AN INTERVIEW WITH COREY CRAWFORD, TALIESIN APPRENTICE
Some time ago, PrairieMod featured architect and Taliesin Apprentice Corey Crawford's Personal Outdoor Structures. Since that time, Corey's firm has grown in both recognition and scope. We thought with all of this change, it would be a great opportunity to catch-up with Corey and see what he's been up to.
Eric: You recently changed the name of your company from when we first featured your work on PrairieMod. Why?
Corey: We changed our name from Personal Outdoor Dwelling System to StudiOrganic, since our business has expanded from just outdoor designs to all thing sustainable. StudiOrganic reflects our core value in design.
Eric: Talk a little bit about why you added the line of officially licensed Frank Lloyd Wright Collection™ reproduction art glass by Truth In Glass to your business.
Corey: I had the privilege of lecturing at the city of Richardson, Texas and met Roger Ginnet of Truth in Glass. We both realized that our love for Art Glass was the same. I have been able to work with Roger, answering design questions for the reproduction of Frank Lloyd Wright Art Glass. This has be fun to watch the development to product delivery process. Truth in Glass has an honesty about their work and continuing the legacy of Mr. Wright. So, it was an honor that Mr. Ginnet, authorized StudiOrganic to resell the Art Glass line. This also gave me the chance to give back to the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture. My apprenticeship at Taliesin was life changing for me as a person and a designer. We will be donating to a Taliesin apprentice scholarship fund from the proceeds of the glass. We are listed on Amazon as well as having our own online store.
Eric: As a graduate of the Taliesin School of Architecture, how do you feel the principles of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Organic Architecture are best applied to real world situations?
Corey: I could write for hours on this subject! Mr. Wright's strong feeling for nature and how it affected a person, in my opinion, is one of the ways to be applied in the real world. Every remodel we do, I consider this idea, of blurring the outside with inside. Mr. Wright, really did think of his clients. Mr. Wright thought about how the clients would interact with the space, how they used the space, how they felt physically in the space. These are basic wants and needs, and can be translated into great design today. Mr. Wright studied the solar angles for his designs, and now we use computers to accomplish this for better design.
Eric: Do you feel the “green” movement is changing American attitudes in a real way, or do you feel it’s just an empty fad?
Corey: I think we have short memories. Even when the gas prices skyrocketed and came back down some, everyone started thinking "green", however for a majority of people it has helped people understand that it is a serious issue. I have seen an increase in business of green consulting for residences for instance. So, yes, I feel that the green movement has started changing some ideas in America. We have to be more open minded and leave behind the attitude of "It is our right to do whatever we want with whatever we want."
Eric: What would you say is your dream project?
Corey: Every project I do is a dream! I love everything I do. Right now my dream project is in India. Designing an Eco village. Seeing simple solutions helping people. pm
::StudiOrganic website
Images copyright SudiOrganic
Eric O'Malley is a co-founder and contributor to PrairieMod. He lives with his wife in the Little Red House, a Mid-Century Modern ranch in suburban Chicago. You can email him at eric@prairiemod.com.
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