The Best All-Time Work of American Architecture: Fallingwater (Frank Lloyd Wright's Masterpiece)

www.wright-house.com/frank-lloyd-wright/fallingwater.html

Perhaps you'll add this to your bucket list?

Ever since I came upon a photo of Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater house, I have been mesmerized.  The overall design of the house is done in such a  way as to make it feel like the house is part of the setting, meant to be there.  Built in 1935, Fallingwater is located at Bear Run in the Laurel Highlands in the Allegheny Mountains of rural Pennsylvania.  Having vacationed there for years, Pittsburgh retail mogul Edgar J. Kaufmann and his wife wanted a house where they could look upon the falls. They commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright to design it.  Wright went one better, having it constructed so part of the structure is over the waterfall.  It was designated a National Historical Landmark in 1966 and is open to the public for viewing during a portion of the year.

Fallingwater has been called "the best all-time work of American architecture" by the American Institute of Architects. (1991)  

"You've never seen a building that fits with nature so tightly," Franklin Toker, author of Fallingwater Rising:  Frank Lloyd Wright, E.J. Kaufmann , and America's Most Extraordinary House says. "It's not merely nature, it's animated. You've seen Vegas and Times Square, but you've never seen a building that's in constant motion."

To see some of the hidden secrets of Fallingwater, click here: http://www.today.com/video/see-hidden-secrets-of-frank-lloyd-wrights-famed-fallingwater-house-606673987816

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/lifelists/frank-lloyd-wrights-most-beautiful-work-12103484/?no-ist

https://youtu.be/qvQZbC1OOZc

The Castle on the Hill

Today's reflection is that of Hotel Fairmont MacDonald taken at 7:30 pm as the sun was setting.  I love this architecture with its turrets and spires.  It's so beautiful!  The grounds are amazing too!

There's a wonderful meme at Weekend Reflections where people from around the world share reflections they've captured with a camera. 

The Week in Retrospect

Today we stopped at the Fringe Festival after going to the Farmers' Market in Strathcona.  Here's a bit of the act we enjoyed.

At the Farmers' Market:

Something I want to check out is this Land Trust.  

The opportunity didn't arrive today.

Same performer as in the video above, 

this time juggling fiery batons.

Earlier this week we had some errands to do and of course I had to take photos.  I love to see the efforts of the city and businesses alike to beautify the area.  Here are just a few examples:

The city is removing trees that didn't make it through the winter.  Sadly these trees were planted last summer in the park across the street from us but for whatever reason a good majority of the pines died and have been replaced by deciduous trees.

Annabelle Hydrangeas are blooming prolifically.

Tree lined streets and planters with a combination of canna lilies and trailing plants brighten the boulevards.

I miss having Purple Fountain Grass in my planters.  Next year I must plant them again.  Look how stunning they are with their fluffy heads.  Sweet potato vine and a trailing petunia or superbells (Calibrachoa), not sure which.  I took the photo from across the street.

Another street side planting en masse.  I don't know what this flower is with the red spikes but I like it as a specimen plant!

These shops and/or shop windows were seen while strolling down Whyte Avenue mid-afternoon.  The car was in for an inspection so hubby and I took advantage of the time to take a stroll.

This is one HUGE runner!

A weekend reflection, above.

I really like the architecture of some of the buildings in this area of town.

Murals are not uncommon sites, from boxes to sides of buildings.  Better than graffiti and it pays a tribute to the arts community which thrives in this city.

The old post office building is now occupied by local businesses, including a restaurant on the main level.

And last but not least, a rollerblading guitar playing man.

Hope you are enjoying a lovely August weekend.  

Thanks for stopping by.

Weekend Reflections
Our World Tuesday

Fairmont Hotel MacDonald and Gardens

 Last weekend, after enjoying the Dragon Boat Festival, my husband indulged me with a trip to the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald.  I've always wanted to see the famous gardens so off we went.  While we neither stayed overnight nor ate at any of the exquisite restaurants, we did enjoy a self-guided tour.  

Parked in the curved driveway at the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald was this cute little Vespa. 

It's cute and even though it is Pepto Bismal pink, I want one!

The hotel, facing the avenue, has a stature that would have been large in its day but 

in the midst of its neighbouring skyscrapers, it seems dwarfed by comparison. 

The front facade, facing the avenue is grand with architectural detail.  

A covered portico welcomes the visitor upon entry.

As a lover of planters, I had to stop to take the photograph of this one that sits in front of the hotel.  

At centre is the Japanese Maple, the thriller.  The filler appears to be, perhaps, canna lily though it's hard to tell considering this photo is rather dark.  The spiller is Ipomoea, sweet potato vine.

I'd be interested to know the inspiration behind these ornate carvings on the pillars of the street-side entrance.  Gargoyles are considered by some to bring good fortune.

Built in 1915, the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald (aka MacDonald Hotel) cost 1.25 million 

to build and $750 000 to furnish. 

I love the iron work seen on the street side entrance above.  

The hotel offers a valet service and I waited for him to go inside before taking this shot.

The above sketch which hangs in the foyer of the hotel was sketched by local artist Gordon Ramsey.

Of course I had to check out the facilities!

When I first transferred the above photo of this elegant marble topped table, it was upside down.  Incredibly, it looked gorgeous that way too!

Above and below, a view from the mezzanine.  

A lovely bright crystal chandelier illuminates the foyer below.  Note the ornate detail on the ceiling.

Due to a wedding party and guests occupying the garden of the famed hotel, hubby and I opted for the stairway in search of a window view.  This particular window has lovely stained glass in the centre.  I can't believe I didn't take a photo of the entire window!

As we traversed the eight flights of stairs to the top floor, the view changed 

with the new angles of vantage points.

 Above, the best view of the garden afforded from an upper floor window.

Above, a panoramic view of the garden as seen from one of the eight floors indoors.

Above and below, you see the four pyramids of the Muttart Conservatory and 

a network of roadways and bridges spanning the North Saskatchewan River.

The large boat on the river is the Edmonton Queen, a ferry with paddle wheels in back.  The Edmonton Queen offers river tours, sunset tours and a restaurant on board.

Pretty botanicals grace the walls on one of the floors of the hotel.

A cozy seating area on the eighth floor.  Notice the patterns?

One of my favourite features of the Hotel MacDonald is the turrets. 

I hope I am not boring you with my obsession for these magnificent turrets.

I had a bit of fun experimenting with different effects to emphasize these features.

My husband and I love this old world map.  

Above and below, old photos reminiscing a by-gone era.

A couple glass cases display newspaper clippings about the hotel.

On the lowest level of the hotel one finds a pool and exercise area along with a gift shop.  I had hoped for post cards or something similar but they didn't have anything like that. 

One day I would like to stay at this or one of the other Fairmont Hotels in our province.   Each Fairmont Hotel is individual in design, inside and out, but all are grand even for this day.  

Have you ever stayed in a Fairmont Hotel?  To learn more about the Fairmont Hotels visit:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairmont_Hotels_and_Resorts and http://www.fairmont.com.

http://www.fairmont.com/macdonald-edmonton

At Louis la Vache's invitation (see comment below), I am linking up with the Sunday Bridges meme that he hosts weekly.  Thank you for the invitation.