Building with Frank Lloyd Wright: An Illustrated Memoir (Wright Studies) (Paperback)

by Herbert Jacobs PhD (Author), Katherine Jacobs (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

“It’s an experience to read this fascinat­ing book, rare in itself in that it is a client’s full report on a genius.”—American Institute of Architects Journal

Product Description

This is the first-hand account of a young couple who in 1936 challenged Wright to produce a decent house for $5,000. Wright responded with the in­novations—floor heating, flat roof, con­crete floor, solid walls, grouping of utili­ties, carport, seclusion from the street but openness to a garden through banks of door windows—that made their house the revolutionary “Usonia Num­ber One.”

 

Within five years the Jacobs moved to the country, where Wright designed the “Solar Hemicycle,” which featured a windfoil design and the passive solar con­struction that became the prototype for such buildings. The 89 illustrations show the construction and important details of both houses.

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Product Details Paperback: 160 pages Publisher: Southern Illinois University Press; 1st edition (May 23, 1986) Language: English ISBN-10: 0809312913 ISBN-13: 978-0809312917 Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,365,230 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Citations (learn more)

12 books cite this book:

• The Robie House of Frank Lloyd Wright (Chicago Architecture and Urbanism) by Joseph Connors in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
• Taunton's Fine Homebuilding Index: Issues 1-85 by Fine Homebuilding on page 24, and page 84
• The New Eco-Architecture: Alternatives from the Modern Movement by Colin Porteous on page 115, and Back Matter
• The Most Beautiful House in the World by Witold Rybczynski in Back Matter
• Frank Lloyd Wright by Thomas A. Heinz in Front Matter

See all 12 books citing this book

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Customer Reviews

4 Reviews 5 star:  (2) 4 star:  (2) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.5 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 4 of 4 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Breaking Architectural Rules - Building Usonia 1 !, June 23, 2000 By A Customer This personal memoir of building two Frank Lloyd Wright houses is intriguing. Herbert and Katherine Jacobs offer a frank, honest account of their experiences. I have read this book twice. I think the glimpse of the personality of Frank Lloyd Wright is the most fascinating part of this book. You comprehend what a "pain" he was to work with and then you realize that he had the big picture and was trying to create a "timeless work of art" and the Jacobs' were just "not getting it". They didn't seem to understand that to make things work out correctly they needed to follow the details of the plans. Parts of the book, including chapters 18 and 19 are a trip down memory lane for them and offer the reader little information about their building experience. The black and white photos which illustrate this book were shot from 1936 to 1959. This is not a coffee table book like 50 Favorite Furnishings by Frank Lloyd Wright , and 50 Favorite Rooms by Frank Lloyd Wright by Diane Maddex. This book makes me curious about the famous architect whose style is timeless. An architect who could design a house of beauty and style for the common man -"the Usonia". 3 of 3 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Building with Frank Lloyd Wrigth - an illustrated memoir, June 22, 2000 By A Customer This is an an excellent book, written by the owners on the construction of their two Wright house designs - Jacob I & Jacobs II Solar Hemicycle. Each chapter outlines the process of design, construction drawings , materials selection and construction itself, Owner built by the owners - to save money- it is full of b & w photos of each stage, and some of the plans. The book illustrates how the simple plans are put into action and reveal the intricate structural solutions that Wright developed. For the architect in you, you will mullover the photos and plans working out in you own mind how this was put together. Both extraordinary designs for their time, this book will inspire you to have a home like them. 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Breaking architectural rules - Building Usonia 1 !, June 23, 2000 By A Customer This personal memoir of building two Frank Lloyd Wright houses is intriguing. Herbert and Katherine Jacobs offer a frank, honest account of their experiences. I have read this book twice. I think the glimpse of the personality of Frank Lloyd Wright is the most fascinating part of this book. You comprehend what a "pain" he was to work with and then you realize that he had the big picture and was trying to create a "timeless work of art" and the Jacobs' were just "not getting it". They didn't seem to understand that to make things work out correctly they needed to follow the details of the plans. Parts of the book, including chapters 18 and 19 are a trip down memory lane for them and offer the reader little information about their building experience. The black and white photos which illustrate this book were shot from 1936 to 1959. This is not a coffee table book like 50 Favorite Furnishings by Frank Lloyd Wright , and 50 Favorite Rooms by Frank Lloyd Wright by Diane Maddex. This book makes me curious about the famous architect whose style is timeless. An architect who could design a house of beauty and style for the common man -"the Usonia".		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars A Way of Life An interesting chronicle of a way of life that is fast becoming lost to us. Worth reading. Published 13 months ago by Gerry Rzeppa Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Southern Illinois University Press; 1st edition (May 23, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809312913
• ISBN-13: 978-0809312917
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,365,230 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Breaking Architectural Rules - Building Usonia 1 !, June 23, 2000

By A Customer

This personal memoir of building two Frank Lloyd Wright houses is intriguing. Herbert and Katherine Jacobs offer a frank, honest account of their experiences. I have read this book twice. I think the glimpse of the personality of Frank Lloyd Wright is the most fascinating part of this book. You comprehend what a "pain" he was to work with and then you realize that he had the big picture and was trying to create a "timeless work of art" and the Jacobs' were just "not getting it". They didn't seem to understand that to make things work out correctly they needed to follow the details of the plans. Parts of the book, including chapters 18 and 19 are a trip down memory lane for them and offer the reader little information about their building experience. The black and white photos which illustrate this book were shot from 1936 to 1959. This is not a coffee table book like 50 Favorite Furnishings by Frank Lloyd Wright , and 50 Favorite Rooms by Frank Lloyd Wright by Diane Maddex. This book makes me curious about the famous architect whose style is timeless. An architect who could design a house of beauty and style for the common man -"the Usonia".

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Building with Frank Lloyd Wrigth - an illustrated memoir, June 22, 2000

By A Customer

This is an an excellent book, written by the owners on the construction of their two Wright house designs - Jacob I & Jacobs II Solar Hemicycle. Each chapter outlines the process of design, construction drawings , materials selection and construction itself, Owner built by the owners - to save money- it is full of b & w photos of each stage, and some of the plans. The book illustrates how the simple plans are put into action and reveal the intricate structural solutions that Wright developed. For the architect in you, you will mullover the photos and plans working out in you own mind how this was put together. Both extraordinary designs for their time, this book will inspire you to have a home like them.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Breaking architectural rules - Building Usonia 1 !, June 23, 2000

By A Customer

This personal memoir of building two Frank Lloyd Wright houses is intriguing. Herbert and Katherine Jacobs offer a frank, honest account of their experiences. I have read this book twice. I think the glimpse of the personality of Frank Lloyd Wright is the most fascinating part of this book. You comprehend what a "pain" he was to work with and then you realize that he had the big picture and was trying to create a "timeless work of art" and the Jacobs' were just "not getting it". They didn't seem to understand that to make things work out correctly they needed to follow the details of the plans. Parts of the book, including chapters 18 and 19 are a trip down memory lane for them and offer the reader little information about their building experience. The black and white photos which illustrate this book were shot from 1936 to 1959. This is not a coffee table book like 50 Favorite Furnishings by Frank Lloyd Wright , and 50 Favorite Rooms by Frank Lloyd Wright by Diane Maddex. This book makes me curious about the famous architect whose style is timeless. An architect who could design a house of beauty and style for the common man -"the Usonia".