Wright Chat

dtc · Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 607

"It's as close as one can get to showering in a wood cabinet."

Has been my line now for the past 15 years. Very seldom does a tour pass through Dobkins with out hearing the above quote.

Just visited a good friend the other day and observed the demolition of a bathroom shower and shower pan (with its ceramic tiles) that had leaked for years onto the ceiling below. No matter what material is used there will always be periodic maintenance.

dtc · Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 607

DRN,
It was a shame the previous owners neglected the tub shower surround.
Deferred maintenance is to be blamed, it is the culprit. Most likely what ever material was initially installed you would be in the process of changing it.

50 some years always takes its toll.

peterm · Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 7:33 pm Post subject:

I suppose "maintenance free" is a myth, much like immortality...

SDR · Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 8021 Location: San Francisco

I recall DRN telling us that he was sure that he had spent more time toweling down his bath walls than in toweling himself, following a shower or bath. I can well believe it -- if he wished to maintain the woodwork. Wood (finished or not) doesn't like water; even less does it like repeated wet/dry cycles.

Perhaps if Mr Wright had practiced in Southeast Asia, all his houses would be constructed -- most beautifully -- of teak . . . ?

SDR

dtc · Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 607

SDR,

Awhile ago I posted that I've spent as much time or more drying the board & batten walls than myself. Perhaps DRN had a wooden shower surround as well.
But I believe it was fiberglass in his case.

Part of that time was drying the surface along with buffing & removing soap residue.
A process that I was accustom to when showering in a conventional shower stall.

SDR · Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 8021 Location: San Francisco

Oops. Well, thanks for the correction ! I clearly haven't been paying attention . . .

Yes, regular cleaning is the easiest way to maintain anything, it could be said.

SDR

peterm · Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 8:53 pm Post subject:

How boring it might be if our baths and kitchens would have the half life of plutonium. We would never have the joy of resurrecting them!

SDR · Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 8021 Location: San Francisco

Maybe Peter would like to re-do the Lamberson bathroom every other year, so that each of our ideas could be tried, in turn ?

Let's put it to a vote ! All in favor . . .

S

Tom · Joined: 30 Jan 2011 Posts: 903 Location: Black Mountain, NC

SDR: Where does that photo of the Bazett interior come from? (I own a table identical to the one in that shot.)

peterm · Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 8:31 am Post subject:

Is your table a Danish gate leg? The table shown is not the George Nelson for Herman Miller version. Almost every Danish furniture designer in the 50s and 60s did a take on this table. Russell Wright made one for Conant Ball.

Isn't the photo from Gephard's "The California Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright", earlier published as "Romanza"?

dtc · Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 607

SDR,

Well I do not know if Peter should swap out his bath every couple of years but please do not nominate myself or my wife, for we are as pleased as all get out with the original baths at Dobkins.
Seeing what can happen in 50 or so years to baths & workspaces, my hat goes off to Mr. and Mrs. Dobkins every day for being such caring owners.

peterm · Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 9:11 am Post subject:

And pleased you should be! All hats are off to you and the Dobkins.

Tom · Joined: 30 Jan 2011 Posts: 903 Location: Black Mountain, NC

(Peterm: Yes my table is a Gateleg. I did not know it was called this until your comment. The only identifying mark I can find on my table are the three words "made in sweden" on the bottom of one of the lower horizontal support braces. It opens up to 9ft. My Dad bought this table in Washington D.C. in 1955. I love the table. The only flaw of it really lies in it's structural instability when fully open. It is wobbly and one has to be careful around it when the table is set. Children DO NOT understand this kind of table.)

SDR · Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 8021 Location: San Francisco

Yes, the photo is by Scot Zimmerman, published in "Romanza: The California Architecture of FLLW," Chronicle Books, ©1988 by David Gebhard and Scot Zimmerman.

S

DRN · Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 1548 Location: New Jersey

dtc wrote: