History 2: Modernism in America Part 2

Frank Lloyd Wright was definitly the most famous architect of this time and produced many historical pieces. The piece that I am drawn to the most is La Miniature, The Millard House in Pasadena, California. Made of concrete block cast with decorative patterned faces this was his most famous houses during the 20s and 30s. The house is made up surfaces that highlight repeated patterns. The residential property features an acre of gardens, 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, 2 kitchens, living space, formal dining room and semi attached garages. The house was built in 1923 and 1924 after the completion of the Hollyhock House in Hollywood and the Imperial House in Japan.

Wright at the time was very driven to design something that was much different than anything that he had done before. He felt that he had been labeled as "the Prairie house designer" and wanted to remind people that he was capable of producing unique works that were stylized to stand alone.

It is noted in an autobiography of his that he was drawn to designing with concrete blocks because they were the cheapest and ugliest thing in the world. He took this as a challenge and stated he wanted to see, "what could be done with that gutter-rat. The blocks were made in wooden molds that had the patterns along the walls of the molds. Using the technique of reinforced blocks cost $17,000 and Wright had only been given a $10,000 budget.