Wright Chat

[JimM]

One of the best! Did I miss a shot of the "saucer" planter balancing on the entry drive wall?

I recall you mentioning some time ago it was placed by Bob?

Wonderful.

[KevinW]

The only photo that shows the saucer is on my Flicker set, but is an evening shot, and hard to see, plus, since then the trumpet vines have been trimmed away from the bowl, so now much easier to see. I'll be adding more pics tonight.
The family also sent me a picture of Bob on a ladder examining the saucer, which I will add.
Thanks for all the positive comments. I hope my descriptions and photos are of value.

Now that it is getting into fall, the evening sun is coming through the clerestories into the kitchen and dining room, making interesting shadows from the angular copper fascia.
While the central valley gets extremely warm, seems to stay in the 90's all summer, we have not had to use the A.C. more that a few times. Hardly ever at night. Around 8:30 usually a nice breeze begins to pick up. We open up the windows at the bedroom wing, and the cool evening breeze makes its way through the house. There is an operable perf facing Northeast in the living room that really helps circulate the air. Of course 15 pairs of french doors can be opened too. A few have screens.

The kitchen is wonderful, roomy and very efficient, a joy to cook in. Being accessible from both the living room and dining room, and the open perfs make the kitchen as private or involved as you want to make it. Outside the side door in between the guest quarters and the dining room makes a great place to have the BBQ, since there is a soffit light, and sidewalk, I can conveniently grill something, even after coming home from work late, without hassle.

Again, thanks for the comments.
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KevinW

[BBuck]

What a wonderful home! I've yet to stay a night or two in one of these beautiful Usonians. What a treat this must be Kevin! I suspect one's blood pressure would drop and the head to clear itself in a matter of days. The grounds are equally lovely.

Thanks so much for sharing the stories and pictures. And yes for some glimpses of Mr. Beharka's work.

-BBuck

[SDR]

W A Storrer plan

[KevinW]

The first plan shown is obviously an earlier scheme. The Storrer scheme is close to what is existing, with a few errors.
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KevinW

[Jeff Myers]

one of my many numerous favorite houses Wright designed.
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JAT
Jeff T

[SDR]

The Taliesin drawing -- published in "Romanza: the California architecture of FLLW" -- seems to show that an existing orchard, with a rather wide spacing of trees, existed on the property that the house was designed for. I don't recall seeing the remains of such an orchard when I visited the house . . . though there are certainly some magnificent trees present.

SDR

[Wrighter]

Kevin--thanks for posting the photos of this gem.

SDR's first drawing shows the dining table extending into the play space--is that accurate to the house as built?

[KevinW]

Yes, the dining room table was built for that location. Later, Buck commissioned George Nakashima to design and build a new dining room table and chairs, and some chairs and tables that were used next to the fireplace in the playroom. The original table still exists and is still in the family.
A china cabinet was designed and built by Bob on the wall that the dining table used to butt up against, below the shelf.
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KevinW

[KevinW]

SDR, there is still a small walnut orchard, beyond the workshop, maybe an acre or so in area.
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KevinW

[m.perrino]

Kevin : Many many thanks for posting these excellent photos. What a gem of a house. I was fortunate to meet Bob at one of the Taliesin Fellows reunions. A tremendous individual. Anything you can post about or by him would be appreciated. The more FLW buildings I visit, it appears to me and I am not an architect or engineer, that the quality of the building - and many do vary - is the result of the "job captain" / on site apprentice. To my mind the higher quality the apprentice, the better the construction. I just visited the Walter house in Iowa, John deKoven Hill's first job. Amazingly good.
I am sure I can speak for all of us on the boards; we are happy for you and OH SO JEALOUS ! ! ! LOL Michael

[KevinW]

Michael,
Thanks for the comments, I wake up everyday wondering how I became so fortunate for the opportunity. It has been life changing. The first time Bob took me over to the Fawcett House I got a feeling I had never experienced before, and I have been in hundreds of important buildings by many Architects. I do have a similar love for Taliesin West. I became instantly connected with Fawcett, but like I said before, being shown around by Buck and Bob was pretty darn special.

The house itself makes me feel as if Wright perfected simplicity with this opus. It all makes so much sense. My wife told me a few nights ago that its honesty in design and construction makes living easier and with greater pleasure. She loves the fact that there is no nonsense, its all layed out there. Concrete block is comfortable being what it is, and no apologies are made for the plywood construction.
The house is in many ways a celebration. Celebration of the unique and creative individuals who came together to create something so special, and celebration of its roots, being surrounded by the reality of the Central Valley life. Agriculture here is a way of life, and the Fawcett house responds perfectly as a ranch house. It is exactly what it needs to be.
This weekend I will work on the flicker site to create a set of Bobs buildings, and to show more pics of the Fawcett house, orchard etc...

Thanks everyone.
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KevinW

[Palli Davis Holubar]

Can any read the printed notations?
top: Possiblity ______ this _____

within garden space: Suggest_________ these modules

____________________

____________________ etc

Are these notations from the Fawcetts? Bob? Generally Wright uses cursive notations.
Do these comments relate to subsequent alterations of the plan?

[Jeff Myers]

Palli here is what I see, Not in Order.


linen coat closet etc
suggest aluminum in these modules
No _________ to shelves. This is hard as I see" No mitre cabinet
for p____ room
to shelves"
Possibility of extending Cabinetry to this point

I might be wrong about the Powder Room/Bathroom but I know the others are right.
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JAT
Jeff T

[SDR]

Sorry -- there's just not enough there, on the screen. Looking at the book with a glass, here's what those interesting notes -- perhaps by the client -- read, left to right:

[room marked Powder Room]
Linen
Guest Closet
etc.

[room marked Laundry]
As in original
for Powder Room,
No Shower

Suggest elimination
these modules
[note wiggly lines]

Possibility:
extending
Kitchen to This
Point

_____________________________________

Persons claiming to "know" things which in fact they cannot know, do not help the cause of scholarship. Sorry, but them's the facts. . .

SDR