West Virginia
University
Mountaineer
Parent Club,
Northern Virginia Chapter
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Mountaineer
Parent Club,
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| Fallingwater By Jim Woolwine
Fallingwater, one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most acclaimed works, is an easy one and a half hour drive from Morgantown. The house recently underwent a $4 million renovation project and has reopened to the public. This architectural gem is a “must see.” Add some hiking, whitewater rafting, and a comfortable bed and breakfast to make a memorable getaway weekend for you and your WVU student. Edgar J. Kaufmann, founder of the Pittsburgh’s Kaufmann’s Department Store, was not only a successful businessman but also a visionary patron of the arts. Following an introduction to Frank Lloyd Wright, the two exchanged ideas on several civic projects in Pittsburgh. As their collaboration developed, the Kaufmanns asked the architect to design a summer home for them on property they owned overlooking Bear Run, a small stream near Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania, that drains Laurel Hill and flows to the Youghiogheny River. The site’s guidebook gives an excellent overview of the contest of wills between Kauffmann, a young merchandizing deal maker, and Wright, the strong-willed, financially strapped, 67-year-old architect. From the initial concept of a weekend retreat overlooking the stream, Wright sketched then convinced the family to build a work of extraordinary imagination that has become one of the most celebrated buildings of the 20th century. The Kaufmanns must have known that Wright’s ideas would result in this architectural masterpiece, because they accepted so many compromises that the house is pretty close to being uninhabitable. Its small scale, dampness, and humidity would be too much for me. You cannot help but admire Wright’s creative talent as he utilized every bit of available space on the rocky outcrop on which he chose to build the retreat. The design is simply amazing. Kaufmann’s son donated Fallingwater and its surrounding grounds to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. Fallingwater is the only major Wright work to come into the public domain with its setting, original furnishings, and artwork intact. Fallingwater is open for tours mid-March through Thanksgiving and sporadically through the winter months. Call ahead for reservations. There is an admission charge. The facility includes hiking trails, a café, and a gift shop. More information is available at www.paconserve.org. Telephone: (724)-329-8501. If you use Mapquest or Mapblast for directions, the destination point for Fallingwater is Mill Run (Fayette), Pennsylvania.
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