Frank Lloyd Wright's FALLINGWATER
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The Kaufmann Conservation on Bear Run
Fallingwater, one of Frank Lloyd Wright's
most widely acclaimed works, was designed
in 1935 for the family of Pittsburgh
department store owner Edgar J Kaufmann.
The key to the setting of the house is the
waterfall over which it is built. Historically,
the falls were a focal point of the Kaufmann's
activities, and the family indicated to Wright
their desire to locate their weekend house
near them. Much to their surprise, Wright
designed the house to rise above the
waterfall, rather than face it. The Kaufmanns
adopted Wright's original scheme with few
changes. Perhaps better than any single work,
Fallingwater exemplifies Wright's concept of
organic architecture: the harmonious union of
art and nature.
Completed with a guest and service wing in
1939, Fallingwater was constructed of
sandstone quarried on the property and was
built by local craftsmen. The stone serves to
separate reinforced concrete "trays,"
dramatically cantilevered over the stream.
Fallingwater was the weekend home of the
Kaufmann family 1937 until 1963, when the
house, its contents and grounds were
entrusted to the Western Pennsylvania
Conservancy by Edgar kaufmann, Jr.
Fallingwater is the only major Wright work to
come into public domain with its setting,
original furnishings and artwork intact.
In 1986, New York Times architecture critic
Paul Goldberger wrote: "This is a house that
summed up the 20th century and then thrust it
forward still further. Within this remarkable
building Frank Lloyd Wright recapitulated
themes that had preoccupied him since his
career began a half century earlier, but he did
not reproduce them literally. Instead, he cast
his net wider, integrating European
modernism and his own love of nature and of
structural daring, and pulled it all together
into a brilliantly resolved totality.
Fallingwater is Wright's greatest essay in
horizontal space; it is his most powerful
piece of structural drama; it is his most
sublime integration of man and nature."
National Geographic designated "Place of a
Lifetime"
Fallingwater, one of Frank Lloyd Wright's
most widely acclaimed works, was designed
in 1935 for the family of Pittsburgh
department store owner Edgar J Kaufmann.
The key to the setting of the house is the
waterfall over which it is built. Historically,
the falls were a focal point of the Kaufmann's
activities, and the family indicated to Wright
their desire to locate their weekend house
near them. Much to their surprise, Wright
designed the house to rise above the
waterfall, rather than face it. The Kaufmanns
adopted Wright's original scheme with few
changes. Perhaps better than any single work,
Fallingwater exemplifies Wright's concept of
organic architecture: the harmonious union of
art and nature.
Completed with a guest and service wing in
1939, Fallingwater was constructed of
sandstone quarried on the property and was
built by local craftsmen. The stone serves to
separate reinforced concrete "trays,"
dramatically cantilevered over the stream.
Fallingwater was the weekend home of the
Kaufmann family 1937 until 1963, when the
house, its contents and grounds were
entrusted to the Western Pennsylvania
Conservancy by Edgar kaufmann, Jr.
Fallingwater is the only major Wright work to
come into public domain with its setting,
original furnishings and artwork intact.
In 1986, New York Times architecture critic
Paul Goldberger wrote: "This is a house that
summed up the 20th century and then thrust it
forward still further. Within this remarkable
building Frank Lloyd Wright recapitulated
themes that had preoccupied him since his
career began a half century earlier, but he did
not reproduce them literally. Instead, he cast
his net wider, integrating European
modernism and his own love of nature and of
structural daring, and pulled it all together
into a brilliantly resolved totality.
Fallingwater is Wright's greatest essay in
horizontal space; it is his most powerful
piece of structural drama; it is his most
sublime integration of man and nature."
