And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Fallingwater House, 1936 Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
Unlivable. Nobody has managed to function there as a resident. The original buyer had to move out because he developed an allergy to the mold. It’s always been a showpiece, never a home. Wright was a pretentious fraud, and his buildings all failed except as pretty photos.
That house needs an industrial-sized dehumidifier. And even with that, it will have a maintenance budget and workload like a blue-water boat. Mold and moss and algae will grow everywhere, rust can only be held at bay with constant maintenance and repair. And even with that, it will need a re-fit every 20 years. Maybe you can buy it, but you can't afford to keep it.
His early design houses, when he was young, all had pitched roofs and didn't leak (from there, anyway). It wasn't until he decided that roofs should be flat did the leaking begin.
In 2019 went on a tour of Auldbrass, the only "plantation home" he designed. It's in Yemassee, SC (Beaufort County). Was interesting. Not sure if it's done these days.
I've been there. A ton of money has been poured into it over the years to correct structural problems with the cantilevers. The location is a beautiful one, and the aesthetic appeal is genuine. But one wouldn't be comfortable living in it, I agree. If I recall correctly, it was built by a department store magnate from Pittsburgh as a weekend home or getaway.
There are a lot of FLW homes and buildings still standing, a lot of them a run as historical sites, or museums. Personally I think FLW was born too early, before materials sciences could produce building products that were strong and durable enough to support his designs.
"Very pretty, Colonel, very pretty. But can they FIGHT?" Very pretty, Frank, but can anyone live there? I love Dirty Dozen references. Can't believe no one at work knows any of my movie references. I will sign up for an AI that knows movies, radio shows and TV shows from the last century. We could bond.
Unlivable. Nobody has managed to function there as a resident. The original buyer had to move out because he developed an allergy to the mold. It’s always been a showpiece, never a home. Wright was a pretentious fraud, and his buildings all failed except as pretty photos.
ReplyDeleteOne of the few buildings he was involved in building that is still standing. Interesting designs with poor materials and execution.
ReplyDeleteThat house needs an industrial-sized dehumidifier. And even with that, it will have a maintenance budget and workload like a blue-water boat. Mold and moss and algae will grow everywhere, rust can only be held at bay with constant maintenance and repair. And even with that, it will need a re-fit every 20 years. Maybe you can buy it, but you can't afford to keep it.
ReplyDeleteIn other words, it's a boat.
DeleteI recently read that all of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home had leaky roofs.
ReplyDeleteHis early design houses, when he was young, all had pitched roofs and didn't leak (from there, anyway).
DeleteIt wasn't until he decided that roofs should be flat did the leaking begin.
Oh, and Skylights everywhere. Those almost always leaked.
DeleteIn 2019 went on a tour of Auldbrass, the only "plantation home" he designed. It's in Yemassee, SC (Beaufort County). Was interesting. Not sure if it's done these days.
ReplyDeleteover rated
ReplyDeleteFailing Water.
DeleteOne of these days, Falling-into-the-Water.
DeleteHis Sears office building leaked so much they had to relocate some of the typing pool desk in the rainey season. But it looked good while doing it.
ReplyDeleteStyle over function the stairs were terrible to use. Rub your sides bump your head.
ReplyDeleteWhat Ghost said.
ReplyDeleteI've been there. A ton of money has been poured into it over the years to correct structural problems with the cantilevers. The location is a beautiful one, and the aesthetic appeal is genuine. But one wouldn't be comfortable living in it, I agree. If I recall correctly, it was built by a department store magnate from Pittsburgh as a weekend home or getaway.
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of FLW homes and buildings still standing, a lot of them a run as historical sites, or museums. Personally I think FLW was born too early, before materials sciences could produce building products that were strong and durable enough to support his designs.
"Very pretty, Colonel, very pretty. But can they FIGHT?"
ReplyDeleteVery pretty, Frank, but can anyone live there?
I love Dirty Dozen references. Can't believe no one at work knows any of my movie references. I will sign up for an AI that knows movies, radio shows and TV shows from the last century. We could bond.
There is a FLW buildling in San Rafael CA that is still standing as far as I know. It's the Marin County Civic Center with a kind of bright blue roof.
ReplyDelete