F.L. Wright (Basic Art)

Taschen Basic Architecture

by Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer, Peter Gossel (Editor)

The American architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) exerted unique influence on the architecture of the first half of the 20th century. This volume presents the whole range of his extraordinarily prolific output and shows clearly how his view of the world was a common factor throughout the rich diversity of his oeuvre. From his early prairie houses to the Guggenheim Museum in New York, Frank Lloyd Wright saw man as the focal point of an architecture closely bound up with nature.

Genres: Architecture, Nonfiction, Art, Biography, Art History, Design, History

96 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Hugo Demets · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dit boekje vond ik leesbaarder dan het werkje over Gaudí, omdat de teksten bij de gebouwen korter waren, en er worden meer gebouwen van de Amerikaanse architect besproken. Deze architect uit Wisconsin maakte er vooral een punt van om spectaculaire vormen met nieuwe materialen als beton te ontwerpen, en deze toe te passen op zijn bekende prairiehuizen. Frank Lloyd Wright heeft inderdaad vooral gebouwen neergezet op het platteland of aan de stadsrand, omdat hij de steden ongezond en ronduit onmenselijk vond.

Het boek geeft een heel mooi overzicht van zijn belangrijkste werken, van zijn eerste huis voor William H. Winslow, waarvoor de eigenaar nog door zijn buren werd bespot, tot zijn bekendste werken Fallingwater en het Guggenheim-museum. Veel van zijn werken werden ontworpen in het begin van de 20e eeuw, en het was voor mij leuk om te ontdekken dat aan de andere kant van de Oceaan de smaak van rijke opdrachtgevers gelijk liep met die van bijvoorbeeld de familie Van Buuren (huis in Ukkel) of van Paul Cavrois (villa in Roubaix).

[Jenifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice little coffee-table book that has a very brief introduction to F.L.W. and summarizes, in chronological order, a selection of his most famous projects. Each building profiled is accompanied by a one-page layout of information about the original construction and an original photo, floor plan, or original sketch.

This is not comprehensive in any way, but fun and easy to look at. It left me wondering about the fates of the buildings that were profiled. I looked a couple of them up.

[Sofie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admire this man's determination to be such a perfectionist with his vision. A man that was so detail-oriented to that point that he designed his own furniture within the building because he couldn't bare the thought of the owner of the house destroying his creation. It annoys me that I feel so much admiration for this classically famous man, for I tend to prefer the more unpretentious characters... yet this guy! His buildings may not have always been the most functional at times, but what he did was revelational. He made people realise that a building should always be integrated with nature and peoples' habits.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm someone who is well versed with the work of (and has visited many of the buildings designed by) Frank Lloyd Wright, and I was rather impressed by this new book. While it isn't comprehensive or an introductory work, the high quality presentation, excellent (frequently interior) pictures of the homes from the time they were built, and focus on some of Wright's lesser known projects made this a fun read with a good deal of new information.

[Nima ُShoa · Rating 3 out of 5]

از اون دسته کتاب هایی محسوب میشه که اوایل ورود به رشته ی معماری، جذابیت و نکات زیادی واسه دانشجوهای این رشته در بر داره
هرچند وجودش تو کتابخونه ی شخصی هر معمار خالی از لطف نیست. اینکه بعد سالیان باز هم یه مروری میکنی به آثار بزرگترین های این عرصه.

ضعف اصلی کتاب، کم صحبتی و خجالتی بودنشه
اینکه هیچ حرفی واسه گفتن نداره، پر از عکس و بعضی وقتا پلانه
همون حداقل توضیحات هم خیلی مفید و تاثیرگذار نیست

یک جورایی فقط به درد ورق زدن و چند دقیقه ای غرق شدن در دنیای رایت، میخوره
نه بیشتر

[d · Rating 5 out of 5]

After years of thinking FLW was overrated (to no great cause, I guess I just heard his name around too much), I finally decided to learn more about him to form an opinion. How good could he be? Was he just some white guy lucky to be in the right place at the right time (copying from Japan, no less)? I couldn't discount that, but, well, I was wrong about him being mediocre. His work is breathtakingly good. Taschen and Pfeiffer did a good job with this book. It's a good balance between text, biography, and letting the architecture shine through the pictorial documentation.

Wright's novel ideas about prairie houses, organic architecture, flexible structures, and humane architecture intrigued me. Call it arrogance but they showed conviction, which is evident in the boldness of his work. More than this, however, I was captivated by the formal qualities of his designs. He does horizontality, tension between symmetry and slight asymmetry, and proportion so well. Even with the rigidity and monumentality of his materials he succeeds at crafting extensions of rather than intrusions on of the landscape (more often than not, anyway). Not just in the twee my-concept-is-nature thing--but actual thoughtful impositions on the landscape that create a taut relationship between subservience and his convictions.

