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by mynegation 69 days ago
Fallingwater is more than work of art, it is a religious experience. I visited it three times (each time my visit to Pittsburgh and the area surrounding the house was to specifically see it) and every damn time I stood weeping leaving the tour.
3 comments

I need to visit it in person I guess. The photos always leave me feeling like I am looking at a very small conference center and the feel of it seems off to me for a house. I dont quite get the appeal of a lot of his work. It sometimes feel everyone has decided its incredible and it persists on its fame over substance (not uncommon with art, eg. The Mona Lisa was just a small painting on a wall with a lot of arguably better paintings for a long time before we all decided to obsess over it)
I can see that. In photos it feels like a very small corporate retreat. And there are definitely design decisions we've evolved from. But when you are inside, it feels warm, open, airy. And so many things are so well thought out to make them invisible when they should be, and draw attention. I would have enjoyed living in, or vacationing there.
I love architecture and falling water disappointed me.

It was in terrible shape firstly. The new round of fixes has just been completed so it would be good to see it again before it resumes crumbling (those cantilevers have been drooping from day 1 and were 4 inches off by 1955, when I saw it there were seismic sensors all over).

Secondly as a tall person, 6’4”, the ceiling heights are just uncomfortable. Wright sized things for himself and he was a little man. For me I had the feeling I needed to duck constantly and the sense of unease destroys the other positive aspects of the house. A real shame.

Can you describe why?
I can only describe it being overcome with a sense of love and harmony. I was giggling ear-to-ear the whole time I was there.

Great works of art are meant to be religious experiences. At Falling water, every part of the house & estate feels like it was meant to be there. The shapes and curves feel so right. The emphasis on integrating natural materials makes it feel one with nature. Frank Lloyd wright cared a lot about sight lines, which makes every space easy on the eyes.

I've had similar experiences in great Basilicas[0] such as Sagrada Familia[1]. Smaller objects have evoked similar feelings too. Be that cars (The Ferrari Roma[2] or Alfa 33 Stadale[3]) or intricate jewelery (Earrings [4] or watches [5]). Great beauty feels divine, and Fallingwater is one such example.

[0] Special shout-out to the new Romanesque basilica in DC - https://maps.app.goo.gl/8r59NzbgVnqKYAv2A

[1] https://thebarcelonafeeling.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/S...

[2] https://media.architecturaldigest.com/photos/5f96f18f0a2396c...

[3] https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/Alfa_Rom...

[4] https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/39320

[5] https://www.watchclub.com/upload/watches/gallery_big/watch-c...

> At Falling water, every part of the house & estate feels like it was meant to be there. The shapes and curves feel so right.

Even the little details, like the vents/intakes for the HVAC being built into the back of surfaces/built-ins, so they're invisible unless you peer over.