Fallingwater, (Millrun, Pennsylvania) 1936-38; Modernism, Organic Architecture


Fallingwater and icon of American Modern and Organic Architecture. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built in 1936-38. The Koffman family were looking to build a summer retreat home. Fallingwater was commissioned by the Koffman family thanks to their son Edgar Koffman who was an apprentice studying under Wright. Frank Lloyd Wright was known for his Modern architecture and his love for nature. His organic architectural style had a big influence on how the house would be built. Wright was very fortunate to have these clients who were big into arts and always expanding their horizons to new things. This was possible because of their business that they had. As the Koffman family worked in the city it was a great joy for them to return on weekends to a respite away from the bustling city. Immediately after meeting with the Koffman family he acknowledged that the site was very important to them and figured out a way for it to be part of their stay at the waterfall. The building was constructed using simple materials such as stone which was locally sourced from a nearby quarry, glass, concrete which was a very natural building material as well as steel which was painted in Cherokee red to relate to the surrounding vegetation. The glass was encased in the red steel frame. Wright used the steel frames to delicately frame the views to the outside in a way that showed only what was essential to the user. The house used a lot of horizontal gestures especially the cantilever patio over the edge of the waterfall. This weight was supported by steel beam which were cantilevered by the stone fire place. The fire place was places specifically on the part of the ledge of the rock where the Koffman family would hang out at most. This gave the fireplace an extra symbolic reason of its placement. Frank Lloyd Wright designed the house walls perpendicular to the east to west so that the sunlight would be the most prominent source of light and heat. This was early sustainable energy. Fallingwater is considered to be Frank Lloyd Wrights master piece as it was critically acclaimed by many and is now a symbolic house for modern architecture as well as organic architecture. A staple of American architecture and Wright’s late career only launched forward because of this project. Fallingwater was gifted to the Western Pennsylvania Conservatory after 1964. Now Fallingwater is a landmark and a historic monument to the Modernist movement in architecture. The house attract million of tourists each year for them to get a feel of the jaw droping experience of falling water and it’s captivating scenery.   
Work Cited:
Peponis, John and Tahar Bellal. "Fallingwater: The Interplay between Space and Shape." Environment & Planning B, Planning & Design, vol. 37, no. 6, Nov. 2010, pp. 982-1001. EBSCOhost, arktos.nyit.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com.arktos.nyit.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bvh&AN=656244&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

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