BEYOND ARCHITECTURE: Marion Mahony and Walter Burley Griffin--America, Australia, India [Paperback]

Anne Watson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 7, 1999

A lasting record of the creativity and the legacy of a remarkable pair of architects, "Beyond Architecture" presents a holistic view of the lives and work of Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahoney. Encompassing the disciplines of town planning, landscape architecture, and interior design, as well as building design, the Griffins' work spanned thirty years and three continents. These essays by American and Australian scholars address the Griffins' architectural oeuvre - more than 350 built and unbuilt projects - as well as the philosophical, aesthetic, and ideological convictions that shaped their vision. The Griffins' contribution to architecture, particularly in America, has always been somewhat eclipsed by the reputation of Frank Lloyd Wright, for whom they both worked in Chicago. This book, which doubles as an exhibition catalog, presents new areas of research and fresh interpretation, and includes many images published here for the first time. "Beyond Architecture" also consolidates the status of Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahoney as two of the twentieth century's most important American architects.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: University of Illinois Press (June 7, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1863170685
• ISBN-13: 978-1863170680
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,560,175 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fabulous Feast for the Eyes, June 9, 2009

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JAD (The Sunshine State) - See all my reviews

This review is from: BEYOND ARCHITECTURE: Marion Mahony and Walter Burley Griffin--America, Australia, India (Paperback)

This book is a fabulous feast for the eyes--with high quality photographs of major works by two of the greatest American architects. Their work has gone unknown or underappreciated through much of the 20th century. This volume does much to set the record straight about how Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin helped to created a new aesthetic in Chicago and environs, then in Australia and finally in India.

Most graduates of architectural programs in the United State will come to this book and peruse it open mouthed as they exclaim, page upon page, "Who knew?" And as full and rich as this book is, it makes the reader long for even more about Walter and Marion.

The architectural work of Griffin / Mahony cannot be separated. Walter and Marion had both been early Oak Park Studio employees of Frank Lloyd Wright and deserve more credit than has been given heretofore in contributions toward bringing into being what has come to be known as the prairie style of architecture.

As Barry Byrne described it, the architects in the Oak Park Studio (William Drummond, Francis Barry Byrne, Walter Burley Griffin, Albert McArthur, Marion Mahony, Isabel Roberts and George Willis) engaged in internal design competitions. So that if new clients, say Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, came to call, the program of their needs would be set before all the architects on the staff. Then by a stated time, each one would present his or her idea as to what would be the best solution for the client's needs. Within the Studio, they would discuss and decide--and whichever design seemed most appropriate would be developed and presented to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas. The rest of the designs would be filed away for possible future use. No matter whose design it was, Wright, as the principal of the firm, took all the credit.

It is said that few of these drawings were signed, so the influence of Griffin or Mahony or the others is hard to trace. Even so, this book shows elements of the Griffin / Mahony aesthetic that point directly to pre 1913 works that came from the Oak Park Studio. Such was the impact of Griffin and Mahoney that innovations such as the L-shaped plan of the Oak Park Thomas House are probably their work, not Wright's per se. All of this can be explored further in Marion Manony Griffin's "The Magic of America" which is unpublished but available to be read on line.

As the years progressed, they practiced independently and under contract to Herman V. von Holst when Wright ran off to Europe with Mamah Cheney. Then, Griffin entered and won the international competition for a new capital of Australia--the judges being duly impressed with the presentation renderings Mahony created for his entry.

It is possible to say that in order to thrive, they had to distance themselves from Wright and their beloved Chicago. And certainly the Australians embraced them eagerly and are proud of all that they built there. However, it is unfortunate that by going to Australia, they were out of sight and out of mind, architecturally speaking, for American architectural critics. May this book help redress that misfortune.