectural magic. Using the theories of "prospect and refuge" & "order and complexity" he sets out to establish what he calls the "pattern" that reveals itself in Wright's residential designs. Backed by detailed exposition, plans, diagrams and photos of specific examples he convincingly does just that: present the "pattern" that, to a greater or lesser degree, perme. A new insight into architectural aesthetics Wright's buildings are some of the most appealing in history. Why? Hildebrand applies a landscape theory developed by Jay Appleton (books also available on Amazon.com) - our early ancestors sought homesites high in the qualities of PROSPECT (ability to survey the surroundings) and REFUGE (protection from environmental and other threats), and thus we are programmed to find these qualities appealing. Wright's large windows, sheltering eaves, solid stone, welcoming hearth, etc., are rich in
Grant Hildebrand is Professor of Architecture and Art History at the University of Washington, Seattle, and the author of "The Wright Space: Pattern and Meaning in Frank Lloyd Wright's Houses" (1991).
From the Back Cover The text of The Wright Space is enhanced by photographs, plans, and nine exquisitely drawn diagrams of key dwellings specially prepared by William Hook. Addressed to architects, landscape architects, architectural historians, environmental psychologists, anthropologists, philosophers of anesthetics, and the lay public with an interest in these subjects, 'The Wright Space' is essential reading for anyone who has ever lived in, looked at, or studied Frank Lloyd Wright's remarkable houses.