Frank Lloyd Wright By Sarah
Frank Lloyd Wright left huge impressions all over the world. His architecture not only spanned many different continents , but styles as well. His manor of style was years ahead of his time, much like Oberlin. Oberlin has often been viewed as more diverse and accepting than many other communities in the nation. It is said that for many years, Oberlin has been ahead of the rest of the world when it comes to accepting new ideologies. In this sense, Frank Lloyd Wright and Oberlin have many things in common. Frank Lloyd Wright was a man who set new standards and trends among the nation.
Frank Lloyd Wright was born in 1867 in Richland Center, Wisconsin. He got his first drafting job working with architect Alan D. Conover after dropping out of Madison High School. He later moved to Chicago and began to start a new life for himself. He got a job at the architectural offices of Joseph L. Silsbee. In 1189 he was married to Catherine Tobin and designed and built his own home in Oak Park, Illinois. After several months with Silsbee Wright joined the firm Adler & Sullivan. Wright praised Luis Sullivan still many years later, as "the master for whose influence, affection and comradeship I have never ceased to feel gratitude." Many times he was quoted as describing himself as, "a pencil in the hand of the master." Wright traveled and created many projects during his adult life. He went through many jobs, projects, and women during this time period. In December of 1925, he had his first child Iovanna, by Olgivanna.
By 1927 he was traveling with his new wife Olgivanna in Arizona, which is where he came up with the idea to make homes a natural expression of their landscape. With a small team, he and his family decided to camp out in the desert rather than spending extra money on hotel rooms. Here is where Wright came up with the idea that would carry out for the rest of his career. By using some of the simplest materials like desert stones, redwood and canvas, Wright was able to create a small community which later turned into his newest home, Taliesin West. It began as a desert camp and evolved into a building with masonry walls, redwood rafters, and adjustable canvas blinds, which have been replaced by steel, glass, and plastic.
In the 1930's Wright developed the concept of the Usonian house which was a utopian plan based on urban decentralization. Wright intended on matching the needs and limited budgets of middle class families by creating a home that was efficient, comfortable, and attractive. In 1948, the Weltzheimer family of 127 Woodland Dr. Oberlin wanted to build a home on a $15,000 budget. The completed house in 1950 cost an excess of $50,00 due to numerous changed during construction, the large dwelling spaces, and large amounts of masonry and decorative millwork done on the house.
Corresponding with other Usonian designs, the house is a flat roofed, single-story, L-shape plan. The bedroom wing is set at a right angle to the combined living and dining areas. The house is placed on a long narrow lot. It is set back on a forty five degree angle in order to take full advantage of the view of the property. The southern side of the house is equipped with clerestory windows. They hep minimize the distinction between interior and exterior, by creating a glass wall effect. The use of other Usonian features, such as built in furniture, cabinetry, and lighting all create a sense of interior spaciousness throughout the house. The house's unique designs are the curvilinear cut outs in the clerestory panels on the outside of the house.
Two sets of owners made significant changes to the house after Mrs. Weltzheimer's death in 1963. Later an art history professor, Ellen H. Johnson bought the home in 1968, and began restoration. She dwelled at the home until her death in 1992. The house is now owned and administered by Oberlin College, which offers guided tours on the first Sunday and third Saturday of every month.
The years 1946 to 1959 were the most productive years of Wright's life. In this time period he commissioned 270 houses and designed more buildings than ever before. Thirty percent of his buildings were completed between 1952 and 1959. Between 1955 a nd 1957 he focused on interior designs such as rugs, furniture, and wallpaper.
Wright worked very slow and unpredictably in his life until 1946 when he began most of his projects. In the later years of his life, he worked at a pace that seemed to be making up for all the lost time he didn't use before. He over saw the constructions of dozens of new commissions each year and completed many of his designs. On top of his completed works, he left hundreds of plans that were never built. It was said that each construction seemed to be more brilliant and startling than the last.
Write was an inspired architect that carved many images in what we consider architecture today. He changed how people as well as other architects view architecture and his designs will forever be original. His connection to Oberlin makes both its history and his life more interesting. There have not been many like him and Oberlin is proud to say that they have a piece of his work.
