Fallingwater

I confess - I thought it was spelled Falling Water - but I now know that it's actually spelled Fallingwater. You learn something new every day! I also don't think I realized that this incredible architectural masterpiece was so close to me! It's only about a 2 to 2.5 hour drive from Northern Virginia and the Laurel Highlands area of Pennsylvania is a really beautiful location! 

 

I loved the walk up and greeting area of Fallingwater - it is open air and really blends into the nature around it. The café, gift shop and art gallery are all made up of glass and allow for the light to flow around the space - it was lovely! We only waited about twenty minutes and then our tour group was called and away we went - down a boardwalk, alongside an open field and then - there was the house!

 

 

The house was designed in the late 30's for the Kaufmann family, who owned Kaufmann Department Store in nearby Pittsburgh. The family loved escaping the city and spending time in nature and they wanted a house that would "become" a part of the natural landscape of the Laurel Highlands - and their son recommended that Frank Lloyd Wright design a home for them - and so he did!

 

The process was not without issues - the family thought the house would be built with views of the waterfall but Wright build the house directly over the waterfall - a point of contention for a time. There was also a lot of disagreement about the cantilevered design of the house; Kaufmann thought the house would lack stability and had Wright's plans reviewed by another architect. When Wright found out, he threatened to quit, Kaufmann returned the plans and the engineer's report was buried in one of the stone walls of the house.

Kaufmann was correct - as the house's cantilever design would need reinforcements in the years to come!

 

The design of the house allows for the inside and the natural world outside to be joined together - the living room has boulders around the hearth that the house was built around and where the windows join to the rock walls, there is no metal - only caulking within the stone to allow for uninterrupted views! Of course, there is also the famous set of steps that extend down from the living room right to the stream running below and the sound of falling water (hehehe) is heard throughout the house!

 

 

The home is filled with stone and wood and there are even special windows made at the corners of the home that open to allow for air flow and the sounds of the stream to fill the house. Almost every room has a large balcony and the ceilings are low and the rooms small to encourage people to congregate outside, in the more natural areas! The one thing I was surprised to learn is that because the house is so integrated into nature - it is almost constantly being restored due to water damage! The stones that make up portions of the home hold moisture and the home itself even has a rather damp smell...

Out tour guide let us know that the home wasn't actually built to last - the Kaufmann's wanted the home to serve as their get-away for their lifetime and then, they weren't too worried about what happened to it! They had one son and he used the house for a time before turning it over to the state of Pennsylvania and then it was up to the state to conserver the home - which sounds like it's been quite an undertaking! While we were visiting, they were in the process of restoring the swimming pool at the guest house and it sounds like they are continually at work just to keep the house in good standing! Amazing!

Fallingwater is a beautiful house (although not really "my style") and is certainly an architectural marvel - I'm so glad we had a chance to visit! I also think I discovered that I am a big fan of the Laurel Highlands area of Pennsylvania - it's truly beautiful countryside and I'd love to return and visit more of the area! We stopped at an overlook that was part of Ohiopyle State Park as we headed back to Northern Virginia and the views were stunning! 

Have you been to Fallingwater? What did you think?