Defending Frank Lloyd Wright buildings from demolition has become a popular subgenre of preserving historic buildings. In the recent past, the Frank Lloyd Wright Revival Initiative has been hard at work defending some of Wright’s structures from being reduced to piles of rubble and attempting to get others that were already demolished rebuilt.
The Initiative has found success, but, unfortunately, it isn’t feasible to try and rebuild all of Wright’s structures that have been demolished. That doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t still be brought back to life, however.
Architect David Romero has taken two Wright buildings that no longer exist and created detailed, fully colored renderings of them. The exteriors and interiors, down to the furniture and subtle architectural details, of the Larkin Administration Building and the Rose Pauson House have been recreated in a photorealistic way to relive the architecture as it once was.
Wright designed the Larkin Administration Building for the Larkin Soap Company in 1903. It was built in 1904 and was demolished in 1950, despite editorial protests from around the country, after the Larkin Company’s business began to decline and the building was foreclosed on in 1945 for back taxes.
The Larkin Administration Building. Rendering courtesy of David Romero, Hooked on The Past.
The 200-foot-long 134-foot-wide red sandstone building was the first fully air-conditioned building and had stained glass windows, built-in furniture, and suspended toilet bowls. It stood at 680 Seneca Street in Buffalo, N.Y. and had ornamentation provided by Richard Bock.
The Larkin House. Rendering courtesy of David Romero, Hooked on The Past.
Romero also recreated the Rose Pauson House, which was designed by Wright in 1939 and built between 1940 and 1942 in Phoenix, Ariz. However, just one year later, in 1943, the building burned down when an ember from the fireplace ignited a nearby curtain.
The ruins of the foundation and walls were all that were left after the fire and became known as the Shiprock ruins. The ruins were later removed in order to extend 32nd Street through the site. The chimney was preserved and moved for use as a permanent monument marking the entrance to the Alta Vista subdivision.
The Rose Pauson House. Rendering courtesy of David Romero, Hooked on The Past.
Romero’s recreation features a detailed look at the exterior of the structure as it once stood, rock and wood that, like so many of Wright’s buildings, seem to be a natural component of the surrounding landscape. The interior, infamous curtains and all, was also recreated in great detail to appear as it would have while the structure was inhabited.
In addition to these two demolished buildings, Romero also created renderings of Trinity Chapel, a Wight building that was never constructed. Like with the two demolished buildings, Romero’s renderings are photorealistic and capture the intricacies of Wright’s original design.
Trinity Chapel. Rendering courtesy of David Romero, Hooked on The Past.
The Larkin Administration Building. Rendering courtesy of David Romero, Hooked on The Past.
The Larkin Administration Building. Rendering courtesy of David Romero, Hooked on The Past.
The Larkin Administration Building. Rendering courtesy of David Romero, Hooked on The Past.
The Rose Pauson House. Rendering courtesy of David Romero, Hooked on The Past.
The Rose Pauson House. Rendering courtesy of David Romero, Hooked on The Past.
The Rose Pauson House. Rendering courtesy of David Romero, Hooked on The Past.
Trinity Chapel. Rendering courtesy of David Romero, Hooked on The Past.
All of Romero’s work for, what he has dubbed, his “Hooked on The Past” series can be viewed on his website.
Related Stories
| Apr 23, 2014
Architecture Billings Index dips in March
The March ABI score was 48.8, down sharply from a mark of 50.7 in February. This score reflects a decrease in design services.
Sponsored | | Apr 23, 2014
Ridgewood High satisfies privacy, daylight and code requirements with fire rated glass
For a recent renovation of a stairwell and exit corridors at Ridgewood High School in Norridge, Ill., the design team specified SuperLite II-XL 60 in GPX Framing for its optical clarity, storefront-like appearance, and high STC ratings.
| Apr 22, 2014
Transit-friendly apartment building now under construction
The new $44 million community is situated on eight acres, directly adjacent to the local Park-n-Ride, and a quick walk from a nearby light rail station.
| Apr 22, 2014
Bright and bustling: Grimshaw reveals plans for the Istanbul Grand Airport [slideshow]
In partnership with the Nordic Office of Architecture and Haptic Architects, Grimshaw Architects has revealed its plans for the terminal of what will be one of the world's busiest airports. The terminal is expected to serve 150 million passengers per year.
| Apr 21, 2014
10 design-build best practices
Design-build requires more than a good contract and appropriate risk allocation, says the DBIA. Everyone from the owner to the subcontractors must understand the process, the expectations, and fully engage in the collaboration.
| Apr 18, 2014
Multi-level design elevates Bulgarian Children's Museum [slideshow]
Embodying the theme “little mountains,” the 35,000-sf museum will be located in a former college laboratory building in the Studenski-grad university precinct.
| Apr 17, 2014
Online mapping tool helps teams determine multifamily project tax credit eligibility
Accounting and advisory firm Baker Tilly has launched a new, interactive online mapping tool that helps users determine if a business or development project may qualify for the New Markets Tax Credit or Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Sponsored | | Apr 17, 2014
Technology enables state transportation agency to make the leap to digital design review
Earlier this month, my colleague and I presented a session to a group of civil engineers and transportation agencies about the tech trends in the AEC space. Along with advice on how to prepare your plan for controlled collaboration, we also talked through some practical use cases. One such use case was especially interesting, as it outlined a challenge not unfamiliar to government agencies who are contemplating the leap from paper to digital processes: how to securely migrate workflows.
| Apr 16, 2014
Upgrading windows: repair, refurbish, or retrofit [AIA course]
Building Teams must focus on a number of key decisions in order to arrive at the optimal solution: repair the windows in place, remove and refurbish them, or opt for full replacement.
| Apr 15, 2014
12 award-winning structural steel buildings
Zaha Hadid's Broad Art Museum and One World Trade Center are among the projects honored by the American Institute of Steel Construction for excellence in structural steel design.