Wright Chat

[Wrightgeek]

Here is a link to a story that appeared in this morning's Columbus Dispatch about the perilous situation surrounding the Gunning Residence here in Central Ohio, designed by Tony Smith and Ted Van Fossen.

The article discusses a recent visit to the house by Tony Smith's two daughters, Seton and Kiki, both of whom are nationally-known artists, like their late father. They were accompanied on their trip to Columbus by the director of the foundation responsible for the oversight of Tony Smith's estate, which is based in NYC. The visit was made to create further awareness about the plight of the property, in the hopes that it can be saved from the wrecking ball.

On a side note, I was on the Natural Trust For Historic Preservation website recently, and saw an article there about the history of the Gunning house and its current predicament. Hopefully this flurry of media attention will bring forth a savior who will have both the inclination and the resources necessary to purchase and restore the property.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/life/stories/2009/01/09/1A_GUNNING_HOUSE.ART_ART_01-09-09_D1_K9CEVHT.html?sid=101

[KevinW]

I think it is the "primitive" interior that somehow draws me to his house. I love the simple. The stonework is indeed funky, but the rest appeals to me.
_________________
KevinW

[peterm]

i agree!

the interior spaces look remarkably sophisticated for 1940, a little like john lautner nine years later. it seems like a so. cal or desert house placed in ohio. even though the stone work has a primitive quality, this is not just a rustic cabin, but an imaginative piece of organic architecture.

[SDR]

"In 1938, Smith, from New Jersey, and van Fossen, a native of Columbus, were students at the New Bauhaus School in Chicago, a center of modern art and design.

"Smith and Cuneo apprenticed with Wright.

"Van Fossen later helped design Rush Creek Village in Worthington -- 49 homes constructed in the 1950s and considered one of the best examples of a middle-class community built according to Wright's principles.

"Kiki and Seton are daughters of Tony Smith, who had an architectural firm during the 1940s but turned to sculpture -- for which he is best-known -- in the 1950s. He died in 1980."


I wasn't aware that Tony Smith had been at Taliesin, or that he had practiced architecture. He is best known as a sculptor, of course. . .

http://images.google.com/images?client=safari&rls=en&q=Tony+Smith&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title

I wonder if Palli and/or Michael Holubar have visited the Gunning house.


SDR

[Wrightgeek]

SDR-

Here's a link to a previous thread about Tony Smith from last November.

http://savewright.org/wright_chat/viewtopic.php?t=3060&highlight=tony+smith

While I do not know if the Holubars have been to the site, I have personally visited several times, the first being about 2 years ago, and again as recently as several months ago. The property is only about 10-12 miles from where I live.

I know that there has been a bit of a mixed response to the design here on the forum based on the photos that are available, but I can tell you that the property is quite impressive when seen in person. Even in its present state of disrepair, it is easy to see and feel the quality of the design, as well as its integration into the topography of the spectacular building site. Rest assured, this is not on par with the best of FLW's Usonian work, but keep in mind that this was done in 1940, only five years after Jacobs I. The design and execution may be a bit on the rough or even crude side, but it needs to be remembered that this is the work of 20-something architects and designers, yet it represents an important link in the evolution of organic architecture and the principles of the "natural house" and Usonian architecture, inspired both directly and indirectly by the master himself.

As such, it would be a terrible shame to see it destroyed, to be replaced with yet another mundane office park, medical building, or strip center. Here's hoping against that outcome.

[RA]

SDR,

Are you referring to the Illinois Institute of Technology when you mentioned the New Bauhaus School in Chicago?

[peterm]

the new bauhaus chicago:

http://www.bauhaus.de/english/bauhaus1919/nachfolge1919.htm

[SDR]

RA, I was quoting a portion of the article linked by Wrightgeek at the top of this page.


SDR

[DavidC]

A video walk-around showing the current state of the Gunning House - [7:50]


David

[GKevinK]

Here is a working link to the Columbus landmarks site which has more pictures...

http://columbuslandmarks.org/advocacy/gunning-house.php

[SDR]

Don't miss the first half of the Glenbrow walk-around:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0HHsyr3PTU&feature=related

I love these quasi-creepy, silent video investigations. This guy is good: full sound (for a "you are there"/Blow Up ambience) but no voice-over --
just the same images as you would get if you were there yourself, and generally the most careful and thoughtful tour, including full stops for
interesting or vital "frames."

I'm going back for the other ones (by different people ?) on that You/Tube page. . .

SDR

[dtc]

SDR---you are right. As I viewed it, all I could think of is a movie set. The next set for another teenage "Friday the 13th" film.

The film crew would love this location.

dtc

[SDR]

Heck -- I would love that "location" ! The two-story studio (?) is sort of Schindler ? Who was the architect ? The house comes closer to Usonian
that anything else I've seen at Rush Creek. And so cool. The narrow stacked horizontal windows are unique, while the long thin strip windows and
the flush glazing on the opposite wall are somehow like what one might find in a later and more metallic architecture -- very "now," in fact. But the
woodsy and wild environment, both built and natural, that exists today is strikingly Organic, in every sense.

Interior details are, again, somewhat Schindlerian, to my eye -- specifically the built-in cabinetry. The masonry, on the other hand, is yet another take
on Wright's signature stonework, and one of the more successful ones, from what I see. . .

SDR

[DavidC]

On Saturday, September 26th, My wife and I had the opportunity to tour (along with Wright Chat's own 'Wrightgeek') Gunning House. It is in tough shape at the moment and in desperate need of rescuing, but remains a wonderful example of organic architecture. It was created as an architectural collaboration between Ted Van Fossen, Tony Smith and Larry Cuneo - all aged 27 or less (19, in Van Fossen's case!) and built only a few short years (1940) after the appearance of Jacobs I.

We are very grateful to have had the chance to see this fantastic home. And here are the pictures I took on that day - (they can be viewed individually or as a slideshow).


David

[bralon]