PrairieMod

2014 Legacy Year “All Wright” Housewalk

To celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio and the 40th anniversary of the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust, which owns and operates the Home and Studio, 2014 is designated as the Legacy Year.
 
To mark the Legacy Year, the Wright Plus Architectural Housewalk in Oak Park, Ill. on Saturday, May 17, 2014 will be an “All Wright” event featuring eight private homes and three public buildings all designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. More after the jump...

A Look At Usonia

Wright in Racine has posted a special look at "Usonia: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Vision of the American Home,” the second iteration of SC Johnson’s permanent exhibition of At Home with Frank Lloyd Wright, which recently opened in Fortaleza Hall on the company campus in Racine. Read and see more here.

Image copyright Mark Hertzberg

Stay Wright Overnight In Austin, MN

The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Elam House in Austin, MN will join the ranks of a dozen other Wright sites available for overnight stays across the country. Read more about it here and then sign up for your stay here.

Image copyright Diane Plunkett Latham

SCJ Tower To Open For Tours

Big news for architecture lovers was posted on Mark Hertzberg's Wright in Racine blog: Frank Lloyd Wright's SC Johnson Wax Research Tower will soon be partially open next year! This is really exciting because the Tower has been closed to access since 1981. Read more about the work underway to prepare the Tower for tours and see tons more photos here.

Image copyright Mark Hertzberg

FSC Wright Projects Get Funding

Florida legislature finally hashed out a deal over the weekend to fund two important projects at Frank Lloyd Wright's Florida Southern College: $500,000 for the Sharp Family Tourism and Education Center that is being constructed from unbuilt Wright plans and more than $300,000 to restore the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel. Read more here.

Image via www.buildingtheusonianhouse.com

Taliesin Tours Begin May 1

The 600-acre Taliesin Estate, which contains Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic home, is once again awakening from hibernation to welcome tourists. The full tour season begins May 1st and the National Historic site will be open every day through October 31st. Get details and plan your visit here.

Image via taliesinpreservation.org

A Trip To Fabyan Villa

Head's up! Wright In Kankakee is planning a trip to Fabyan Villa, a 1907 Frank Lloyd Wright redesign, and its Japanese garden on Saturday, June 1, 2013, in Geneva, IL. After the tour, enjoy lunch and shopping in historic Geneva for the afternoon. Bus departs Lowe's, Bradley, at 8 AM and Manteno Country Inn and Suites at 8:30 AM. Cost is $65. Call Karen Sturgis at 815-432-5878 for more information.

Image via Wright in Kankakee

Bach House Buzz Building

There's exciting buzz building about Frank Lloyd Wright's Emil Bach House in Chicago. This little late Prairie gem is undergoing an extensive restoration by Tawani Enterprises, a firm owned by Chicago philanthropist and businessman, Col. JN Pritzker (IL-Retired). The house was commissioned in 1914 by Emil Bach, an early admirer of Wright’s work. The project is scheduled for completion in July, 2013 and will be open for overnight guests and exclusive private events. Check out the restoration progress as it's being documented on the Emil Bach House website here.

Image via blog.emilbachhouse.com

Dine In Prairie Style

If you've always wanted to dine surounded by the beauty of Frank Lloyd Wright's finest Prairie home, then here's your chance. Experience the Dana-Thomas House in the grand manner of Susan Lawrence Dana and as Frank Lloyd Wright intended. There are a few seats still left for this special dinner on Saturday, May 4, 2013. The cost for this once-in-a-lifetime experience is $300 per person. For reservations and more info call 217.788.9452.

Photo © RT McDonald 2012

Usonian Exhibit Coming To SC Johnson

Mark Hertzberg reports that "The Frank Lloyd Wright At Home" exhibition in Fortaleza Hall on the SC Johnson campus in Racine is changing over to the next iteration (on Usonian Homes) and is expected to reopen the first weekend in May. Learn more at his blog, Wright in Racine.

Image copyright Mark Hertzberg

(Re)Visioning Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House

UbSpectrum.com recently showcased the efforts of University of Buffalo architecture professor, Edward Steinfeld, and his students to help develop “universal” or “inclusive” design changes at Frank Lloyd Wright's Darwin D. Martin House that will enable visitors with visual impairments to experience the architecture in a meaningful way. Read more about it here.

Image via ubspectrum.com

Behind The Velvet Ropes Tour At The Gamble House

The LA Times recently wrote-up the ultimate VIP tour for the ultimate Arts & Crafts bungalow: The Greene & Greene-designed Gamble House in Pasadena, CA offers a "Behind the Velvet Ropes" tour that allows architecture devotees to experience parts of the home normally off-limits. Read more here.

