Hollyhock House, Hollywood, CA.
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Hollyhock House, Hollywood, California
Wright’s first California commission (1919) signaled a unique and rather abrupt new direction in the architect’s design philosophy. FLW called it “California Romanza,” though it is most often described as Mayan and Aztec- inspired, with additional Asian and Egyptian influences. Clearly, it can be seen as a merging point between Wright’s Prairie School style and the textile block structures he would continue to explore during the 1920s. Commissioned by oil heiress and socialite Aline Barnsdall, Hollyhock House was constructed during a tumultuous time in FLW’s life. He had moved west from Illinois while mourning the brutal 1914 murder of his long-time mistress Martha “Mamah” Borthwick who was said to have been the true love of his life. Following Borthwick’s death, Wright’s style took a severe turn, gravitating toward the pre- Columbian-influenced design: think ominous Mayan temples and obscure Aztec symbolism. Lots of concrete blocks were used with inverted windows not visible from the outside. The sprawling structure also featured a Mayan revival-style roof décor, a cryptic bas-relief mantelpiece, and a surrounding moat. Barnsdall found the residence difficult to live in and just a few years later deeded it to the city. In 2019, Hollyhock House (so named for its owner’s affection for the flowering plant) joined the UNESCO World Heritage list along with seven other properties as part of its “20th Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright Collection.” After it closed for two years because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Hollyhock House is once again officially open to the public.
Bachman Wilson House, Bentonville, AR.
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Bachman Wilson House, Bentonville, Arkansas
In contrast to such highly customized homes like Wingspread, the Bachman Wilson House is typical of FLW’s more simple, lower-cost Usonian designs aimed to be within reach of the average middle-class American family. The house was built in 1954 for Abraham and Gloria Bachman Wilson alongside the Millstone River in New Jersey. Revealing a distinct mid- century modern look, the house is full of sleek mahogany wood beams, panels, and furnishings that flow with Wright’s tell-tale elongated layout, epitomizing the connection between art, architecture and nature. The home was subsequently purchased by architect / designer team Lawrence and Sharon Tarantino in 1988 and meticulously restored. When the riverfront house was repeatedly threatened with flooding, the Tarantinos decided that, to preserve it, they should sell the house to an entity willing to relocate it. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, proved to be the savior willing to painstakingly disassemble and move the structure, which was accomplished in 2013. The Bachman Wilson House is now situated near the museum entrance, with views overlooking native Northwest Arkansas woodlands and Crystal Spring. Both self-guided and one-hour guided tours are available for a modest fee. www.franklloydwright.org/site/bachman- wilson-house
www.hollyhockhouse.org
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT’S LEGACY
COAST TO COAST MAGAZINE SUMMER 2024 | 20
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