Jaunted - Tag: Frank LLoyd Wright

New York: The Guggenheim: Back in White

BS — 2008-10-29T09:45:03-05:00

Frank Lloyd Wright’s spiraling Guggenheim Museum is one of New York’s most interesting architectural landmarks, but that hasn’t meant much to visitors over the past three years, when the museum’s aging exterior has been shrouded in a thick coat of scaffolding.

The restoration was recently completed, and the Gugg is showing off it’s shiny new fa�ade with a site-specific installation from artist Jenny Holzer, whose work consists of giant text projected onto the side of the museum.

To celebrate even further, the museum is getting rid of the admission fee--for one day only. This Thursday, October 30, the Guggenheim will be open for free from 12pm to 8pm, with free audio tours, too.

Related Stories:
· Guggenheim Highlights Restoration with Oct. 30 Free Day [Newyorkology]
· Museums coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Guggenheim]

Tempe: Frank Lloyd Wright Travel: The Gammage

kjb — 2008-07-02T15:00:09-05:00

Frank Lloyd Wright was fond of many areas of the country, but he especially loved the state of Arizona. So it's not surprising that his last commissioned work was completed in Tempe on the campus of Arizona State University. The Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium was completed in 1964, and it's still going strong today as a center for the performing arts. The building was named in honor of Dr. Grady Gammage, president of the university between 1933 and 1959.

Interestingly, the auditorium offers what it calls "continental" seating; there is no center section. Odd number seats are referred to as "house left" and even seats as "house right." If you and a friend buy seats 1 and 2, you'll be next to each other in the center of the main section; if you have seats 65 and 67, you'll still be side-by-side, just way over to the left.

Although the auditorium doesn't have any official tours, there are still plenty of chances to catch a performance. Touring Broadway productions are frequent, and this fall brings A Chorus Line and Spring Awakening. The Lion King comes to town in early 2009. That said, since it's right on campus, we bet you could rustle up a personal tour if you find a friendly janitor with some keys.

Related Stories:
· Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium [Official Site]
· ASU Gammage [Official Site]
· Frank Lloyd Wright Map [Jaunted]
· Frank Lloyd Wright coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: agilitynut]

Bartlesville: Frank Lloyd Wright Travel: Price Tower

kjb — 2008-06-25T13:30:05-05:00

We wouldn't normally assign the title of skyscraper to a building that's only 19 stories tall. But when it's a tower designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, that's exactly what we'll call it. Harold Price, chairman of an industrial firm in Oklahoma, commissioned it for his corporate headquarters, and the skyscraper first opened to the public in 1956.

Derby: Frank Lloyd Wright Travel: Touring (and Boozing) at Graycliff

pbb — 2008-04-01T17:02:37-05:00

Now that upstate New York is starting to thaw out, the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Graycliff Estate has announced its summer schedule. A bunch of new tours are available at the home, finished in 1929.

In Depth Tours will take you beyond the standard sights, and the Master Architectural Tour goes even deeper, as you check out details like gutters, roofs and drainage systems. (Read: You better be a serious Wright fan for these multi-hour walks.)

If you're more into just enjoying scenery, Graycliff is hosting evening wine parties on select summer Fridays. Sipping vino in the summer sun at a dope estate? Yes, please.

Related Stories:
· Graycliff Tour Schedule [Official Site]
· Frank Lloyd Wright Travel: Graycliff Estate and Darwin House [Jaunted]
· Frank Lloyd Wright Map [Jaunted]

Oak Park: Frank Lloyd Wright Travel : Oak Park Overload

laurenuta — 2008-01-07T14:05:02-05:00

Though Frank Lloyd Wright is well known for his Robie House in the Chicago suburb Oak Park, a handful of other houses and buildings in the city offer up tours to the public. And while we've mentioned the upcoming Walk Wright In tour coming up in May, somehow we feel like a weekend-long architecture extravaganza might be a bit much for some folks. Dial it down a notch with these two see-it-in-an-afternoon buildings.

Designed with Wright partner Louis H. Sullivan (who helped plan Chicago's World Fair), the Charnley-Persky Home is open to the public on Saturday at 10 am. These limited hours last until March; from April on, an afternoon tour is also available (at 1 pm). Admission gets you a 90-minute tour of the home, as well as the nearby historic landmark Madlener House. Wednesdays at noon, one-hour guided tours are offered free of charge.

Unity Temple also offers free admission to visitors willing to take a self-guided tour through the Unitarian church. For a more in-depth look at the building, docent-led tours are available Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Related Stories:
· Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation [Official site]
· Frank Lloyd Wright coverage [Jaunted]
· Frank Lloyd Wright Map [Jaunted]

[Photo: hibino]

Spring Green: Frank Lloyd Wright Travel: Stay Overnight in Wisconsin

laurenuta — 2007-12-27T14:04:13-05:00

Frank Lloyd Wright's Midwest version of Taliesin, perhaps hampered by a colder climate, receives somewhat less attention than its west coast companion. Located near Spring Green, Taliesin Wisconsin served as the springboard for much of Wright's later designs--and it was where many of Wright's tumultuous personal problems unfurled.

In addition to Taliesin, Wisconsin also boasts other Wright-designed homes. The Bernard Schwartz House and Usonia I (the Jacobs House) are both open for overnight stays. And because tours for Taliesin Wisconsin don't begin again until May, Wright fanatics in Wisconsin don't have much of a choice: It's overnight stay or bust.

Our Guide to Schwartz House and Usonia I

Chicago: Frank Lloyd Wright Travel: Robie House

laurenuta — 2007-12-20T15:05:01-05:00

Frank Lloyd Wright wore many hats during his career: architect, interior designer, even adulterer. Lately, tours of his various homes and buildings have offered visitors customized looks at Wright's constructions, and the Robie House has also joined the roster. (It's across town from Wright's home and studio.)

Engineering students and architecture dorks alike will jump at the chance to take in the Geek's Guide to Wright's Robie House. The specialty tour (on Jan. 26 and Feb. 26, both at 4 pm) gives visitors a look at the innovative methods Wright used in what the Wright Preservation Trust calls STEM: science, technology, engineering and math. In addition to a docent-guided tour of the house, the Geek's Guide also gives visitors the opportunity to view building plans and construction photographs.

If you're not a dork, you can satisfy your sweet tooth and learn something, too. Robie House's Decades of Decadent Desserts--apparently, Wright was also a fan of alliteration--accompanies an overview of social history from the past 100 years with popular desserts from different eras.

Neither of those doing it for you? Literature buffs can get their fill with the Wright 3 Tour, every Saturday at 1:30 pm. Visitors learn about Robie House's role in the book Wright 3. With space limited for each tour, visitors are urged to get there early or book tickets in advance.

Related Stories:
· Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust [Official Site]
· Frank Lloyd Wright coverage [Jaunted]
· Frank Lloyd Wright Map [Jaunted]

[Photo: Wildcat Dunny]