Wright Chat

riskdoctor · Joined: 21 Nov 2005 Posts: 2

I recently purchased a prairie style house and am interested in knowing if either of the architects were students of FLW. It is uncharacteristic for the area (there are no other prairie style houses I know of in eastern Chester County PA). It was built in 1965 and designed by a firm called Thomson and Obermaier of Berwyn PA. (The firm is no longer in existance).

The footprint of the house is cruciform much like the Willets house (although the interior is done badly even by 1965 standards). The roofline and glazing are also similar although the exterior construction on all sides is something called Valley Forge Fieldstone (a light sandy color).

I've tried to google the architects but there is no information available. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

MattCline · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2005 8:27 am Post subject:

Your best bet woudl be to contact John Thorpe through the FLWBC, as he has restored so many Prairie homes of Wright's, he knows a lot about students and what they wroked on. Also, you might contact Margo or Bruce at Taliesin West. They know a lot about various Wright student and what they did.

pharding · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2005 9:07 am Post subject:

I would suggest also contacting the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects. They may know something about the firm or its principals.

You may have a knockoff done by an unrecognized architectural firm that were not former apprentices, but simply admirers of Wright's architecture.
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Paul Harding FAIA Owner and Restoration Architect for FLW's 1901 E. Arthur Davenport House, the First Prairie School House in Chicago | www.harding.com | LinkedIn