flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Frank Lloyd Wright's posthumous gas station opens in Buffalo

Frank Lloyd Wright's posthumous gas station opens in Buffalo

This never built design is like a time-capsule that preserved the enthusiasm and optimism for cars in early 20th century United States.


By BD+C Staff | July 8, 2014
Photos courtesy of the Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow Museum
Photos courtesy of the Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow Museum

A fireplace in a gas station – imagine getting a permit to build something like that today. But that is exactly what legendary American architect Frank Lloyd Wright thought up for a gas station he designed more than half a century ago, and that was exactly what was built in the Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow Museum in Buffalo, New York, for public viewing.

The gas station was intended for creation in Buffalo at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Cherry Street, Architizer reports. From the two gas stations Wright designed, only the one in Cloquet, Minnesota was built, also posthumously in 1965.

Check out this special report from Buffalo local news station WIVBTV.

 

The gas station embodies American modernism as coined by Wright, and is not short of the early 20th century enthusiasm for cars. The station’s architecture is anchored by a large set of stairs that lead to a second-story observation room for customers to wait as their vehicles are serviced. It has a fireplace, restrooms, a copper roof ad two 45-foot poles that Wright referred to as totems.

For more information, visit the museum’s official website.

Related Stories

| Sep 11, 2012

McQuade appointed CEO of Tishman Construction

McQuade will focus on driving the growth of the company into new markets and expanding market share in its current areas of operation.

| Sep 11, 2012

Ecosystem Management & Associates joins HDR

EM&A staff will do business as part of HDR Engineering and HDR Environmental, Operations and Construction.

| Sep 10, 2012

Specialty door types—plenty of functional variety

In the MasterFormat section 08 30 00, Specialty Doors and Frames, a number of door types are listed for special functions, access locations, sliding and folding hardware, and even pressure-resistant types.

| Sep 7, 2012

7 Do's and Don'ts for PV roof rack installation

As PVs grow in popularity, nearly half of all installations require roof rack systems. Our expert tells how to do the job right and protect your client’s roof.

| Sep 7, 2012

Net-zero energy pioneers on the el-hi frontier

Getting to net-zero is not easy, but the promise of eliminating energy bills and using state-of-the-art technology as a learning lab can make a compelling case to reach for net-zero.

| Sep 7, 2012

Healthcare architects get a preview of tomorrow’s medical landscape

The topic on everyone’s mind was how the Affordable Care Act would impact healthcare design and construction––and whether the law would even make it past the coming election cycle.

| Sep 7, 2012

Goettsch Partners designs new tower in Abu Dhabi

Al Hilal Bank’s 24-story flagship development provides contemporary office space.

| Sep 7, 2012

Suffolk awarded One Channel Center project in Boston

Firm to manage $125 million, 525,000-sf office building project.

| Sep 7, 2012

Duffy joins Thornton Tomasetti

At Hardesty & Hanover, Duffy partnered with Thornton Tomasetti on a number of projects.

| Sep 7, 2012

Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital breaks ground on expansion

Sustainability and nature at the heart of the new addition at the Stanford University Medical Center designed by Perkins+Will.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Warehouses

California bill would limit where distribution centers can be built

A bill that passed the California legislature would limit where distribution centers can be located and impose other rules aimed at reducing air pollution and traffic. Assembly Bill 98 would tighten building standards for new warehouses and ban heavy diesel truck traffic next to sensitive sites including homes, schools, parks and nursing homes.




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021