50 Favorite Houses by Frank Lloyd Wright [Hardcover]

Diane Maddex (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2000

This gorgeous volume celebrates the great houses designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the world's noted and America's most popular architect. An illustrated introduction provides an overview of design principles and Wright's ideas behind the modern home and is followed by sections on Early Houses, Prairie Houses, 1920's and 1930's Houses, and Usonian Houses. Elegant full-color photographs and an authoritative yet accessible text profile fifty of the best-loved signature homes that the architect created. Written by award-winning author, Diane Maddex, this lush companion to its hugely successful predecessors, Fifty Favorite Rooms by Frank Lloyd Wright and Fifty Favorite Furnishings by Frank Lloyd Wright, offers an approachable look at the architect's definitive decorative style.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Smithmark Pub; illustrated edition edition (May 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765117630
• ISBN-13: 978-0765117632
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 11 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,790,385 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Could be better... but not at the low price., March 25, 2000

By 

Ben Hughes (College Station, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 50 Favorite Houses by Frank Lloyd Wright (Hardcover)

I found that the illustrations and photos of Wright'smasterpieces especially informative and enjoyable to look at. However,not enough written descriptions and concepts are present. For instance, a sample work might highlight the major themes of a certain work but not really explain the fine points and details, thus leaving out what Wright most prided himself in: intricate detail; Wright was a perfectionist. Most of Wright's books that I've seen are much more expensive than this, so I find it a great bargain. Almost 5 Stars.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not the best on this topic, July 2, 2002

By 

BeachReader (Delaware) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 50 Favorite Houses By Frank Lloyd Wright (Hardcover)

While I learned some things from this book, I was a bit disappointed in the presentation. The photography left a lot to be desired...in some photos, one could not even get a sense of the structure of the building. Also, being a Wright afficionado, I wanted more from the text.

What could be learned from this book, by someone not familiar with Wright, were the stages of his career (Early Homes, Prairie Houses, Houses of the 20s and 30s, and Usonian Houses).

The Early Houses were of many different styles, usually dictated by the owner, since Wright did not yet have enough of a reputation to insist on HIS style.

Prairie Houses (1901 and later) were characterized by art glass, roofs providing shade, bands of windows, open interiors, a ground-hugging form, prominent hearths, and custom (often built-in) furniture.

In Wright's homes of the 1920s and 30s, he found new ways of using old materials, often making concrete into textured blocks. His most famous residential design, Fallingwater, was built during this time.

His Usonian Houses were simpler homes, built more economically, with combined living and dining rooms separate from the bedroom zone. These houses were private on the street side with windows in the back and were usually one-story with a low roof.

No matter what the period of his design, Wright thought that decorations should be limited to one fine item and no bric-a- brac. He thought draperies were unsanitary and believed in "going to nature" for colors used on the inside and outside of his houses. His walls were either punctuated by windows or alcoves or some built-in feature, making it very difficult to hang art. I suppose that Wright felt that his house was all the art an owner needed!

Not a bad book, but just not very complete.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A misleading title - and a very decieving book, March 14, 2002

By 

P. Semrau (Tx, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 50 Favorite Houses By Frank Lloyd Wright (Hardcover)

I still don't understand what the scope of this book is.
50 houses in 61 pictures? FLW's architecture is very rich in details and interesting interior solutions, obviously this can't be shown in 1 (mostly exterior) picture per house. Some of them are from a terrace, a garden or some detail and some are taken at night or at a distance with little to be seen... There are NO plans, NO drawings and little if any information on the design process. Only one paragraph for each house? It lacks substance as it lacks everything. The book itself contains little more information than the index does. If you are interested in FLW's architecture look somewhere else, because you are NOT going to find it here. I am very disappointed with my purchase and still looking for a nice FLW book.