Fallingwater
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. Construction of the house began in 1936, and the house's acclaim has grown steadily since that time. Fallingwater exemplifies Wright's concept of organic architecture: the harmonious union of art and nature. The key to the setting of Fallingwater is the waterfall over which it is built. Fallingwater was the weekend home of the Kaufmann family from 1937 until 1963, when the house, its contents and grounds were entrusted to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. Fallingwater is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Historic Landmark.
Highlights
Completed with a guest and service wing in 1939, Fallingwater was constructed of sandstone quarried on the property and was built by local craftsman. The stone serves to separate reinforced concrete 'trays', dramatically cantilevered over the stream. Fallingwater is the only major Wright work to come into the public domain with its setting, original furnishings and artwork intact. Fallingwater was named the 'Best all-time work of American architecture' in a poll of members of the American Institute of Architects, and it was designated a 'Place of a Lifetime' by National Geographic Traveler.
Furniture
Wright furnished the interior with built-in and freestanding furniture he designed specifically for Fallingwater. The Gillen Woodworking Corporation of Milwaukee was employed to manufacture it. For versatility in design and resistance to warping, the furniture was constructed of plywood and veneered with North Carolina black walnut. Seat cushions for sofas, hassocks (ottomans), and zabutons (floor cushions) were filled with Dunlopillo, a vulcanized liquid latex honeycombed with air bubbles to provide durability and ventilation.
Kitchen
The kitchen was designed by Wright to be essentially utilitarian in nature and included steel cabinets by St. Charles, a Formica-topped work table and asphalt floor tiles in the architect’s signature Cherokee red. A Kitchen Aid dishwasher was added during the 1940s, and the cook, Elsie Henderson, purchased the streamlined Frigidaire in the 1950s. While not original to the house, the Swedish AGA stove is coal burning and similar to the one the Kaufmanns purchased for Fallingwater.
Tower windows
The floor-to-ceiling windows minimize the boundary between interior and exterior space. This effect is facilitated by glass that runs directly into chases in the stonework, thus providing a continuity of surface on both sides of the glass. When the small casements are opened outward, the vertical corner disappears to strengthen horizontal lines and minimize the enclosure.
Canopy
The bridge opens onto a great curved walk that leads up the hill to the guest wing. Overhead is an ingenious concrete roof folded and supported on each level by a single steel upright placed on the outside of the curve. The canopy is 8’ wide and 3-1/2” thick. It acts as a ring beam, reinforced with a weaving of steel bars in tension. The floating and cascading character of the canopy echoes those same rhythms in the house.
Colours
Wright's desire to create a unified and organic composition limited the colour palette at Fallingwater. Only two colours were used throughout: a light ochre for the concrete and his signature Cherokee red for the steel. PPG Pittsburgh Paints has worked with Fallingwater to develop eco-friendly paints that withstand the environmental challenges of the site. PPG have also created a series of colours inspired by the building and its surroundings.
Insider's guide
To avoid disappointment, advance tickets or reservations are essential to guarantee admission to Fallingwater. Tickets may be purchased online by visiting www.fallingwater.org. For visitor convenience, Fallingwater offers ticketing and reservation services for tours at Kentuck Knob, which is located seven miles south of Fallingwater. This independently owned and operated Wright house was built in 1956 for the I.N. Hagan family. If you are interested in visiting all three Frank Lloyd Wright sites in the Laurel Highlands, including Frank Lloyd Wrights Mäntylä at Polymath Park, you can visit the website WrightLH.com to be informed about the best places to stay and how to make the most of your visit.
Check our books section for a book about the house.
Inside Iconic Houses
Director Justin Gunther takes us on an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Frank Lloyd Wright' masterpiece.
You can stream the tour via the webshop.