Image via The LA Times

SAH Goes To Cuba

Due to overwhelming demand on the recent Society of Architectural Historians Study Tour to Cuba they have added a second tour to be held May 15-27, 2013. SAH has filled most of the spaces with those who were on the waiting list from the first tour, so now six (6) spaces remain available. If you wish to participate, please send Kathy Sturm an email by March 27 - ksturm@sah.org. Do not hesitate to let SAH know if you are interested and able to travel—the remaining spots will fill quickly. Details here.

Image via www.sah.org

Pre-Season Tours Of The Taliesin Estate

With the arrival of spring, the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center will re-open its doors, welcoming the public to Frank Lloyd Wright’s private 600-acre estate, Taliesin. These pre-season tours, which begin on Saturday, April 6 and continue each weekend through the month, offer guests a unique overview of the serene valley that the renowned architect explored in his youth and to which he would return as an adult in order to build his home, Taliesin. The full array of interior tours will commence on May 1. More after the jump...

Building Of The Month: Graycliff

Reine Hauser sends word that Frank Lloyd Wright's Graycliff in Buffalo, NY was selected as “Building of the Month” by the 20th Century Society of Great Britain. Read more about here.

Image via graycliffestate.org

Travel Wright: British Arts And Crafts

Interested in seeing the Arts and Crafts treasures of the UK and saving money? Well you're in luck! The The Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust is saving travelers $500 for a limited time if they book a spot by March 31, 2013 on the Travel Wright fall excursion, "From Morris to Mackintosh: British Arts and Crafts", a spectacular journey Sept. 5-14, 2013 through England and Scotland. More after the jump...

Attention To Details At Dana House

The State Journal-Register reports that the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Susan Lawrence Dana house in Springfield, IL will start offering special two-hour "Attention to Detail" tours that focus on the story behind the restoration of the residence and its plethora of unique design qualities. Learn more here.

Image via sj-r.com

Speaking Easy About The AZ Biltmore's Mystery Room

HotelChatter.com reports that the Albert McCarthur-designed (with input from Frank Lloyd Wright) Arizona Biltmore Resort will finally reveal its "Mystery Room" (a former prohibition era speakeasy lounge) to the public as a restored drinking lounge—no password required. Read more here.

Image via hotelchatter.com

If you've ever wandered the legendary Arizona Biltmore Resort, you've likely stumbled upon a photo of the "Mystery Room," though never the room itself as the location has long been — you guessed it — a mystery. That's all about to change; last week we were among the first to learn that this mysterious room will soon be revealed and restored to a version of its former self as a speakeasy lounge. - See more at: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2013/2/27/13249/0972/hotels/Arizona_Biltmore%92s_Mystery_Room_Returns_to_Speakeasy,_Man-Cave_Glory#sthash.WLkF08wJ.dpuf

Spotting Wright In Legoland

Scott T. sends PrairieMod readers photo postcards from his trip to Legoland, FL where he spotted some pretty sweet plastic brick recreations of the Guggenheim museum and Florida Southern College's Annie Pfeiffer Chapel. Thanks Scott!

Images copyright Scott Templeton

A Photo Tour Of Florida Southern College

PrairieMod pal, John Clouse, was kind enough to share some photos from his recent trip to Florida Southern College as part of the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy's "Out and About Wright" event. Enjoy this photographic virtual tour after the jump...

iGuggenheim

Major museums around the world are jumping on the smartphone app craze, including the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Guggenheim museum in New York City. Read more here and then download the free app here.

Image via iTunes

We Heart Creative Preservationists!

Here's a great post on a group of young preservationists in Buffalo, NY, who've come up with a creative (and sweet) way of calling attention to historic buildings in need of saving. It's always comforting to see others joining the preservation fray.

Image via designsponge.com

Florida Southern College's Cat Houses

Bill S. sends word that that Florida Southern College plans to build six small structures inspired by the campus' Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings...for their population of about 100 feral cats. Why don't they just let the cats live in the half-finished Usonian visitors center instead? Read more here.

Image via The Ledger

Frank Lloyd Wright And The Prairie School In The Midwest

We wanted to help spread the word about the National Endowment for the Humanities Landmarks of America workshop for teachers, "Frank Lloyd Wright and the Prairie School in the Midwest" which is sponsored by Wright on the Park, Mason City, Iowa, at The Historic Park Inn Hotel, the last standing hotel in the world designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Emphasis on using architecture to teach art, history and culture. Leading scholars, tours of Prairie School architecture, time for curriculum development. Workshop offered in both July and August, 2013. Visit this link for details.

