Guggenheim & Window - Wright

Frank Lloyd Wright, born in 1867, was one of the most original and influential American architects of the 20th century. He designed about 800 buildings, many of those houses. Frank Lloyd Wright was familiar with the plains of the Midwest — there are many homes in our area that were influenced by his 'Prairie style' architecture. He believed that buildings should fit into its natural surroundings.

Lloyd Wright designed the Guggenheim Museum in New York, built to house a collection of abstract art. The Museum opened shortly after his death in 1959, and though the building was initially not liked by all, it is still recognized as one of the most interesting examples of modern architecture. "Even as it embraced nature, Wright's design also expresses his unique take on modernist architecture's rigid geometry. The building is a symphony of triangles, ovals, arcs, circles, and squares. Forms echo one another throughout: oval-shaped columns, for example, reiterate the geometry of the fountain and the stairwell of the Thannhauser Building. Circularity is the leitmotif, from the rotunda to the inlaid design of the terrazzo floors." "Some people, especially artists, criticized Wright for creating a museum environment that might overpower the art inside. "On the contrary," he wrote, "it was to make the building and the painting an uninterrupted, beautiful symphony such as never existed in the World of Art before." In conquering the static regularity of geometric design and combining it with the plasticity of nature, Wright produced a vibrant building whose architecture is as refreshing now as it was 40 years ago. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is arguably Wright's most eloquent presentation and certainly the most important building of his late career." (Quotes from Guggenheim page - link provided below)

The stained glass window here was designed as part of the playhouse, an addition to the Avery Coonley estate, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1907. The playhouse was the architect's first commission following his return from Europe in 1911. Although Lloyd Wright used natural shapes as inspiration for stained glass designs, and more neutral colors, this design was made with geometric designs and primary colors, appropriate for their location and recalling the abstract compositions of contemporary European painters. The use of primary instead of earth tones was also unusual for Wright at that time. The so-called playhouse was actually a kindergarten run by Mrs. Coonley, and Wright undoubtedly had children in mind when he chose to use these festive shapes and colors.

questions:

• What does the Guggenheim Museum building remind you of? What shape is it? Hint — snail shell, spiral. Show the students the additional photos in the resources binder.
• Do you like this building? Discuss.
• Do you think this building is practical? Discuss.
• How does this building differ from his other designs? (Project other images from the Internet)
• Do you think the building design is appropriate for its purpose?
• Where do you usually see stained glass? Have you ever seen a stained glass window? Hint — church, lamps.
• How does this stained glass window differ from the ones you see in religious buildings? Hint — geometric shapes.
• What is the purpose of a stained glass window? Do you feel that this stained glass window design is appropriate for its location?
• Where would you like a stained glass window in your home?

activities:

Easy stained glass window: Provide each student with half a sheet of paper. Have them draw a basic Frank Lloyd Wright inspired stained glass design in crayon, using geometric shapes and primary colors. Leave a half inch border all around the design. Outline the design in black. Using a cotton ball, rub the back of the paper with baby oil. Hang in a sunny window.

Here is a link to another version of a stained glass window project: frank-lloyd-wright-faux-stained-glass

Have each student design a building of their choice, using a pencil. Alternatively, divide the class into groups and assign a building to each group. Examples would be: A movie theater, a toy store, an elementary school, a garden shed. Motivate them to try something different in their designs, while still keeping the purpose in mind. Have them select one design per group to present to the class.

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