Fallingwater: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Architectural Masterpiece
Kaufmann House
Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright
Date: 1935 – 1937
Location: Bear Run, Pennsylvania (USA)
Style: Organic
Materials Used: Concrete, natural stone, glass, and aluminum.
System: Industrial materials.
Formal Analysis
Support Elements
This architectural work rises from a stone base. The house rests on a solid foundation, supported by stone walls and reinforced concrete columns. These elements support the different floors and cantilevered terraces that extend over the landscape. Each of the three terraces is an extension of the interior space.
Cover
The architectural elements are covered by the same concrete that forms the roof.
Interiors
The interior spaces feature a free plan, a result of the sum of spaces organized around a central fireplace on the ground floor. The fireplace serves as a vertical axis and part of the heating system. All spaces are organized around the chimney to maximize heat distribution. The interiors are simple, with minimal decoration. Wright innovatively uses aluminum and stone carpentry. Natural light floods the interiors through large windows, and terraces extend the interior spaces outwards.
Exterior
The exterior seamlessly integrates with nature, appearing as an extension of the landscape. The house is divided into three floors. The first is above the rock, with terraces extending outwards. The second floor features a right-angled terrace that partially covers the terrace below, acting as a ceiling. A spacious terrace extends in another direction on the top floor. There isn’t a single facade; instead, the house presents multiple perspectives.
Organic Architecture Style
Often confused with functionalism, organic architecture, as seen in this building, differs in its core concept. While functionalism dictates that biological function creates the organ, in architecture, it means that the building’s form and the arrangement of its parts are not solely determined by the architect’s rational criteria but by necessity. The overall character of the building defines the personality of each part, similar to a living being’s body. Precedents of modernism include Belgian organic architects Henry van der Velde and Antoni Gaudí. Frank Lloyd Wright further developed this style. Wright’s work can be divided into four stages:
- 1900-1910: Classical period. Writing, traveling to Japan, and building his famous “prairie houses”—summer houses with cross or T-shaped roofs and porches that connect interior and exterior spaces.
- 1910-1933: Use of geometric shapes on roofs and emphasis on the continuity between interior spaces. Major commissions in Japan. Development of the cantilever concept.
- 1933-1940: Construction of the Kaufmann House and the Johnson Wax administrative building. Perfection of the integration of Japanese inspiration in the home environment. Design of prefabricated “usonian” houses.
- 1940-1959: Dominance of planimetry and varied curved designs. Construction of the Guggenheim Museum in New York.
Key aspects of Frank Lloyd Wright’s constructions:
- Harmonization with the environment (influenced by Japanese architecture).
- Emphasis on materials (brick, wood, concrete) over excessive decoration.
- Use of industrial design materials for interior envelopes.
Notable Architects: Frank Lloyd Wright, Alvar Aalto, and the architects of the Rome group (a blend of rationalism and organicism).
Interpretation
Context
The house was built during the years when America was recovering from the economic depression. The wealthy were the first to emerge from the Great Depression, and this period saw the rise of certain social issues. These houses symbolize America’s rise to global prominence.
Function of the Work
The primary function is utilitarian—a place to live. The house became a milestone in the world of architecture.
Building
The design reflects the architect’s ideal home concept, inspired by the rural American ranches with their traditional cross-shaped layouts. The house has a centrifugal character, with the chimney as the starting point and central element.