Image via Wright On The Park

Don't Miss This Design Exhibit

If you have not been to visit the ArchiTech Gallery in Chicago's gallery district, then what are you waiting for? The current exhibit is titled "Design 1890-1995" and features some rare and wonderful examples of design-related drawings, blueprints, sketches, and much more from luminaries like Frank Lloyd Wright, Keck & Keck, Bertrand Goldberg, and many more. Do yourself a favor and make plans to visit soon. More details here.

Image via ArchiTech Gallery website

Artist In Residence

S.J. Robinson posted a Facebook link to Town & Country magazine's website and a collection of photos that fuse spring 2013 fashion collections with the iconic desert architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West. See them here.

Photograph by Bettina Lewin; Styled by Sophie Pera

2013 Walking Tours Of Historic Riverside Illinois

The Frederick Law Olmsted Society invites you and your family and friends to learn about Riverside, Illinois' History. Find out more after the jump...

Heller's Take On Hotel Lautner

Hotel Lautner, the renovated and rent-able John Lautner boutique hotel in Palm Springs, CA, is hosting limited Engagement Tours and and art exhibit of Mid-Century Modern artist Danny Heller's work in Celebration of Modernism Week 2013. It's also a chance to get a limited edition Heller poster immortalizing the building. Find out the event details here and more on the poster here.
 
Image copyright Danny Heller

TWest Photo Bonanza

The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation was in a celebratory New Year mood and posted an amazing selection of beautiful photos of Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West taken in 1942 by apprentice Robert Carroll May. See all of these stunning images here.

Credit: The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Archives (The Museum of Modern Art | Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library, Columbia University, New York)

Winter Wright

Chicago has been surprisingly spared from the usual amount of holiday snow it is used to. But it looks like Buffalo has gotten its share--as seen in these images of Frank Lloyd Wright's "Graycliff" decked out in icicles. Check out more Wright winter wonderland shots of Graycliff here.

Image via examiner.com

Silver Lake's Mod Mile

Curbed LA recently put together a Modern Architecture walking tour showcasing a particularly blessed street in Los Angeles' Silver Lake. Micheltorena Street has 13 private residences by the likes of John Lautner, R.M. Schindler, Gregory Ain, and more...all in one mile! See the map and stops here.

Image via Curbed LA

The Excitement Is Building

Lynn Becker recently visited the ArchiTech Gallery in Chicago and was treated to a preview of the eagerly anticipated monograph coming next year on Alfonso Iannelli (designed by your PrairieMod editor!) I know it seems like it's taking forever, but let Lynn tell you--it'll be worth the wait. Obviously, as we get closer to publication I'll let readers know more details!

Image credit: Lynn Becker

Yuletide Tours At Graycliff

If you're looking for some calm during the holiday season, then try to make one of the Yuletide Tours at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Graycliff Estate in Buffalo, NY. Weather permitting, well trained docents will lead tours of the festively decorated Graycliff Estate on Wednesday, Dec. 26, Thursday, Dec. 27, Friday, Dec. 28, Saturday, December 29, Sunday, December 30, and Monday, December 31, 2012. Both Basic, one hour tours and In-Depth, two-hour tours are available each day. Reservations are required; please call 716-947-9217 or email graycliff@verizon.net. Visit the Graycliff website for more details. Happy Holidays!

Image via graycliffestate.org

Free Tours This Winter At SC Johnson

There's a lot happening around Racine, Wisconsin recently—add to the list the news that there are free tours being offered this winter to see the amazing Frank Lloyd Wright-designed campus of SC Johnson (including the latest addition, The SC Johnson Gallery: At Home with Frank Lloyd Wright). Read more about it here and then get tour info here.

Image via scjohnson.com

Plan To Attend This Wright Workshop

Frank Lloyd Wright's beautifully restored Park Inn Hotel will be the site of a national Endowment for the Humanities Landmarks of America Workshop on July 14-19 and Aug. 4-9, 2013. The topic will be of interest to PrairieMod readers: "Frank Lloyd Wright and the Prairie School in the Midwest." Read more here.

Image credit: JEFF HEINZ/The Globe Gazette

Northeast Portland Mid-Century Driving Tour

Portland, Oregon, has a plethora of architecture styles, notably, a treasure trove of mid-century homes — many in their original condition. The Mid Century Modern League offers a "self-guided driving tour of some of our favorite outer NE mid-century ranch neighborhoods, with specific information on tracts and houses built by renowned architects and builders." For those of you who find yourself in the area (or who already live there), this would be a fun — and dry — way to spend a wet winter weekend in NE Portland.