My favorites have to be Fallingwater, Johnson Wax, Avery Coonley House, Taliesin West, the Unitarian Church, and the Solar Hemicycle house (for the sheer concept alone!). Lovely stylized drafting too. The drawings were classic beauties and a delight to look at. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this book and am looking to read about Wright's lieber meister, Louis Sullivan, next. I'm interested in reading Wright's further writings as well.

For me: See doc for actual notes.

[Ritchie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Owned the book for a while since I’m going to Phoenix thought I’d brush up on wright, however the book was kinda sub-par in its information or explanation of Wright once it got past the first few pages and buildings, failing to describe and continue to his evolution, rather just describing one building after another.

Secondly, some of the imagery was disappointing I suppose there should’ve been more than one image per page of the buildings, and preferably not excessively black and white, when said buildings still exist and are easily photographable, namely Taliesin West, which the book noted its rich natural colors amongst its environment.

[Ілля Смоленко · Rating 4 out of 5]

Я отримав задоволення досліджуючи стиль Райта. Важко сказати чим мене захопила його архітектура. Проте, це все ж таки людиноцентричність і змістова наповненість інтер’єрів. Сучасні інтер’єри мені набридають, вони занадто прості та незатишні. Проте у Райтівських відчувається ідентичність та комфорт на ряду з вишуканістю. Ще одна особливість це поєднання приватного будинку з ділянкою. На його планах важко відділити контур будинку від місцевості. Все стає органічним. Тепер є мотивація відвідати Америку, щоб відчути його архітектуру на собі.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent overview of the life and work of Frank Lloyd Wright.

[Juan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pictures and the description of each project are nice, but I wished there had been more of an overarching narrative about the significance of Wright's work.

[Bert Huisman]

11

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a useful work on Frank Lloyd Wright. The text is in three languages--English, German, and French. Hence, that leaves less space for an English treatment of the subject (most reading this review would probably be primarily English speaking). Still, there is enough detail to suffice.

The volume begins with an essay that provides some background on Wright, including the prairie houses, space within, materials used, nature's role, the flow of work, and human values. Not great depth on each subject, but the text does provide context for the next section--which focuses on his works. Very nice photos on glossy paper are attractive.

The work concludes with a chronology of Wright's life, from his birth in 1867 to his death in 1959. He desaigned buildings rigtht up until near his death.

Overall, a solid introduction to his work and very pleasant to look at.

[Esther · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another re-read from the Taschen collection. So this one, I remember buying in London after visiting my brother here in Chicago and touring round Oak Park. It has a nice layout and photography (all usual Taschen standards) but the text is so brief in this one. Neglects to mention some crucial details - i.e. a huge indoor/outdoor beer garden built in Midway, south of downtown Chicago had me scratching my head and heading to google. The book has some photos of it, not just plans so it was built - but ah demolished some 80 years ago. Why not mention that? So this really is a glossy coffee table book of nice photos.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book thanks to my sister, Chris. A great Taschen book showcasing some of Frank Lloyd Wright's best buildings. The book could have used a little more biographical details and more in-depth analyses of the buildings - most of the accompanying texts for each building were just paragraph summaries. Still, any Taschen book is worth it and this is a good book simply to look at and ponder the buildings.

[Haaike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Het is een goede introductie tot het werk van Wright, startende met een tekst over de architect zelf om daarna in twee pagina's per project zijn oeuvre te doorlopen. Meer dan een introductie is het echter niet, omdat daarvoor de beschrijvingen per project te kort zijn. Een goed boek dus voor wie kennis wil maken met Wright of, zoals ik, een overzicht wil krijgen van zijn oeuvre (inclusief de minder bekende werken), maar voor diepgaande analyses bestaan er ongetwijfeld betere werken.

[Wilde Sky · Rating 4 out of 5]

The work of an architect is shown / discussed.

Many of the images / photographs were very good. More details of the man's life would have been useful.

Overall rating 3.5.

Reading time around sixty minutes.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must for those who loves his work. I do!!!

[Patrick Ingelaere]

gratis bijlage bij De Morgen op 22 september 2007

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice introduction to Wright's works, but it only provides the basic information on Wright and the buildings he designed.

[Robbert Heiligers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Offers a basic introduction into the work of Frank Lloyd-Wright. Mostly one or two pages per building. Made me want to read a more in depth documentation of his works.

[Ali]

His name in enough in the world of arts...
Thanks Frank

[Peter Lipták · Rating 5 out of 5]

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