By Landon
Oberlin was blessed with the architecture of Cass Gilbert for many of the college's facilities. Gilbert's repertoire includes such buildings as the Minnesota and West Virginia State capitols, the Woolworth building in New York, and the George Washington Bridge over the Hudson.. He also designed the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington D.C.
In 1905, Gilbert felt that Warner was the best of Oberlin's existing buildings. He used its round-arched styles throughout the campus. All of the five buildings he designed in Oberlin-Finney Chapel, the Cox Administration Building, the Allen Memorial Art Museum, the Allen Memorial Hospital, and the quadrangle-used this style. Gilbert chose historic buildings to model the city after ranging from the twelfth-century France to the fifteenth-century Italy. He even used Romanesque and Renaissance styles. The buildings gave a Mediterranean look to the simple atmosphere that Oberlin had.
Finney Chapel
Finney Chapel was made as a memorial to Charles G. Finney. The entire building was funded by Finney's son. However, there were some large problems throughout the design process and construction of the building. The donor interfered throughout all facets of the chapel's building. Also, the college did not originally like Gilbert's ideas. Through time, though, he persuaded them to accept his plan.
Gilbert said that the style of Finney Chapel was "quiet, serious, and strong." He used this as the theme for the rest of the college. It was a Romanesque church style from 12th century France.
Through time, the structure has been used for purposes varying from religion to academics and music. Finney Chapel is further used as the location for Oberlin High School's graduation ceremonies.
Many renovations occurred after Finney Chapel was completed. Over the ages, some aspects of the building were changed. So, in 1982, William Blunden renovated the chapel. He restored the chapel to the colors that Gilbert had originally planned for.
Cox Administration building
This building was named after Jacob Dolson Cox. He was a graduate of Oberlin College, a soldier, a politician, and a scholar. His expansive career made him an inspiration for many.
The main question about this structure was where it was going to be placed. Some felt that Tappan Square should be filled with buildings and Cox should be one of those buildings. In a hope that Peters Hall would be removed, Gilbert suggested its current placement.
The style, like all of Gilbert's Oberlin buildings, was Mediterranean Romanesque. This was shown through the tiled roofs that shield most of his buildings. Cox is built with beautiful tan sandstone and is adorned with a trim of red sandstone. To provide contrast, the roof is made of a red tile, which makes this a truly harmonious and pleasing structure.
Allen Memorial Art Museum
The Allen Memorial Art Museum was Cass Gilbert's third building in Oberlin. It was completed at the peak of his career, around June 1917. The building was completely financed by Dudley Peter Allen, hence the name of the museum. The museum became the first college art museum west of the Alleghenies.
Gilbert had a closer, personal control over the construction of this building. He guarded all facets of its creation, from the mortar to the iron grillwork, which was done by Samuel Yellin at Gilbert's insistence. With this building, Gilbert wanted a Renaissance theme, yet still displaying the Romanesque style. He accomplished this feat splendidly. The collection assembled at the Allen Art Museum contains over 11,000 works. For that reason, the museum is considered one of the best college collections in the United States, which makes it a distinguished cultural attraction of Oberlin.
The Quadrangle
The Quadrangle was made to be the graduate school of theology. It would give the theology students a campus of their own. It would also provide a chapel, a library, classrooms, faculty offices, a dining hall, a gym, and living space separate for these students.
The first drawings of this building were made in 1919. After that, much time was spent searching for money. All plans were put on hold until 1930. At that time, the Rockefeller's contributed a large sum of money to start construction. One more time, the problem of the placement of the building rose its ugly head. Many felt that all the new building should be placed in the square. Gilbert fought this idea for over 20 years. Although most of his design for the city was not realized, his final attempt to provide visual harmony to the town was a success. The Quadrangle was a success.
Gilbert designed the hospital in Oberlin, most of which is now covered over by expansion. He also planned a complex on the grounds of the Oberlin Inn. This would have been a multipurpose civic center that would have included a modern inn and a restaurant. His concept was shot down with two world wars and the Depression.
The works of Gilbert provide a great addition to the town of Oberlin. Speaking about his father's work, Gilbert's son said, "The stonework was American, the character was based on Northern Italy, and the style was 1930 Cass Gilbert." Truly, Gilbert has been a blessing and has provided the essence of what we consider Oberlin to be.