National Geographic designated "Place of a
Lifetime"
| Route 381 Mill Run, PA 15464 (724) 329-8501 fallingwater.org Hours of Operation Regular Season: Mid March through Thanksgiving Weekend Tuesday - Sunday, 10 AM to 4 PM Winter Hours: December Weekends, the week after Christmas, the first two weekends in March 10 AM - 3 PM (weather permitting) Fallingwater is located 19 miles South of the PA Turnpike (I-76) on State Route 381, halfway between the villages of Mill Run and Ohiopyle. |
| Tickets and Reservations Because of high demand, advance tickets or reservations are essential to guarantee admission to Fallingwater. Tickets may be purchased online by visiting www.fallingwater.org. Reservations are available online or by calling the visitor services office at (724) 329-8501. For the best selection of tour times, tickets should be purchased or reservations made at least two weeks in advance. Group reservations require an advance deposit three weeks prior to the visit. All reservation times are approximate and during periods of high visitation, exact tour times can't be guaranteed. For a more leisurely tour, we suggest visiting Fallingwater on weekdays. When planning your visit allow at least two hours on the site. To Visit Fallingwater Almost 4 million people have visited Fallingwater since it opened to the public in 1964. All tours are guided tours led by professional interpreters. They offer the following: Regular Tour A one-hour, featuring all the major rooms of the house. Children age 6 and up may accompany adults on this tour. Photography is not permitted. Reservations are essential. In-Depth Tour A two-hour tour featuring extended interpretation of the house and landscape, beginning at 8:30 AM. Children age 9 and up may accompany adults. Still photography permitted for personal use only. Available by advance ticket purchase only. Grounds-Only Passes Available every day including Monday during the winter, weather permitting. Self-guided. The Also Offer These Special Tours (available by advance ticket only) NEW! Family Tour An hour long tour with family activities that explain cantilevers and a tour through some of the major rooms of the house, focusing on how to live at home in nature. For families with children age 5 and up. Land of Fallingwater Nature Hike A guided three-hour interpretive hike in adjacent Bear Run Nature Reserve. Includes a regular house tour. Available Saturdays only at 9 AM late April-October. Fallingwater Focus Tour A very special tour through the house with a member of our curatorial staff, includes lunch on a private terrace. These tours are limited. Sunset Tour A late afternoon in-depth tour with a special finish-complimentary wine and light hors d'oeuvres served on the pottery terrace at the house. This tour is offered at selected times of the year and space is limited. To Enjoy Your Visit Please wear shoes and clothing appropriate to the season since a main portion of the experience is outside and considerable walking and numerous steps are involved. Some may find the tour too strenuous. A video tour of the home is available. Visitors requiring special assistance should call in advance for additional information. Audio tours in five languages are available. Children at Fallingwater For the safety and comfort of all our visitors, children must be 6 years of age to tour the house (9 years of age for special tours.) Families with infants and young children are welcome to use our Family Room while waiting for other members of their party. Children are invited to explore the grounds around Fallingwater with their families. Photography Through the purchase of an admission ticket to Fallingwater, visitors agree that photographs taken of Fallingwater will not be offered or exploited for any commercial purpose. Interior photography is not permitted during regular tours. All photography taken during special tours is for personal use only and cannot be sold, exhibited, published or posted on a website. Educational Programs A variety of lectures and programs are available to organized groups as a way to expand upon the tour experience. We also offer courses for Elderhostelers, teachers and student interested in architecture. The Museum Store No visit to Fallingwater is complete with a stop at our Museum Store. Look through our large selection of books chosen to satisfy your intellectual curiosity and thirst for all things Fallingwater. We invite you to experience a Museum Store like no other you will ever encounter with a large array of handcrafted jewelry, pottery and design items for your home. We also have a great selection of fun and educational children's items related to Fallingwater. The Cafe at Fallingwater Our frequently changing menu emphasizes the seasonal bounty available in the region. Tantalize your palate with our array of soups, sandwiches, salads, desserts and daily specials. Everything is made fresh, using the best locally grown vegetables, free-range beef, poultry and eggs. Food is available to individuals on a self-serve basis. Groups may choose from pre-ordered sit-down meals or a boxed lunch to travel with you. Support Fallingwater with a WPC Membership Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, a leading regional conservation organization, helps to protect Fallingwater along with the Bear Run Nature Reserve, on which Fallingwater is located. Since its inception in 1932, WPC members and supporters have protected more than 215,000 acres of the region's natural land. You can help to continue this effort as a WPC member. The Barn at Fallingwater An 1800's local landmark, the Barn at Fallingwater has been renovated to provide state-of-the-art meeting and exhibition space. The barn is the ideal place for business conferences, retreats and receptions for groups of 10 to 200. Ever-changing exhibitions related to architecture and nature are also featured to enhance your visit to Fallingwater and the Bear Run Nature Reserve. Bear Run Nature Reserve Combine your tour with a visit to Wester Pennslyvania Conservancy's Bear Run Nature Reserve - a natural heritage area of exceptional significance. Open every day, this 5,000-acre expanse of wild mountain land surrounding Fallingwater has recently been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA). There are more than 20 miles of marked trails for hiking, nature study, wilderness camping and ski touring. Picknicking is permitted. |
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Please visit websites terms of use. Copyright 2009 LakeStar LLC
Please visit websites terms of use. Copyright 2009 LakeStar LLC
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