Gardens of Frank Lloyd Wright
From: Introduction - Wright's Love of Nature
Frank Loyd Wright (1867-1959) is world famous as an architect. He was a genius in the way he wedded stone and wood, steel and concrete, buildings and nature. Less well known - in fact, hardly known at all - is Wright's remarkable gift for landscape design and the beautiful gardens he cultivated during his lifetime, particularly at his summer home, Taliesin, and his winter home Taliesin West. Cornelia Brierly, landscape architect and graduate of Wright's architectural fellowship, has been associated with Wright's work for more than 75 years. When asked how she rated Wright as a landscape architect, she declared: "He was the greatest landscape architect that ever lived. " In my view, this is hardly an exaggeration. Wright's landscapes can be compared with those of the great British landscape architect, Capability Brown (1716-1783), whose work transformed the gardens of the stately homes of England; and the Brazilian, Roberto Burle Marx (1909-1994), whose acclaimed landscape projects include the promenade at Rio de Janeiro's fabulous Copacabana Beach. Like Wright, both gardened on a vast scale, altering the natural landscape to create magnificent vistas that disappear into infinity. All created lakes, bridges, woodland, hills and contours where none previously existed. Because Wright was an architect as well as a landscaper, he not only knew how best to site a residence in a particular location, and how best to improve a challenging landscape, but also where to leave nature alone. ...
A mixed perennial border at Taliesin, with a statue of a Chinese deity atop the retaining wall.Taliesin West: the forecourt.Carmel Cottage (the Walker House) Fallingwater: the plunge poolOak Park: outline planKentuck Knob