By Sarah
The Congregational Church of Oberlin was founded in 1834. Most of the townspeople were members of this church; college students were required to attend. Father Shipherd was the founder of the church and Charles Finney was the minister after him. In the early days of the church, there was no true meeting place for church services to be held . Church services wandered between several college buildings and ended up in a big tent in the center of the square. This proved to be inadequate as a place of worship. In February 1842, the church society voted to build a meeting house. By June 17, 1842 the first cornerstone was placed. Women, men, and their children dressed up for the occasion in their best clothes. Everyone met at the location where the church was being built and sang hymns and listened to Professor Finney lead a prayer. The corner stone was "well and truly lain."
First Church was built from 1842 to 1844. It was built from plans by Richard Bond. He was a New England architect Charles G. Finney had met while recruiting faculty in Boston. Finney's dream was to have an interior with circular seating. First Church is a mix of Bond's specifications, Finney's dreams, and the desires of the congregation. Building the church was a community effort. There is no idea of the cost because most of the capital needed to build the church was donated by townspeople. Craft workers of the town gave their time to help build the church. Supplies were donated along with money. People from other towns, such as Medina, also helped by donating goods. Deacon Thomas Porter Turner, who was an experienced house carpenter, was on the supervising committee for the church.
First Church is built in the Greek Revival style of architecture. There is a gentle pitch in the roof and brick out from the wall in front, to make it look like columns. The building is rectangular in shape. The Parthenon in Greece was used as a model for this style of architecture. Being a country whose government was set up from Greek philosophies, this was a common style of architecture in America. People from New England brought this style of architecture with them when they moved west. The Greek Revival style was used in America until the end of the Civil War.
The orange brick meeting house faces east on the corner of Main and Lorain Streets. Huge white wood roof beams, twelve inches square, seventy-five feet long, span the brick walls. Pine rafters and shingles enclosed the church when it was first built, but in 1871, they blew off in a storm. There have been many additions to the church over the years. The townspeople decided to add a tower to the church in 1845. The tower was taken from an Asher Benjamin pattern book. The church was originally designed to seat 1800, but it now seats only 1600. In 1882, First Church was remodeled adding stain glassed windows. Those were replaced in 1927 with clear bubbly glass. Twelve thick Doric columns supporting the balcony were replaced by the present iron posts in 1892. In 1908, more comfortable seating was added. In 1927, the pulpit and organ loft were redesigned. One of the more recent additions to the church was a new ceiling in 1983.
When the building of the church was finished in 1844, it was the largest auditorium west of the Alleghenies. First Church was not just built as a church, but also as a meeting house. It has housed many things over the years. For example, it was Oberlin's first fire station. The fire trucks were kept in the basement of the church. It also supplied a home for displays of paintings, college classes, concerts, and commencement ceremonies. The first commencement to take place in First Church was in August of 1843.
Abolitionism was always prevalent in Oberlin. There was a very strong feeling that slavery was wrong. The Oberlin-Wellington rescue of 1859 was an example of the determination of the people of Oberlin to assist the slaves in their quest for freedom. Meeting and rallies were held at the church in support of the men imprisoned for their part in the rescue.
A Union rally was held in the church on April 17, 1861. It was held four days after the surrender of Fort Sumter. Professor James H. Fairchild and lawyer John Mercer Langston spoke at the rally. In the weeks following the Union rally companies of Oberlin soldiers were formed and they marched off to help in the battles of the Civil War.
First Church remains a very important building to Oberlin. It is still used today as a meeting house. There have been many changes over the years that have altered the building, but its roots and memories have remained constant. First Church is an example of how a community came together for a common goal and it remains as a gathering point for people of all races, beliefs, and backgrounds.
Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies
By Joel
Oberlin has always written the book on technological and architectural advancements, and The Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies is the next chapter. This six million-dollar, 14,000 square foot building will be the most advanced, in the sense of being ecologically sound, in the United States to date. The building is named after Adam Joseph Lewis, a philanthropist from Cleveland, who contributed the first million dollars and the Lewis family's contributions have totaled 3.25 million dollars.
