Apparently Frank Lloyd Wright was embarrassed about his Tudor style Moore House in Oak Park, Chicago. A demanding client and his desperate need for money forced him to compromise and design something that fit more into the Victorian house of the day, with steep roof pitches and ornamental gadgets. But this is probably what I like most about it.
Built in 1985, the house is clearly ahead of its time, with sophisticated consideration of space and program, circulation, and technological integration. The copper roof gutters seem out of place, dripping green metal on the German style timber work. That is something I’ve never seen before. Long brick fireplaces become heavy sheer walls as they burst out of the roof, speaking of industry structure. Impressive wood ornamentation pops out as these greet the wood roof at convex window elements. Cusped gothic arches in the brick below echo this event. There’s a living machine in the heart of this house, and yet careful artistic language speaks of the context and of historical architecture. It’s an integration of Chicago’s brick factory, the lavish European residence, and the garden.
Wright got to work on this house he so much hated, again in 1923 after a fire.
