I had an interesting conversation today with a new client. He is a Frank Lloyd Wright fan and has numerous furniture pieces around the house designed by FLW and interior details copied directly from an actual FLW architectural detail. His architect actually worked for FLW for 5 years.
They ordered an anderson door with the FLW stained glass and after looking at it the architect said to send it back, “FLW wouldn’t have done it that way.” Hard to argue. 🙂
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn’t rule the world.
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His architect actually worked for FLW for 5 years.
Ask to see his pay stubs.
http://grantlogan.net
"I could have had Miss September...... I couuld have had Miss May. I could have had Miss November, but I waited for December....." ZZ Top.
I'm not going to bet my business on it, but the old guy seems on the up and up. He says his architect brought FLW coffee in the morning and who am I to question any of it and I'm sure there are dozens of guys with phoney pay stubs so I'm not sure any of it means anything worthwhile. I normally wouldn't think this is anything more than a tall tail, but the client is not an average joe, loves FLW, and can afford to hire just about any architect he wishes.
If you read the fine print in anderson's literature it does say the designs were "inspired" by or something along those lines so it's not true FLW--probably adjusted to better fit today's consumers rather than staying with a strict copy or interpretation.
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
Pay stubs? FLW was famous for having his disciples work for him for free.
I'd assume your client ordered it from a drawing or picture and when they actually saw the finished product they were unhappy and refused it.
Good luck with your new client... I fear you'll need it.
something like that.....although it wasn't something I had to deal with since it was before I showed up on the scene. The anderson supplier gladly took back the door and exchanged it for one with clear glass.
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
FLW was to the clothes that run way models style, versus what we wear every day. There's not a month goes by that I don't see an article about another multi-million dollar restoration of an FLW house. My neighborhood is full of houses as old as him, and not 1 needs that amount of work to be saved. So to answer your buddy's question, FLW wouldn't have "made it to last" but Anderson does ...
If the owner likes the stuff, tell the architect to stick it where the sun don't shine. Ran a project last year $3mill & the architect was the biggest PITA, had to shut him up more then once.
Best of luck, I smell trouble!
"They ordered an anderson door with the FLW stained glass and after looking at it the architect said to send it back, "FLW wouldn't have done it that way.""
Yeah, the FLW window woulda LEAKED! ;-)
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
"Yeah, the FLW window woulda LEAKED! ;-)"
Amen to that!
As an architect I've looked at a number of his homes and I marvel at the scale, proportions, attention to detail, etc., but almost always wonder whether he knew what an engineer was or had any understanding of materials and their strength...other than how to make a grand impression.
He was a great promoter and salesman and artist but.......
ciao, ted
One of the famous storys about FLW concerns a client who called cuz the roof was leaking, again, this time on his desk.
"So move the desk" was the reply from the world famous architect.
A brilliant artist & designer, a horrible engineer and GC, and personally, more than a little bit of a wack job. Every read about his 'academy'? Really sounds like a cult not a school.
He also seemed to have a little problem running off with clients' wives.
I remember seeing a documentary about Falling Water. They said he basically drew up the design (floor plans, elevations, etc., all to scale) while the client was traveling to his office. A little under a day.
An incredible mind, for sure. But with an ego like his, there often isn't room for anything else.
Academy, as in Taliesin West? Or his first place up in Racine, WI? His persona and reputation was such that his devotees and employees assumed the mantle of cult worshippers. (Their pay was soooo low it was almost free! Kind of like current Architectural Interns today).
Problem was that by working for HIM an individual became more qualified as an Architect or Designer than I believe they deserved.
FLW did like his housekeepers though. If memory serves he married two of them after they got pregnant. Must have been that, ahem, feather-duster. (Got a few randy local Architects like that, but don't tell anyone, its a secret. You know...just between us).
I think I'll buy a porkpie hat and cape...and cane, of course, and pontificate about my innate ability to sense the proper proportions of a window for all to hear. Then send a huge bill marked with "discounted rate" (to make them feel good).
Nah, I'll keep the ponytail and bad attitude and create liveable spaces for honest people.
ciao, ted
whats the matter? didn't it leak?
i posted before reading the other replies to original post, clearly i am not the only one who thought the FLW window "should leak"!