Three years ago, David Orr, the chair of Oberlin's Environmental Study program set out on a mission to construct a building that wouldn't only provide a place for classes, but a building that would brake the mold on the relationship between the environment and mankind. There were a few questions:
1. Is it possible, in Ohio, to power a building by sunlight?2. Is it possible to create a building that will purify it's own wastewater?
The answer to all of these questions is, yes. The Adam Joseph Lewis Center will not only help the environment in Oberlin, but it will hopefully set a new standard for all new buildings in the century to come.
The architect who took the challenge of building David Orr's vision was William McDonough, the leading green architect not only in America, but also throughout the world. Cleveland's own NASA Lewis Research Center also contributed to the design process as well as Kevin Burke, an energy and engineering consultant.
The most impressive part of the new Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Study, are all of the technological advancements that are being used in the building. I guess that I'll just start from the top.
The roof will be made up of solar cells that will be replaced within the next few years with even more powerful ones. The hope is not only to be able to have all of the electrical needs come from these cells, but to one day have the cells generate more power than the building will need, thus becoming a supplier. The solar designs include overhanging eaves that will shade away the summer sun while allowing the winter heat to gain.
The Lewis Research center will also include special windows that will take full advantage of the sun's power. All windows are facing both the West and South sides, as well as all major classrooms. The glass on the windows is treated with a special UV protector that will monitor the amount of UV light that will escape and enter the building. This will help maintain a consistent temperature inside.
The interior of the building is just as impressive. The carpeting, which is leased from the manufacturer, will be returned and recycled into new carpeting over time. The carpet will also be laid in square pieces, so if there is an accident, they won't have to discard the whole carpet, only the piece that is ruined. The wood that will make the chairs and desks is from a sustainable forest and the seating material that will be used in the seats in the auditorium will be biodegradable.
The heating and cooling for the building will we controlled be geothermal wells. There will be several closed loop pipes that will carry water to water heat pumps located throughout the rooms of the building. Each individual heat pump has the ability to control it's own heating needs. It will be able to reject heat is it isn't needed or extract heat from the circulating water, if needed. Geothermal heating will reduce the energy costs.
Not only is the building environmentally sound, but the landscaping is as well. The North side of the building is protected by trees. On the East side, none of the gardens, orchards, or restored forest will be sprayed with pesticides, which could harm other plants or animals living in the habitat around the building. There will be a pond on the Southwest corner of the land that will act as water storage for irrigation. The water will seep down into the land and become purified by the plants and microorganisms. Some day we hope that we will be able to use this water for recycling.
The jewel of the Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies lies within the "Living Machine". The living machine is a wastewater purification system based on natures' nutrition system found in marshes and ponds. Microorganisms will eat all of the waste in the water, breaking down all of the impurities. The water will then be pumped into a holding tank and will be used for all of the non drinking water needs. Whenever a toilet is flushed, the process starts over again.
The Lewis Center for Environmental Studies will not only be used as a college facility. Community programs and the local schools will also benefit for frequent programs that have been and will be running through this the environmental studies program and the Lewis Center for Environmental Studies.
Breaking new ground, when it comes to new technology, theory, art, or architecture has never been uncommon in the community of Oberlin or in Oberlin College. Revolutions in thoughts and dreams are what becoming a more productive society is all about. Oberlin is once again the leader in technological breakthroughs with the new Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Study building. From the ground breaking ceremony last September, to the much anticipated opening in the months to come, the Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Study has already changed the way society must start to look at life in the future.
Oberlin is as diverse as its inhabitants, and this can be seen through its architecture and multi-culturalism. Since the early 1800s Oberlin has been a safe haven for different ideologies. From First Church to the A. Joseph Lewis Research Center for Environmental Studies, Oberlin has always been looking for ways to better itself and its community. Even, architects as renowned as Frank Lloyd Wright and Cass Gilbert have left their mark in Oberlin with such great structures as the Allen Memorial Art Museum and the Weltzeimer House on Morgan Street. Even, Wilder Hall has its place in Oberlin history by catering the various needs of the students today. The city of Oberlin is very lucky for having such a broad range of architecture, art, and technology combined.
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http://www.oberlin.edu/~EOG/gbslides/AShortHistory.html
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