The Natural House

by Frank Lloyd Wright

Bramhall House; First Edition edition (1954)

Genres: Architecture, Nonfiction, Design, Art

Paperback

First published January 1, 1954

About the author

Frank Lloyd Wright was one of the world's most prominent and influential architects.

He developed a series of highly individual styles, influenced the design of buildings all over the world, and to this day remains America's most famous architect.

Wright was also well known in his lifetime. His colorful personal life frequently made headlines, most notably for the failure of his first two marriages and for the 1914 fire and murders at his Taliesin studio.

Reviews

[J. Allyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

- Our principal is put to work, not as recipe or as formula, there will always be style and no need to bury it as “a style.”
- “Form followers function” is me dogma until you realize the higher truth that form and function are one.
- Do you know what to leave out and what to put in; just where and just how, ah, that is to have been educated in knowledge of simplicity – toward ultimate freedom of expression.
- Decoration is intended to make you use more charming and comfort, more appropriate, or else privilege has been abused.
- Style is important. A style is not. There is all the difference when we work with style and not for a style.
- Integrity is not something to be put on and taken off like a garment. Integrity is a quality within and of the man himself. so it is an a building.
- When selecting a site for your house, there is always the question of how close to the city you should be, and that depends on what kind of slave you are.
- So go far from the city, much farther than you think you can afford. You will soon find you can never quite go far enough.
- The peripatetic marriage is the enemy of good architecture-as a matter of course.
- The “grammar” of the house is it manifest articulation of all its parts. This will be the “speech” it uses. To be achieved, construction must be grammatical.
- Nature is the great teacher – man can only receive and respond to her teaching.

[Joel Ackerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on the quality of writing, this book is a three, since the writing is convoluted and redundant. Based on the quality of ideas it is a five. Wright revealed or restored truths about architecture that had been forgotten or corrupted for millennia and therefore Wright could appropriately be called a prophet of architecture.

Like many prophets, Wright was given ideas he didn't completely understand himself. His arrogance (also a common trait among prophets) prevented him from admitting as much and so he pretended he understood, because he was sure his ideas were True and he didn't want a lack of confidence to make others doubt, but you get a sense he is exploring the concepts themselves trying to clarify and refine them as he writes.

A good editor could, with some effort, make Wright's ideas (or the ideas for which Wright was a conduit), clearer and therefore more beneficial to the masses who don't want to muddle through the weeds of his fairly raw musings. No doubt had he not been "the prophet," he would have been more edited.

[Lake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably more of a 3.5. “Book One” is at times borderline unreadable, with convoluted writing, undefined terminology of Wright’s own invention, and an overall pompous stink to it. If you read, it may be worthwhile to just skip it, or glaze over it for the general concepts.

The later parts of Book One and Book Two improve considerably. Here, Wright writes simply and effectively, if still with a tinge of underlying smugness. Many of the ideas and concepts he put forth really do feel sort of revolutionary, or at the very least ingeniously clever. Definitely illuminating to one such as myself not well steeped in architecture, and has changed the way I will view homes and design. It should be noted that Wright uses outdated/potentially offensive terminology and examples throughout, e.g. the role of the “housewife,” “Oriental,” etc etc. Can only partially be explained away by time of writing, and can definitely be distracting.

[Carrie Dalby · Rating 4 out of 5]

My "kitchen read", the book I read when cooking or eating alone, which isn't often.

I have a lot of books about Frank Lloyd Wright and his designs, but this was the first time I've read his own words.
Is it dated?
Yes.
Is it entertaining?
Yes.
I laughed out loud. A lot. More than I should have, but I enjoyed it.
I now understand why so many of his clients said FLW was difficult to work with. I appreciate his spunk.

[Nate Stevens · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd love to say that I'm shocked that this book is poorly-written and arrogant, but... I guess it fits, eh?The latter sections, as other reviewers have said, do get better, simpler, and more practical, but I was hoping more for the mind than the practical Usonian details.

[Constantin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so used to arrogant writers at this point that they doesn't faze me anymore, if their ideas are worthwhile in the end. For Wright that's the case. Every year I make myself read a book about a subject I have no knowledge in and this is the one for 2022.

[Found Object · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wright is a brilliant designer, one of the best maybe. But is it just me or is he a terrible writer...?

[Hardus Scheepers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The language is obviously strange as it was written so long ago, but the thinking behind his houses is fascinating.

[Chant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thankfully, I am not the only reader to charge Wright with the gravest of ills—that of writing in a prose that would make McLuhan blush. Not great.

[Garrett Cash · Rating 2 out of 5]

While he is without a doubt the great American architect, it turns out Frank Lloyd Wright was not much of a compelling writer. I’d rather just look through a book of high quality photos of his work.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a pretty good book by FLW. He does rambler on about things. I didn't read this book front to back, just in pieces everywhere. Wasn't a FLW fan until I went to visist his house and studio. Huge fam!

[Covenant Presbyterian Springfield Ohio]

Call Number: 728.081 WRI

Given by Mr. and Mrs. Phil SNYDER in memory of Arthur HARRUS.

Available.