Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings
Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings is part of the Tentative List in order to qualify for inclusion in the World Heritage List.Click here for a short description of the site, as delivered by the State Party
| Year | Decision | Comments |
| 2008 | Tentative list | Submitted as tentative site by State Party |
| 1991 | Referred | As Taliesin and Taliesin West: Bureau -deferred the examination of this nomination pending the results of a topic-by-topic study of contemporary architecture. |
Reviews
Ian Cade (England): 
I will be very surprised if these buildings do not make it onto the World Heritage List as they are exceptional testaments to one of the most important architects of the 20th century.
A few years back I was lucky enough to have a week or so in Chicago and was able to tour the Architectural delights of the city. The buildings of Frank Lloyd Wright were certainly one of the highlights. The western suburb of Oak Park is littered with buildings he designed though only Unity Temple is nominated this is a great place to start getting an understanding of the architects’ work especially if you visit his house and studio.
The effect of the Prairie school that he pioneered can be seen in houses across the wealthier outskirts of the city; however the finest building of his that I saw, the Robie House, is located in the less salubrious South side of Chicago. It is next to the leafy Chicago University campus (worth a visit for the excellent Oriental Institute Museum) and it is an exceptional feat of domestic architecture. The use of space and horizontal lines is incredible and I was surprised by how impressed I was by the building as I had not guessed it would be so good from the pictures I had seen.
A few years later I was able to visit one of his most renowned works, the Guggenheim Museum in New York. This again was a highly impressive and unique building made all the better by the long stroll across Central Park that led to it. There are additions to the Museum to Wright’s original plans that make it look strangely like a toilet, however the aesthetic joy of the spiralling gallery is great both internally and externally. Though it has to be said it is not really that great a space for displaying works of art.
I hope to continue viewing more of Wrights work as I travel around with Fallingwater and the Johnson Factory topping my wish-list.
These buildings would be an excellent addition to the World Heritage List and it would also signify a slight shift in the focus of the US’s approach to it, hopefully for the better as there are so many modern architectural marvels that could be added in the future. Date posted: March 2010 Kyle Magnuson (United States of America): 
Probably the United States greatest architect with a far-reaching influence, this nomination should be an early inscription on the new US T-List. By every definition a site of Outstanding Universal Value. Pictured here is Hollyhock House, a site definetly worth visiting if you're in LA. Date posted: January 2010 Tish (USA):
I grew up across the street from the Darwin Martin House. When I was little it was wooded; an architect lived there. His daughter had her own skating rink. We played in the perglola. There were three buildings. At present it is almost completely restored. The feeling inside a Frank Lloyd Wright prairie house is both airy and warm - he really liked natural light. Windows through windows, skylighting - in 1904! The room they rebuilt in the Metropolitan Museum in NY has high ceilings but still feels roomy and very cosy at the same time. I wonder what it would be like to cook in a Frank Lloyd Wright kitchen. Date posted: June 2009 Els Slots (The Netherlands): 
There are 10 buildings by Frank Lloyd Wright nominated for inclusion (as a serial nomination). One of these, arguably the most prominent one, is Fallingwater in Pennsylvania. I visited it on a bright sunny weekday in April.
Fallingwater is located about half an hour from the highway, amidst forests and green hills. The scenery reminded me of Germany or Slovakia. There are many beautiful traditional wooden houses here. It is so remote that I am beginning to think that perhaps I will be the only visitor to tour the house.
But when I approach the parking lot I find more than 40 cars already there! Now it becomes clear why you must book weeks in advance.
As I'm an hour early for my tour, I first have something to eat at the café and have a look around at the museum shop. Both are well-stocked.
With a group of about 15 people I then am allowed to visit the house. It is only visible when you come very near, you get there via a bridge. From the bridge there's already a great view of the characteristic terraces, like swimming pool diving boards. They are on one side supported by beams and the rest is suspended.
Fallingwater was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and built between 1936 and 1938 as a country house for the Kaufmann family (for a price of 155,000 dollars). Its name comes from the waterfall in the Bear Run river which was incorporated in the design of the house.
A guide gives us a tour of the interior. Materials used are walnut wood, reinforced concrete, natural stone slabs and steel. Also natural elements are reused, for example a large boulder. Almost all rooms have a fireplace, the central focus of the house. There are also sliding glass doors to terraces at different levels. It all looks very comfortable to live in.
In addition to the home of the Kaufmann family, there is also a guesthouse. The guests were taken care of just as well as the owners. The family had five staff to serve and for the maintenance of buildings and terrain.
My general conclusion about this site is that it's very much worth a detour when you're in Pennsylvania or Ohio. Also I think this would be a worthy addition to the WH List, so I'm looking forward to when the US finally gives this site a go. Date posted: April 2009
Have you been to Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings? Share your experiences!