The Twenties

In the decade following World War I, Wright's level of production declined. Although he worked on a series of projects, some of which later provided the basis for executed buildings, the number of buildings actually constructed during this period was minimal when compared to the work of the preceding years.

In the 1920's, Wright explored the use of poured concrete and abstract sculptural ornamentation in residential construction. He developed a type of construction using precast "textile" concrete blocks which were bound together by steel rods and poured concrete. This "textile-block" construction method found its best expression in a series of four houses built in the hills around Los Angeles, California.

Links to photographs and other materials:

Hollyhock House. Friends of Hollyhock House site; color photographs.

Aline Barnsdall House (1920). Color photograph.

Alice Millard House, "La Miniatura" (1923), Pasadena, California. Perspective drawing.

La Miniatura. B/W photograph showing house under construction.

John Storer House (1923), Hollywood, California. Perspective drawing.

Samuel Freeman House (1923), Los Angeles, California. Aerial drawing.

Freeman House: USC's Historic Frank Lloyd Wright House. Official Freeman House web site; includes restoration project update.

Charles Ennis Residence (1923), Los Angeles, California. Site of the Ennis House Foundation; history and photos.

Ennis House. Perspective from below.

Ennis House. Perspective drawing with partial plan.

Ennis House. Color photographs of exterior.

Taliesin III (1925ff), Spring Green, Wisconsin. Taliesin Preservation Commission web site; extensive text-only information.

Taliesin III. Color photographs of three exterior views; view 1, view 2, view 3.

Taliesin III. Color photographs of exterior.

Arizona Biltmore Hotel (1927), Phoenix, Arizona. Hotel web site with B/W photos and a history of the building.

Arizona Biltmore Hotel. Color photographs.

Darwin D. Martin House, "Graycliff" (1927), Derby, New York. Web site of the Graycliff Conservancy.

Blue-Sky Mausoleum (1928), Buffalo, New York. Web site of the Blue-Sky Mausoleum designed by Wright in 1928 for Darwin D. Martin but not constructed until 2004.

Blue-Sky Mausoleum. Color photographs.

Designs for an American Landscape, 1922-32. Library of Congress exhibit featuring designs for five unbuilt Wright projects: Gordon Strong Automobile Objective, Lake Tahoe Summer Colony, Doheny Ranch Development, A.M. Johnson Desert Compound, and San Marcos in the Desert. Includes drawings, hypothetical models, and narrative text.

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