Hello kittens, I thought I’d show you this – La Miniatura – draped off in tarps against the weather. Talk about maintenance! The house was originally commissioned by a rare book dealer… Paper… Water… Paper… Anything wrong here? As a follow up to the previous post (in a round about kind of way) I quote my uncle, “Frank Lloyd Wright, great designer, piss poor engineer.”
Okay, okay, okay. A phenomenal designer, built in 1923 photographed in 1939:
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A good quotation from your uncle. Supposedly Wright was called to testify in a trial. having given his name, the lawyer asked him to tell the jury his trade. “I am the world’s greatest architect,” he answered. The courtroom was filled with giggles and the attorney said, “Not troubled with modesty are we.” To which Wright replied, “Sorry, but I’m under oath.” Thanks for visiting my new Bread and Friday blog, but considering your interests you may prefer my other blog which is a weekly piece about art. It has been around a bit longer. You can find it here if you’re interested. http://foxpudding.wordpress.com/ Nice work.
Mr. Pudding, that about sums up Mr. Wright — thank you for the anecdote. And, thank you for your blogs. I suspect you are a treasure.
Don’t forget that FLW’s granddaughter was none other than Hollywood star in the grand manner, the inimitable Anne Baxter.
Mister Christopher, as always, so illuminating! I did not know that… Cheers, dear — and thank you.
“Moses Moses you stubborn adorable fool!” Yes Nerffertri was indeed the niece of F.L.W. ~ Vickie I am loving your blog. It is making me homesick for beautiful old Los Angeles!
Ah! Superb quote! Your blog is a feast for the senses and I can see you have beautiful old Los Angeles in your heart. I send you notes of Madagascar jasmine and many thanks.
You just made my day. YOU Miss Lester are a STAR.
Hugs from San Francisco by L.A.’s prodical son.
Lanier
Isn’t that bottom photo the Lloyd Wright house in West Hollywood off Doheny? Just checking….
Hi honey! They look very similar and are both Textile Block houses – but – I think you’re right and I’ve edited it out!
Another extraordinary beauty by Frank Lloyd Wright. And doesn’t it seem that ‘maintenance’ remains a prime factor for those that own these?
It think the Prairie style residences are fairly normal in terms of maintenance… But, when Mr. Wright started “experimenting” with materials….Oh, my!
I was struck by the Mayan jungle atmosphere created by the vigourous plant growth.It could almost be used selectively for a set on an Indiana Jones movie.In reality whilst it would make a wonderful ruin I would hate it to achieve that status.
I dont think that any architect sets out to make buildings that will become ruinous except perhaps makers of follies,which are only intended to look like ruins rather than be ruins.
The only exception being the work of Hitlers chief architect Albert Speer who worked according to the strange Nazi Doctrine-The Theory Of Ruin Value- in which buildings would become great statements of the greatness of Reich that would last a thousand years.Essentially it seems to have been about Hitlers grandiosity.I am remided of the phraese{if I quote it right}-Look upon my works Ye Mighty and despair.
I think Mr. Wright probably was a fine engineer, but I do know he was always trying to save money on materials… Mayan… I think this style of architecture is referred to as “Mayan Revival” and “Textile Block” – I saw one of the original forms for molding the blocks at La Miniatura and I snapped some pictures. I’ll see if I can dig them out for you.
Yes it was called Mayan Revival so the jungle atmosphere is at once both appropriate and a tragic reflection of the state of the building/grounds.
As to the jungle atmosphere you can prune and clip to your heart’s delight — and it always springs back!
“Sooo looong, Frank Lloyd Wright”! How much do I love those images? Very, very much. Such masterpieces of design are those buildings. Thanks for reposting these, o scribe, Vickie.
🙂
Dear V
The Dandy has in mind Angkor Wat looking at these photographs angular and overgrown as they are… as opposed tto curvaceous and overgrown as it is.
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
Like and ancient ruined temple reverting to the jungle, that’s it! I’m also afraid some of the owners must have felt the same way about the upkeep…
Dearest V
“Vertical Gardens” seem very much in vogue again since Jean Nouvel’s Musee du Quai Branly in Paris… we have a couple of fairly large one’s on commercial buildings here and I do wonder how long it will be before the property owners balk at the cost of maintaining them.
Money is such a stifling thing sometimes.
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
Nice to be a “kitten” 😀
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