Monticello vs. Falling Water

Falling Water 1937

Monticello 1737

For the first year students at UNCG, we had a required field trip to visit Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's private estate as well as Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water, in Bear Run, PA. After visiting both spaces, I was incredibly fascinated with Falling Water. Frank Lloyd Wright created his masterpiece for the Kaufman family as a country home to escape the hustle and bustle of the city life in PA.

I believe that Frank Lloyd Wright achieved his objective it in terms of creating a getaway. One of the most fascinating aspects of the structure for me was the architect's mastery of conforming a physical structure over a running creek without disturbing nor changing the environment to achieve his objective.

The horizontal lines of the walls, the banding of the windows, the rich warm colors of the inside, the use of technology and arts and craftsmanship was executed masterfully. As we were inside and touring the estate, I could not stop thinking how the lines of the physical environment blended well with those of the environment as if both entities existed as one all along. Every room had incredible outside views. In addition, Frank Lloyd Wright designed the interior furniture which complemented his architecture.

In contrast, Monticello did not achieve it's objective. Thomas Jefferson had to build Polar Forest in order to escape the crows which gathered at Monticello, which was intended to be his private getaway. Also, I believe that Monticello commands conformity from nature whereas Falling Water conforms to the needs of the forest and hence creates a more perfect union.