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6 destroyed Frank Lloyd Wright buildings: Unlike Fallingwater, not every Wright creation still stands
6 destroyed Frank Lloyd Wright buildings
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usher73
Oct 21 2012 at 5:21 PM
Two of the statues from Midway Gardens were salvaged and later given to Frank Lloyd Wright. They are at Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona. I only know that because I was Taliesin West and took a tour a couple weeks ago.
NelsonRobert
Oct 05 2012 at 11:48 PM
Whenever I see a structure that FLW designed that has been torn down to make room for something more this or more that, it sickens me. What could be more anything than his buildings? They're perfect even with their flaws.
David H.
Oct 05 2012 at 5:34 PM
I'm a big Frank Lloyd Wright fan and enjoyed the article. One question I had is why did he have to be described as "Welsh-American"? Why can't he be just an American? This hyphenated American stuff is getting out of hand.
Guest
Oct 06 2012 at 2:35 PM
Because the Welsh care about their Art and America cares about bucks. Where are all of the Louis Sullivan buildings?
James Ahrens
Oct 05 2012 at 3:55 PM
What about the famous Larkin Building in Buffalo. Also destroyed.
John Termini
Oct 05 2012 at 8:18 PM
Yes, the city of Buffalo is forever known to have destroyed the Larkin Building.
Let that be a cautionary tale to anyone who wants to destroy another FLW building.
To our credit there has been an extensive reconstruction and restoration project going on for over 10 years on the 1907 Martin House in Buffalo, NY.
In addition to other FLW houses in the Buffalo area, three projects that were designed by Wright in the early 1900’s but never built are being realized in Buffalo. Two of them have been
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built in recent years, and the third one will be built in the near future.
Phyllis
Oct 05 2012 at 12:30 PM
Wow...The article caught my attention, and it made me want to research and read more. I don't get some of the inane comments posted. They seem trite. I feel as if some of those who have commented, missed the point of the article. Geez...
anthonythompson2000
Sep 30 2012 at 10:54 AM
This is a half-assed article. What about the Francis Little house? What about the Pieper house? what about the house in Indiana which burned down a few years ago? And why did you use a photo of the present Taliesin to represent the destroyed versions of 1911 and 1914 when photos are available? Lazy.
Matt Hickman
Oct 01 2012 at 12:34 PM
Hi Anthony,
To my defense, I'm obviously aware that a large number -- more than just six -- FLW structures have been demolished and/or destroyed over the years and I mention several more within some of the texts for each individual entry. I don't view this approach as lazy, but more of a starting point for a larger dialogue and to highlight a few notable, no-longer-with-us (with the exception of Taliesin) buildings across a range of categories -- hotels, entertainment centers, private homes, etc.
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-- in order to demonstrate the sheer diversity of FLW's work. True, I didn't get every single one, but in the original text I invited readers to share their additional entries so thank you for doing so. I also originally included an additional shorter list of several other demolished/destroyed FLW buildings -- the Pauson House, the Larkin Building, the Fuller Residence in Miss., etc. -- to round things out.
Kevin B.
Sep 30 2012 at 10:21 AM
FYI-
Approx. 6-8 years ago the W.S. Carr Residence in Grand Beach, MI was intentionally demolished to make way for a new house to be constructed on the site overlooking Lake Michigan. The Carr Residence was designed by Wright in 1916, and had been substantially remodeled prior to its demolition, but it was an original FLW design, and it was intentionally destroyed.
Guest
Sep 29 2012 at 2:58 PM
"demolishment" is a real word. Not a common one, but nonetheless legitimate.
MikeyL
Sep 28 2012 at 7:50 PM
That teaser title is misleading... only half of these FLW buildings are "houses."
mcleodglen
Sep 28 2012 at 3:17 PM
Never been to any of these, so i might need to visit one before they are gone. 
Unlike Fallingwater, not every Wright creation still stands
The granddaddy of environmentally sustainable architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright, has been in the news lately. A massive archive of his work is being permanently relocated from Wisconsin and Arizona to the Museum of Modern Art and Columbia University, and an unusual, architecturally significant home that Wright designed for one his seven children is facing possible demolishment in Phoenix to make room for a pair of McMansions. An urgent campaign to save the home and the surrounding property from redevelopment is under way.
The prolific, scandal-plagued Wright — who died in 1959 at the ripe old age of 91 — completed more than 400 works in the United States and abroad during his lifetime, so it’s inevitable that some have been destroyed. If the David Wright House in Phoenix is razed, it will be the first of the Welsh-American architect’s works to be intentionally destroyed in 40 years, according to Janet Halstead of the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy.
With the preservation of the David Wright House on our minds, we decided to take a look at six notable Wright-designed structures ranging from hotels to duplexes to doghouses that are no longer with us due to intentional demolishment or natural disaster. We’ve also included an iconic Wright building — his own summer home and studio in his native Wisconsin — that was severely damaged not once but twice by fire, but was rebuilt and is still standing today. Pictured here is Fallingwater, one of his more easily recognized structures, and one that thankfully still exists. (Text: Matt Hickman)
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