The Manila’Bang Show 2024 happened between November 14 to 17 at SPACE at OneAyala. The new venue gives artists and galleries an opportunity to showcase their art at the heart of the Makati Central Business District. With that in mind, BluPrint takes you on the ground of its opening day. Many galleries came out in […]
How Hollyhock House Forged a New Architectural Language
Designed by the legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the Hollyhock House is an iconic milestone in the history of residential design. The home’s design served as a catalyst for California Modernism that introduced pioneering concepts. Its harmonization of art, nature, and innovations earned its recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Originally intended to be part of an artist colony, the owner instead donated the estate in 1927 to the City of Los Angeles to be a public art park, now known as Barnsdall Art Park. The project stalled after a rumored disagreement between Wright and the owner.
Creating a New Style
The owner in question, Aline Barnsdall, was an oil heiress and a patron of the arts. She envisioned developing a cultural complex along Olive Hill. It was to be a place for artists to freely produce and express their work. Her favorite flower was the hollyhock, which serves as the main inspiration behind the design’s ornamentation.
Frank Lloyd Wright saw this creative brief as an opportunity to forge a new architectural language. The unique style of the home, aptly named “California Romanza”, embodies the spirit of its location, emphasizing artistic freedom in its form. The design reflects the spirit of innovation by celebrating creative energy in the midst of natural beauty.
A series of terraces, colonnades, and pergolas bring together interior and exterior spaces. The design language departs from Wright’s earlier Prairie style, with its extensive application of textile block constructions. Rooftop terraces offer breathtaking views of the hills. The living room hearth is a central feature, with its floating hearthstone and stone mural illuminated from above by a skylight.
A Blend Of Cultures
The house dominates its hilltop site with its rigid form and garden walls anchored against the landscape. Its stylistic influences evoke Maya structures, such as the Palace at Palenque, and pre-Hispanic Architecture. The walls’ pronounced form, dense patterns, and casted ornamentations translates these motifs. The central courtyard garden draws upon Spanish Colonial elements with its columns and surrounding terraces.
Materially, the home uses hollow clay blocks with a stucco coating. An accent of decorative hollyhock style bands brings together the ornamental aesthetic. It brings a sculptural quality within the interiors that express California’s regional culture.
The Heart of the Home
Inside the Hollyhock House is a unified design as Wright showcases his acumen for harmony. Custom furniture, textiles, art glass windows, and even the dishes are intentionally matched to make a cohesive artistic statement. The hollyhock motif acts as a unifying element to the overall themes inside. Material accents are tastefully added as rich woods and brass metals add a subtle yet impactful touch.
A classic of Wright’s style, an open floor plan utilizes ceiling heights and spatial proportion to delineate different areas. The living room features a monumental fireplace with a dramatic bas relief and a reflecting pool. The heart integrates a complex interplay of fire, water, earth (stone), and air (skylight). It emphasizes and clearly indicates this social space as the heart of the home.
An Endearing Legacy
It can be said that the Hollyhock House was a starting point for the illustrious portfolio that Wright built up after. The home’s design language serves as a link between his previous work and later explorations. A unique structural system and incorporation of water elements foreshadow his other iconic works, like Fallingwater.
The home still remains close to the community around it. It has undergone extensive restoration and preservation efforts. The structure is safeguarded and reinforced to ensure that it lasts for future generations to explore. Today, it stands proudly as one of Wright’s great works, offering the public a chance to enjoy its creative wonders within its beautifully ornamented spaces.
Legacy-wise, the Hollyhock House is an iconic symbol of California Modernism and is a major work of Frank Lloyd Wright. Its halls continue to captivate visitors with its artistic design that inspires with its unique and pioneering concepts.
Read more: 3 Iconic Frank Lloyd Wright Structures
Photo credit:Filippo Poli
Resources: https://hollyhockhouse.org/
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Every year, the holiday season brings a flurry of new decor trends. While it’s fun to experiment with the latest styles, sometimes it can be a little taxing and confusing keeping up with them. But the good news is that you don’t need to follow every trend to create a stunning Yuletide aesthetic. Here are […]
The ICA Art Fair happened from November 21 to 23 at W High Street in Bonifacio Global City (BGC). This inaugural art fair was organized as a charity event for the benefit of the ICA Alumni Association Scholarship Foundation. “This one-of-a-kind charity event will feature a curated selection of leading contemporary artists, displaying works across […]
Swiss architect and designer Aurel Aebi, co-founder of atelier oï alongside Armand Louis and Patrick Reymond, brings a tactile, storytelling approach to design. Visiting Manila for the Louis Vuitton Savoir Rêver exhibition, Aebi shared insights into their philosophy and process, demonstrating how everyday objects can transform into elegant, functional art pieces. At atelier oï’s studio […]
This 2024, we’ve seen a lot of emerging design ideas, taking inspiration from fashion, music, psychology, and philosophy, that changed the way we perceive interior spaces. And now that we’re approaching the Yuletide season, you might want to break away from your usual way of decorating and try something fresh and out of the ordinary. […]
Download this month's BLUPRINT magazine digital copy from:
Subscribe via [email protected]