Image via Martrese W.

Mod Furnishings In Oklahoma City

After our recent post about Mike Brown's collection of mid-century architecture post cards, Oklahoma City design instructor Jim Watson paid a visit to Mike's OKC vintage shop. Jim reported back about his enjoyable visit with Mike and the treasure trove of mid-century goodies at Retrokc. If you find yourself in Oklahoma City, be sure to check out this part of midtown, which is undergoing an urban renaissance with many great shops and restaurants (one serves sumptuous-looking grilled cheese sandwiches). And if you can't make it to OKC, a sampling of Mike's goods can be found at his Etsy shop. The vintage fabrics are particularly fetching!

Images via Retrokc

Pleasant Home For The Holidays

The George W. Maher-designed Pleasant Home in Oak Park, IL will be hosting a wide array of festive events this holiday season, including their annual holiday open house & artisans sale
Sunday, December 2, 2012 from 1-4 pm. Check out details for this and all the other events here.

Image via Pleasant Home Foundation

Celebrate Archi-Friday

Forget "Black Friday"—enjoy "Archi-Friday" the day after Thanksgiving with a free tour of the Wright-re-designed Rookery atrium in Chicago or with a special autumn-infused tour of Wright's Graycliff in Buffalo. If you have to shop, then feel good about buying something in one of the gift shops and supporting these beautiful places' preservation missions. Learn more here and here.

Image via graycliffestate.org

Retoring Jenson's Vision

Tom K. sends a link to a recent article in the Omaha World-Herald about Jens Jensen, and Joslyn Castle restoring his landscape architecture around the grounds. Read it here.

Image via joslyncastle.com

The Spotlight On Springfield

Springfield, Illinois's most famous icon is getting the celebrity treatment this week with the opening of Steven Spielberg's new movie, Lincoln. However, Springfield has another famous icon worth your attention: The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Dana-Thomas House. Read more about it here.

Image via The State Journal-Register

Child Of The Sun

The Washington Post recently spotlighted the world’s only Wright-designed college and the largest single-site collection of his works: Florida Southern College in Lakeland Florida. Read more here.

Image via washingtonpost.com

Wright Riddle Answer

Yesterday we posted a photo from Patrick J. Mahoney that tested the guessing power of readers as to which Frank Lloyd Wright house it was taken at. PrairieMod reader Rob Barros guessed correctly first: the photo was from the Lowell Walter House ("Cedar Rock") gate. At left is another photo to give you a better sense of the source. Thanks Patrick and to all the guessers!

Image credit: Patrick J. Mahoney

Wright Again

Fresh off his recent trip to Mason City, IA for the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy Conference, architect and author Ranolph C. Henning sent info on a new book about the restoration of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Park Inn Hotel that he thought PrairieMod readers would want to know about. More after the jump...

Wright For Bed And Breakfast

The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed S. Pearl Elam House (1951) in Austin, MN may soon be open as a bed and breakfast, joining the list of Wright houses you can experience the way the Architect intended: As actual homes. Read more here and here.

Image via austindailyherald.com

Tour Some Pleasant Homes

The Pleasant Home Foundation will host a tour of six unique Prairie School and Arts & Crafts style homes this Saturday October 13, 2012 in Oak Park,IL...many open to the public for the first time.  Event tickets also include a complimentary tour of Pleasant Home. Proceeds will benefit the Pleasant Home Foundation and its work in continuing to preserve, restore and operate Pleasant Home. Get details and tickets here.

Image via pleasanthome.org

Head West This Fall

Paul R. sends a link to a bevvy of great new walking tours taking place this Fall in the architectural MCM Mecca of Palm Springs. Check them out here.

Image via visitpalmsprings.com

Rowing With Wright

Buffalo, NY is awash in Wright architecture, both new and old. One example is the recently built Fontana Boathouse, based on an unbuilt 1905 design by Frank Lloyd Wright originally planned for Lake Mendota in Wisconsin. Find out how this design ended up in Bufflao by reading more here.

Image via foreveryoungwny.com

Wright's Oak Park

Oak Park is hallowed ground for architecture lovers, due to the fact that the leafy suburb of Chicago boasts the largest concentration of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed structures in the world. Read more about what makes the OP so remarkable here. Then plan your visit here.

Image via washingtonpost.com

Ohio: The Wright Swing State

Ohio is constantly in the news these days as an important "swing state" in the upcoming presidential election. Well—politics aside—architecture lovers should plan to "swing" through Ohio to take-in the several wonderful examples of works by Frank Lloyd Wright. Read more about it here.

Image via cleveland.com