4/29/2022. Falling Waters, Mill Run, PA

 A visit to the Falling Waters home has been on my destination list for many years.  This destination planted a stake in our travel plans from the beginning. We arrive on Thursday afternoon, Linda checks the website, all tickets but one are sold out for both Friday and Saturday!  Come on !! Friday morning, Check the website again, now 3 tickets are available Friday at 1:30, what luck !  Score ! Buy now.  This design is one of the best know of the Frank Lloyd Wright homes.  The location is a short drive from our campground, and passes by Ohiopyle (more later).  Tickets sales are limited for the guided tours.  The starting tour is $32+4 pp, the next tier is $85 pp, and options go up from there.

   For us, it is worth it. The grounds and staff are very well managed and maintained.  Our tour guide provides a good pace for the group of 10 and explains the meeting of the designer with the customer and family, the history, construction, materials, the great emphasis of blending the design with the natural surroundings. The design is simple, almost stark but very elegant, like other Frank Lloyd Wright homes. It is so beautiful, even I would have trouble adding clutter if living there.  A great emphasis of this design is the cantilever features.  Overhangs are in abundance, indoors and out.  The construction was completed in 1.5 years, during 1937-38, during the depression.  This was built as a vacation home for the Kaufman family, founder and owners of the Kaufman stores in Pittsburgh and Chicago.  The construction is of local stone, concrete, and steel reinforcements to support the extreme overhangs.  Local sandstone was used in the concrete mix to achieve a local stone color to blend with the environment.   Detailed topographical 3D maps were created of the planned site.  The multi-layer building embraces a beautiful waterfall and was constructed on and within stone ledges and boulders, incorporating existing stone to the interior fireplace and kitchen and exterior features. As with other Lloyd homes, custom windows bring the outdoors to the indoor spaces, both visually and with the sound of the constant water falling.  Access to outdoor spaces are in reach from all interior rooms. Ceiling lights are both skylights and night lighting. Interior floors and stairs are local stone. One of the bathrooms has cork floors and walls.

   The home and guest house added in 1939 are in original condition.  Most of the furnishings, books and other contents are original Kaufman items.  All of the built-ins are Wright designs, one wood barrel desk chair is a Wright design.  It is hard to imagine the mind, energy and persistent attention to details which Wright must have to create such a complex, beautiful and functional design. I am sure the contractors must have questioned his plans constantly.  The results speak for themselves.    

• 2022 Spring