That Far Corner: Frank Lloyd Wright in Los Angeles | Artbound | Season 9, Episode 1 | KCET

Summary

The video script explores the enigmatic architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright, particularly his early 20th-century works in Southern California. The narrative delves into the personal and professional life of Wright, linking his designs to his mid-life crisis, love affairs, and the brutal murder of his lover, Mamah Borthwick Cheney. The script suggests that Wright's use of Pre-Columbian motifs, especially Mayan influences, and his innovative concrete block system were influenced by his emotional state and the desire to create an original American architecture distinct from the prevailing Spanish Colonial style. The houses, described as muscular, brutal, and romantic, are analyzed for their imposing presence and the sense of sorrow they convey, possibly reflecting Wright's personal grief. The video also touches on the cultural impact of these structures, their adaptation in modern media like video games, and the ongoing efforts to preserve and interpret them.

Takeaways

• 🏠 The script discusses Frank Lloyd Wright's unique architectural designs, particularly focusing on his early 20th-century houses in Southern California, which are described as enigmatic and temple-like.
• 🔍 The narrator, an architecture critic, explores the influence of Pre-Columbian architecture on Wright's work, especially following a personal tragedy and a mid-life crisis that led him to Southern California.
• 🕊️ The story of the Alice Millard House by Frank Lloyd Wright is highlighted, showcasing Wright's use of Pre-Columbian ornament and the crypt-like nature of the building, which is seen as both mysterious and not typically domestic.
• 🌟 Wright's houses in L.A. are contrasted with the conventional Spanish Colonial style prevalent at the time, with Wright rejecting European influences in favor of creating an original American architecture.
• 🏢 The script describes Wright's development of a new modular system using concrete blocks made from the soil of the building site itself, which was both a structural and decorative solution.
• 👥 The impact of Wright's personal life, including his relationship with Mamah Borthwick Cheney and the subsequent murders at Taliesin, is suggested to have influenced the somber and dramatic nature of his L.A. houses.
• 🎨 The houses are analyzed in terms of their cultural and historical context, with connections drawn to Mayan temples, Pre-Columbian designs, and the concept of a 'Mayan god' as described by Wright's biographer Brendan Gill.
• 🏛️ The script touches on the reception of Wright's houses in L.A., noting that they were seen as unconventional and not well-received by all, with some critics finding them too severe and lacking joy.
• 💡 The influence of Wright's time in California extends beyond his personal work, as his son Lloyd Wright continued designing in the area, though without the same gravitas as his father's designs.
• 📚 The script concludes with a reflection on the legacy of Wright's L.A. houses, their status as anomalies in architectural history, and their influence on modern media such as video games.
• 👴 A personal perspective is provided by Eric Lloyd Wright, Frank Lloyd Wright's grandson, who shares insights into his grandfather's state of mind and the reasons behind his move to L.A.

Q & A

What was the Alice Millard House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and why was it considered mysterious?

The Alice Millard House, located in Pasadena, was one of the five remarkable houses designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in Southern California in the early 1920s. It was considered mysterious due to its strikingly inscrutable and enigmatic design, which didn't resemble typical domestic architecture of the time.

Why did the narrator spend a night alone in the Alice Millard House?

The narrator, an architecture critic, was given the opportunity by the house's owner, who collected famous houses as others do with art pieces. The owner allowed the narrator to explore the house, even spend the night there, which was an intriguing and eerie experience for the narrator.

What was the architectural style of Frank Lloyd Wright's early work in Oak Park, and how did it evolve?

Frank Lloyd Wright began with a Shingle Style house, using his Home and Studio in Oak Park as a laboratory to break away from traditional Victorian architecture. His designs evolved into the Prairie House style, which hugged the ground with a horizontal momentum well-suited to the Midwest landscape.

How did Frank Lloyd Wright's personal life influence his architectural work?

Wright's personal life, including his relationship with Mamah Borthwick Cheney and the tragic murder at Taliesin, deeply influenced his work. These events led him to seek new directions in his architecture, experimenting with new materials and styles, and moving beyond traditional residential architecture.

What was the significance of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in San Diego for Wright's work?

The 1915 Panama-California Exposition in San Diego exposed Wright to a rich variety of Pre-Columbian designs, particularly Mayan architecture, which fascinated him. This exposure likely influenced his later work, including the design of the Alice Millard House and other buildings in Southern California.

What was the impact of the murder at Taliesin on Frank Lloyd Wright's life and work?

The murder of Mamah Borthwick Cheney and others at Taliesin deeply affected Wright. It led to a period of despair and a significant shift in his work, as he sought to move away from the Midwest and explore new architectural styles and designs.

Why did Frank Lloyd Wright choose to use concrete blocks in his Los Angeles houses?

Wright chose concrete blocks for his Los Angeles houses because they were indigenous to Southern California and could be democratic and affordable on a mass scale. He also liked that concrete could be easily stamped with Maya patterns, making the material and decoration of the house one and the same.

What was unique about the textile block system used in the Freeman House?

The textile block system used in the Freeman House allowed the concrete blocks to be stacked without any mortar, requiring less skilled labor. The blocks were then woven together with vertical and horizontal steel rods, creating a unique structural and decorative element.

How did the Ennis House reflect Frank Lloyd Wright's vision of a Pre-Columbian temple relocated to Southern California?

The Ennis House, with its monumental and impenetrable design, looming over Los Feliz, embodied Wright's vision of a Pre-Columbian temple. It was dense, introverted, and suggestive of a crypt, much like the other concrete block houses Wright designed in Los Angeles.

Why did Frank Lloyd Wright leave Los Angeles in 1923?

Wright left Los Angeles in 1923 because he felt alienated from the real estate market and did not receive the reception he had hoped for. His experimental concrete block houses were not well-received, and people were not willing to take the risk to build with these unconventional materials.

How have Frank Lloyd Wright's Los Angeles houses been perceived over time, and how do they influence contemporary culture?

Over time, Wright's Los Angeles houses have been seen as muscular, brutal, romantic, and strange. They have influenced contemporary culture by appearing in movies, video games like Minecraft, and even as a setting in a video game starring Buffy the Vampire Slayer.