Renzo Moran

5/08/15
Construction Management

Falling Water Research Paper

Falling water is one of the most intricate and famous houses in the United States, using a
modern and sleek style of architecture which gives its beauty. The home is designed by Frank
Lloyd Wright, an American architect who is famous for designing many buildings and houses.
When designing the house wright wanted to use an organic style of architecture that expressed
the nature of the materials. The house lays on top of some rocks that are on the bear run; a stream
that is about four miles long. Edgar Kauffman was the client who contracted Wright to design his
house in southwestern Philadelphia. Wright was shown different areas he could design the house
for his client, however he wanted do something unique. Wright wanted the house to blend in with
the nature and the music of the stream. Since Wright wanted to go for an organic look he
designed the house to only use four materials named: sandstone, reinforced concrete, steel, and
glass. The house has Three horizontal trays made of reinforced concrete to form the three levels
of the house, echoing the natural rocledges beneath the house.
When designing the house Wright really enjoyed the environment that was presented to
him. However he was shown different areas of where he could build the house. He was shown
the falls with its several cascades and large, smooth rock surface for lounging. Although he
enjoyed all the ideas that were presented to him, he was very intrigued with the bear run. He
liked how it sounded with its environment and how it flowed too. Back at his office Wright
decided to design the house in an organic style. Organic architecture is a philosophy of
architecture which promotes harmony between human habitation and the natural world through
design approaches so sympathetic and well integrated with its site, that buildings, furnishings,
and surroundings become par of a unified, interrelated composition). Originally before choosing
the organic style Wright started off the design of fallingwater immitating the european modernist

Renzo Moran
5/08/15
Construction Management

design. However he then surpassed that idea by wanting to beat the europeans with their own
elements, and from there he thought of an organic style. Wright presented the idea to Kauffman
(client) and he enjoyed the idea that Wright, and was very impressed. Kauffman originally
thought that his house was going to have many different views of the water fall, but not on the
waterfall. However he was still very pleased with the idea. Wright said to him that he was so
stirred by the setting that he wanted to create a building that would be an accompainment to the
music of the stream. Therefore Wright did what he said he designed the house to accompany the

Renzo Moran
5/08/15
Construction Management

music of the stream by sketching this drawing.

From the beginning Wright pictured the idea of having the house rest upon the rocks on top of
the waterfall. He wanted the Kauffman not to see the falls but hear and feel them underneath the
house. This idea works well with organic style of the house. Wright not only wanted the house to
look organic, but the inside of the house too. He designed the house with many windows because
he wanted the house to be unified with its environment, and so the Kauffman could hear the

Renzo Moran
5/08/15
Construction Management

sound of the stream, the trees gust through the wind, and the animals nearby. He was also really
aiming for the building to blend with its surrounding environment, which is why he colors the
structure in a certain form, so it can blend with the trees and vegetation around the house. He
really wanted the Kauffman to be one with nature when inside the house.
When designing the house Wright also thought of what materials he would like to use for
the building. He decided to use only four materials- sandstone, reinforced concrete, steel, and
glass to give it that organic look. All the sandstone used on the house came from the rocks on top
of the waterfall, and was quarried about five-hundred feet west of the waterfalls. While doing
this Wright ordered the workers to put the stone in a rough, shifting manner so it would look like
rock coming right from the ground. Wright chose sandstone because the sandstone unifies the
house with its environment, making it appear to grow from the natural boulders at the waterfall.
The sandstone gives the house a nice touch of class while sticking to the natural look Wright
wants. In contrast from the rough stonework Wright uses the reinforced concrete to create soft
and warm appeal since it is smooth. Wright also used the reinforced concrete for his design and

Renzo Moran
5/08/15
Construction Management

the structure for the balconies of the house.

