Frank Lloyd Wright RUINED American Life With the Turn of the Porch (houses, construction)

[imcurious]

I saw a film about Frank Lloyd Wright a few years ago, in which he was credited with changing front porches to side porches.

As soon as I saw this, I realized that he alone was responsible for ruining much of what was good about American culture . . .as I understand it, when different minorities came to New York, they would sit on their front porches and stoops and engage with each other. The porch aesthetic was alive and well in the Midwest, too, until Frank Lloyd Wright turned houses sideways and put the front porch on the side . . .I believe that was the beginning of "suburbia isolation."

[Prytania]

FLW was a cult of personality, he really brought into his own crap.

I can't STAND his work either. It was revolutionary for its time, but it destroyed the relationship between buildings in a neighborhood.

[chet everett]

Simplistic and incorrect.

FLW had little to no impact for "mass builders" and the MUCH greater influence was simply CARS. People in cities AND suburbs much prefered a DRIVEWAY to a porch.

Fact is that FLW often "de-emphasized" the entrance to the residences he designed but OFTEN included rather impressive FRONT FACING "porticos" as well as elaborate FRONT balconies that were much more conducive for folks entertaining / socializing on the STREET SIDE of their homes.

Stoops / stairways are neither particularly comfortable nor inviting for people to "engage with" despite what you may see on Sesame Street...

[imcurious]

His design with the low ceilings, small windows and side porches, did NOTHING to enhance community. It was the beginning of the end of community - and made suburbia into the vast wasteland of dysfunctional families that it is.

The stoop reference was only to illustrate how important hanging out in the front yard has been in enhancing community.

Front porches were the more refined ways to say to your neighbors: "Hey, it's a nice evening - come over and join us for lemonade," (or whatever). With the porches turned to the side, it was "Don't bother us - we are in our own little world."

I had a visceral feeling of disgust when I saw that film that revered him for his architectural "brilliance," when I could see what he did to the American culture in one fell swoop of the drafting pencil. I detest his work for that reason.

[Malloric]

FLW didn't really design for the poor immigrants coming to the United States. Here's some nice photos of one of his most famous houses, the Randall Fawcett house in Los Banos. Situated on an 80-acre plot, one can reasonably assume the chances of a neighbor happening by to be invited in for some lemonade are not very high. It exemplifies FLW's uniform design and lack of any originality, artistic talent. The use of small windows and low ceilings to create the desirable cave-like atmosphere for the residents to shout LEAVE ME ALONE I'M A MUSHROOM AND DON'T WANT COMPANY in peace and isolation can be very clearly seen.

About.com: http://www.homedsgn.com/2011/02/16/the-randall-fawcett-house-by-frank-lloyd-wright/

[imcurious]

I know he didn't design for the immigrants . . .I was trying to paint a picture of vibrant, American culture before his turn of the porch.

[fallingwater]

This thread cracks me up. Obviously I am a FLW fan. I don't know if you truly understand what FLW did. His vision was about incorporating a home with nature. He also was not a mass builder. He built mostly for the elite, individuals that were not going to hang out on their porch shucking it up with the neighbors. There is a FLW home in the next city from me. There is a front patio built on that home that is original. He actually adored outside spaces.


Mass builders changed the trend regarding front porches. In my sub most homes do not have full porches and even with the homes that do, people don't hang out on them. They want the privacy of their backyard. Do I think this design has killed a sense of community? To a degree, yes. We have had some problems with teens vandalizing cars and so forth. No one ever sees it because everyone has the same set up. Family rooms and kitchens in the back of the house. No one ever looks out front.

[Malloric]

Yes, we get it. American culture ceased to exist after 1900 and it was largely because Frank Lloyd built a few houses which didn't face the street... After he did that, it just went all downhill from there. Here's another dead building in Berkeley, the Boke House. The "sleeping porch" balcony faces the street. Damn that Frank Lloyd wright for single-handedly destroying American culture by turning a house sideways!

BAHA :: Maybeck’s Boke House: Made by One Crusader for Another

[imcurious]

His creations make me angry.

[Malloric]

Can't decide if I like the house or the Japanese Maple better... understated elegance, gorgeous.

Might be an anachronism, but in my cookie-cutter neighborhood built in the late '70s we've all got front porchy stoop type deals. It's slap construction, so no real porch. My two next door neighbors, the house across the street, and my house all have tables/chairs out on them. Living room and great room in the front, bed rooms in the back. Typical ranch-style layout. That's actually seeing a bit of a come back, but either the ranch or more common neo-electic homes here near universally face the street.