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When Frank Lloyd Wright turns his attention to one of the most important personal problems now facing practically everyone in our society - it is a time for rejoicing. The world's greatest architect here meets the urgent problem of suitable shelter for The Family in a democracy, in a magnificent and - as was to be expected - challenging book. Here, presented at last in full detail, is the natural house. The moderate cost houses described in this book and profusely illustrated with 116 photographs, plans and drawings, are houses - of infinite variety for people of limited means - in which living has become for their owners a purposeful new adventure in freedom and dignity. Mr. Wright tells the story of the world famous "Usonian" houses, so that we now see, in text and illustrations, how they have evolved from original conception to final execution. He has also written a step-by-step description of the "Usonion Automatic," explaining just how that remarkable house is built - a simplified method of construction so devised that the owners themselves can build it with great economy and beauty. For this purpose, there are, in addition to Mr. Wright's text, special photographs and drawings of the method and materials, showing clearly how the Usonion Automatic is built.… (more)
User reviews
One such opinion is indicated by this apparently sarcastic comment about some of his clients:
"...he then thinks, because of his 'success', then he can tell
Additionally, some of his opinions would not fly very well today, such as this: "a garage is no longer necessary as cars are made. A carport will do, with liberal over-head shelter and walls on two sides. Detroit still has the livery-stable mind. It believes that the car is a horse and must be stabled".
But, it is a time capsule of FLW's thoughts on architecture. He also felt that we should build and live as far away from the city as possible, because cars make urban life unnecessary.
This is an out-of-print edition with small black-and-white photos included -- it may be worthwhile for those who are serious fans of either FLW and/or architecture.