Building : Fallingwater

Architect : Frank Lloyd Wright

Year Built : 1939

Pictures of the building

(paste 2 to 4 pictures; examples- exterior view, plans or aerial or close up as long as design of
the building can be perceived easily)

I. PRINCIPLES OF COMPOSITION

1. Contrast

· Describe as to (form, line, tone, color, size, character

-In the contrast of form, the fallingwater house is a very geometric house with
many rectangles (rectilinear form). For the contrast of line, horizontal and vertical
lines (mostly found in the reinforced concrete balconies) were used in the house
to create a sense of stability, peace, and relaxation. In its contrast of tone, natural
tones were found in the house and red tones that are mainly found at the window
frames. These are similar to the red tones of the surrounding rocks and trees
especially during fall. For contrast of size, the left side of the house is tall while
on its right side is shorter than the left. For the contrast of color, only two colors
were used throughout: a light ochre for the concrete and his signature Cherokee
red for the steel. Using the idea of the use of color, it vary the surfaces just like
they varied in the wilderness. Lastly, the contrast of character, the fallingwater
house was not only imbued with the modernism characteristics (resembles the
ideals of functionalism and aesthetics while indulging minimalistic principles) but
also with the appreciation of Japanese traditional houses which were always
designed in a way that created a balance with its surroundings leading to his idea
of organic architecture.
2. Proportion

· Specify the factor or factors that influence the proportion of the design.

-The factor that influences the proportion of the design is the relation of
material,structural, and manufactured proportion to the environment/ the location
of the house/design which was placed on top of the waterfall. Also with the fact
that Wright based proportions on his height also from the client’s tall height.

3. Scale

· Specify the type or kind of scale applied in the building.

-The fallingwaters used visual scale in which the size of the house is relative to
other objects in the environment or to its surrounding. Also, the normal human
scale was applied in the building.

4. Balance

· Describe what type of balance it is using (symmetrical, asymmetrical,

gravitational)

-The fallingwater house used gravitational balance in which it is a type of balance

where the elements are arranged in relation to its visual surroundings or
environment. The position and location of the fallingwater matches perfectly with
the site. Balance and reflex can be seen throughout the building but the best
example is in the hatch stairs. These stairs point against the flow of the river,
creating a juxtaposition and balance. Balance and reflex can also be found
between the set of of terraces and the set of waterfalls. The intersection of the
terraces mimics the intersection of the waterfalls.

· Provide elevation sketch or pics (massing only - simplifies geometry-not

detailed as shown in powepoint topics)
5. Rhythm

· specify repeated elements

-The repeated elements are the lines in the Fallingwater house through straight
and horizontal lines founded in the reinforced concrete balconies.

6. Unity & Hierarchy

· describe its method or strategy used for unity

-Unity is portrayed through the combination of Nature and Architecture: the

organic and geometric features of a house, the natural stone with the concrete,
the exterior with the interior and finally is the nature and space.

7. Character

· Expression

The expressions were based on the combination of functional character and

associated character.

· Meaning

Edgar J. Kaufmann, Sr. and his wife, Liliane commissioned Wright to design a
weekend retreat on the family’s land/ summer home. Kaufmann and his wife
expected a weekend house that would offer views of a favourite waterfall, but
they were startled to find that Wright’s plans situated the house directly above the
waterfall. Fallingwater was a masterpiece of Wright’s theories on organic
architecture, which sought to integrate humans, architecture, and nature together
so that each one would be improved by the relationship. Fallingwater proved that
Wright was not an outdated architect ready for retirement but an enduring
visionary ready for the next phase of his career. When Edgar Kaufmann, the
family’s patriarch, was asked to describe Fallingwater in one word, he replied,
“romance.” Real romance is roughly equivalent to what we might call “zest for
life.” That’s what Fallingwater evokes.
II.Proportioning System

1. As a whole describe what particular proportioning system is applied in these three structures
shown in the pictures above. Concisely describe this particular system.

Golden ratio was used as a proportioning system for the structures shown above
(Parthenon, Notre Dame, and Toronto’s CN Tower). The golden ratio (also called the golden
rectangle) is a proportioning system that governs the relationship of smaller parts to the whole
(described in terms of the parts relative to the whole) and the algebraic formula: a/b=b/(a+b)=
0.618. It is a mathematically based proportioning system used by ancient civilizations including
the Greeks and Romans as well as by modern designers, most notably the French-Swiss
architect Le Corbusier. This proportioning system is used not only in architecture, but also in
other creative fields such as art, graphics design, music, and can even be found abundantly in
the structures of living organisms, including the human body.

2. Paste pictures below applying this particular system in other fields (like painting, photography,
graphics/layout etc.; 3 pictures only with label - example painting, name of what painting;
examples of photos can be all about painting or combination of the different fields)

Stamp design by Stephan Bundi Apple logo (graphics design)

“Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci (painting)