Although reinforced concrete is not usually considered a natural material, Wright makes it up by
coloring it the same color of the rhododendron leaf, which gives concrete that natural look, its
missing. Now when using concrete, steel is very essential to the strength of the concrete. These

Renzo Moran
5/08/15
Construction Management

trays could be built of reinforced concrete, uniting the supple strength of steel rods with the
massive solidity of poured concrete. This technique had begun to be mastered late in the 19th
century and Wright had understood its possibilities with unusual insight. Cantilevering can give
shelter without interrupting the space that people see or traverse. Cantilevers define without
obstructing, this gave a new liberty for architecture Wright also chose Ferro concrete for his
cantilevers, this use of reinforced concrete proved to revolutionary at the time. The steel acts as
the backbone of the concrete keeping it intact. However Wright used steel a lot making it visible
instead of being hidden. Wright used steel throughout the whole house in railings, shelves,
windows, and doors. However since Wright wanted to maintain that organic look he gave the
steel a Cherokee red color of a Native American pot for the metal surfaces. He chose this color
because it reminds one of fire and the very core of the earth, the origins of metal. This idea
comes back to his whole idea of an organic style, which is very impressive how Wright thought
of all these ideas so the house could look as natural as possible. Glass also plays an important
role in Wrights design. When deigning Falling water Wright wanted glass to create space
throughout the house. The spaces of falling water, varied, arranged, and illuminated, require
protection from the weather. Wright used clear plate glass elegantly framed in thin metal frames
or set directly into the masonry of the building. Wright also used a lot of clear glass to allow the
outside flow freely into the inside. He chose this because he wanted the Kauffmans to
experience the utmost of their environment. Also at certain times of the day, the glass acts like a
mirror-like surface and at night the glass seems to vanish as if it werent there.
Falling water began construction around 1936 and was finished in 1939. After its
construction the house became instantly famous. Since no one saw such a building that looked if
it was from the future. The house received a lot of attention because of the way it was designed

Renzo Moran
5/08/15
Construction Management

and how it was built. One of the reasons it amazed people everywhere is well, because the house
looks as if it was levitating, but instead stretches out over a thirty foot waterfall. The Kauffmans
lived happily in their new home for many years to come. Until Edgar Kauffman Jr. decided to
conserve the masterpiece Wright made in 1963. Kauffman Jr. gave the rights to the western
Pennsylvania conservancy who are to preserve the building for many years to come. However
the building has had some problems through the years, such as the cantilevers have dropped
seven inches from their original height of fifteen feet. This a hazard Kauffmans engineer warned
Kauffman that such a thing could happen because the building is not a 100% stable. When
Kauffman told Wright this he was offended and said he should trust him. Kauffman agreed but
this possibility of the building collapsing haunted Wright for the rest of his years. Since the
cantilevers have dropped a few inches the repairmen had to remove the living room floor to
install external post tension cables to some of the main level beams and joists beneath it. The

Renzo Moran
5/08/15
Construction Management

house has also had some other repairs such as repaints and patching of cracks.

Frank Lloyd Wright is considered one of the best American architects that has ever live.
Many agree with this statement because Wright has revolutionized many aspects of architecture,
for good or worse. Many positives taken from his career span is the cantilevers that
revolutionized the way people can use reinforced concrete in many ways. He has also had a huge
part in organic architecture since his design was so astonishing and groundbreaking. He has also

Renzo Moran
5/08/15
Construction Management

shown that even some uses of cantilevers can fail overtime which if not treated correctly could
be a potential hazard. Overall Frank Lloyd has had an amazing career and his world shattering
falling water house changed the way houses can be built.

Bibliography
http://www.fallingwater.org/assets/Fallingwater_Architecture.pdf
http://www.fallingwater.org/102
https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/ap-art-history/later-europe-andamericas/modernity-AP/a/frank-lloyd-wright-fallingwater
http://www.fallingwater.org/38/fallingwater-facts
http://www.fallingwater.org/38/fallingwater-facts
Frank Lloyds Wrights Fallingwater The house and its history by Donald Hoffmann with
an introduction by Edgar Kauffman JR.