Jax Stumpes: Fallingwater (10/11/2014)

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Fallingwater (10/11/2014)

Saturday, October 11, 2014
It looked like it had been raining in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania when we arrived in the town of Donegal. After lunch at Out of the Fire Café, we headed to Ohiopyle State Park.

Bike trail on converted railroad trestle

Ohiopyle Falls

3-D information post with George Washington on a raft

Ohiopyle Falls from Visitor Center

Apparently kayakers purposely go over these falls

The Visitor Center's literal green roof

The Visitor Center's rain barrel (KSS)

Kent at rock outcrop near Meadow Run Slides

Meadow Run pothole

Meadow Run Slides

Cucumber Falls

We had a reservation for the 16:30 in-depth tour at Fallingwater (1936-1937), but arrived early to see the grounds.

At entrance to the Visitor Center

Pottsville sandstone and Bear Run (KSS)

"First view" of Fallingwater through the trees

Fallingwater from the View

Unfortunately the path to the Overlook was closed as part had been washed out by rains.
Fallingwater is perhaps the most famous house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and tours are quickly sold out. Be sure to book early online.
It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1996.
Normally taking photos inside Fallingwater is prohibited, but as we were on the in-depth tour, we were permitted to do so.

Unframed corner of a window

Black walnut cabinet merges
with Pottsville sandstone (KSS)

Glass merges with sandstone,
with horizontal steel frames (KSS)

Frank Lloyd Wright used the concept of "compression and release" to guide people in his buildings, usually with an entrance through a low dark narrow doorway leading to an bright open space.

From the entrance, moving clockwise around the living area...

"Study" area (KSS)

Behind the study are the suspended steps leading to a plunge pool below

"Formal" living area (KSS)

"Informal" living area

Built-in sofas hide the heating system (KSS)

Fireplace incorporates boulders

Frank Lloyd Wright designed fireplace cooking pot

Dining area (KSS)

The "counter" at the left is actually two folding tables
that can extend the dining room table (KSS)

Instead of having a view of the waterfalls,
the house sits above the waterfalls

The core of the house has three floors

Upstairs, there was a tiny guestroom in the process of being renovated. We were then compressed and released through the master bedroom out onto the terrace.

Kent

Since your focus is out the windows, you tend to miss
the built in cabinets in the back of the room;
the night stands are also built-in

The desk is built-in;
here is a Tiffany Lotus Leaf lamp (KSS)

An illusion of a large bathroom

The art collection of the original owners, the Kaufman family who owned the department store of the same name in Pittsburgh, is still in and around the house.