Have you heard of Frank Lloyd Wright? He was an American architect known for his innovative designs and use of organic architecture, which sought to harmonize buildings with their surroundings. Wright's work significantly impacted the field of architecture, and his homes are highly sought after for their unique beauty and design.
There are many people who seek to have their home represent the architecture of his unique homes. There are architects and designers alike who tout their abilities to be Frank Lloyd Wright-esque. There are many books and publications that represent his body of work. You can get a gorgeous coffee table book that showcases it all. You can also purchase wall art that is inspired by his design; pic
tures of his homes, stone pieces, stained glass windows, wood carvings, metal hangings, etc. There are so many interesting pieces to pick from. I was gifted a stone wall hanging and had it in my foyer for years. It was a great conversation piece. Everyone wanted to know about it. Unfortunately, we did not secure it properly and it fell and broke. Make sure you don’t do what we did!
One of the most notable features of a Frank Lloyd Wright home is the use of natural materials, such as stone, wood, and glass, to create a sense of harmony with the surrounding landscape. Wright's homes also often feature open floor plans and a connection to the outdoors, with large windows and patios to bring the outside in. Very often he designed the furniture to fit specifically in the homes he designed making them very personal and unique. Many of his homes have been sold throughout the years with the furniture keeping the full design and esthetic intact.
Wright's work spans a variety of architectural styles, including the Prairie School style, which is characterized by its horizontal lines and focus on functional design. The Usonian style, which was developed by Wright later in his career, was designed to be more affordable and focused on simplicity and sustainability.
Owning a Frank Lloyd Wright home is a unique experience, as each home is a true work of art. However, it's important to note that these homes may require more maintenance and care due to their unique design and materials. They may also be more expensive due to their historical significance and rarity.
While his homes can be found all over the country, we actually have one located right here in the Lowcountry. It was registered in the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and is nestled in the backwoods right outside Yemassee. It is about an hour from Hilton Head Island and Bluffton. It is known as Auldbrass Plantation and is the only Southern plantation designed by this legendary architect. There is another structure designed by him in Greenville, SC. Auldbrass sits amid tall live oaks that are dripping with Spanish moss on the edge of the Combahee River. Wright was not a fan of the more traditional right angle so he designed the walls of Auldbrass to slope at an 80 degree angle to mimic the live oaks on the property. Construction of the home was started in 1939 by a Michigan builder. It is now owned by a major Hollywood producer, Joel Silver. He also owns a Frank Lloyd Wright home in California. In 2018, the Beaufort Open Land Trust started offering Auldbrass Tours every 2 years (on the odd years). As luck would have it, the tour will take place this year, 2023. Tickets for the tour sell out quickly. You will be able to buy tickets at openlandtrust.org. We were lucky enough to tour this home about 6 years ago and can promise you that it is worth the wait and effort to secure tickets. Even if you are not a Frank Lloyd Wright fan, having something as historically significant as this in such close proximity to us, is pretty exciting. Making a day trip to Old Sheldon Church on the way makes for an inspiring and architecturally full-filling day.
For those interested in owning a piece of design history, a Frank Lloyd Wright home can be a truly special and memorable experience. For those of us who cannot purchase a Frank Lloyd Wright home, having a piece of art or adding parts of his design style incorporated into our homes, is just as special.
Image 1 of Falling Water by David Mark from Pixabay, Image 2 of The Wayfarer's Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes, California by Paul Hanaoka from Unsplash, Image 3 of Auldbrass Plantation living room from Beaufort Open Land Trust.
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