Frank Lloyd Wright, Taliesin, Wisconsin and Beyond

Having grown up in Green Bay, I was  completely obliviously to the genius of Frank Lloyd Wright until a few years ago as I passed by the vistor's center of Taliensin on my way across the state. Knowing virtually nothing about architecture I was unsure what to expect when I arrived and purchased my ticket to Spring Green's Taliesin.

The Estate Highlights Tour is probably similar to what Wright may have wanted. Guides gave a great amount of detail and explanation of thought process and inspiration in each of the rooms visited.  Wright is famous for explaining himself and the reasons for his particular detail and design.  He is, perhaps, the most vocal American Architect, to date.

The home and the history of Taliesin is fascinating in it's own right, but accompanied by the explanation, the property comes alive and takes on a new and meaningful vision for visitors. From the low ceilings and narrow walls that expand into a room of vastness and light to the perfectly framed views from the windows, and the centrally located gathering places around the fireplaces, his buildings exude a sense of family and community.

Taliesin is a fascinating place.  More than just one building, the collection consists of his first church, to the farm homestead, to the architecture school, to the private lake and waterfall designed to produce electricity for the compound.

The architecture school still thrives today in Spring Green, Wisconsin. Students attend this program for 12 months of the year and tuition covers this location as well as moving to the Taliesin West location in Scottsdale, AZ where classes resume during Wisconsin's cold months.

Because of Wright's disdain for the attitudes of the locals (they were not very friendly to him because he was still married while choosing to "shack up" with Mamah, who was also still married) he chose to make his compound a self-sustaining working farm. Food, electricity, produce, and even wines were produced onsite. All the work was done by students housed on the property.

Shining Brow is the translation Taliesin.  FLW was adamant about working WITH mother nature. Therefore, his works blended with the environment.  His home wrapped around the top of a hill, not build on it. The house burned down twice and was rebuilt each time.  The first fire was caused by an electrical problem. The second was arson caused by a disgruntled employee who locked and barricaded Mamah, her two children, and three others in the dining room and set it on fire killing all but one of them who jumped out the window only to be hacked in the head by the employee with a hatchet.

This is the first church that FLW designed. He was only 16 years old when the church was built. He was originally buried here along side his mistress, however, when his last wife Olga died, she had his remains transfered to Taliesin West in Scottsdale to be interred next to her. Today only a marker remains showing his original gravesite, not far from where his mother lies. 

 

Another house that has become tourable in recent years is a private residence called Still Bend, located in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, about 35 miles east of Green Bay.

This FLW house known as the Bernard Schwartz House or Still Bend (named for the quiet curve of the river) has been purchased by a dedicated pair of FLW enthusiasts who have put much time, effort, and money into restoring this home and making it available to the public through rental and tours.  When purchased, the house was in poor condition.  The work is ongoing but has paid off, as the home is once again glorious. 

Plans for this home were published in Life Magazine in September of 1938, but the

original clients could not get a loan from the bank as the house was too unconventional.  About one year later Bernard Schwartz, a president of a manufacturing company in the city, commissioned FLW to build the home.  Construction took a year to complete, however, not everything from the blueprint was built.  Schwartz ran into a cash problem so parts were never built. 

In phase 2 of the restoration project, the current owners plan to fill the home with reproductions of the original pieces and add the privacy fence and seating around the main patio which is accessible from the livingroom and master bedroom.  Additionally, plate glass windows that were installed in previous years will be removed and custom French doors will be re-installed in the living room just it was originally designed.

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