Fallingwater is Frank Lloyd Wright's most famous architectural masterpiece. In the 1930's, Wright was commissioned to design a summer home for the Kaufmann Family of Pittsburgh, PA.
Edgar and Liliane Kaufmann were the owners of Kaufmann's department store, the preminent department store in the Pittsburgh area (Kaufmann's eventually merged with Filene's and was eventually purchased by Macy's).
The Kaufmanns owned a rustic cabin on a stream called Bear Run about one hour east of Pittsburgh. For years, the Kaufmanns let department store employees use the cabin to escape the smoky steel city of Pittsburgh. But the Great De
pression made train travel to the mountain getaway unaffordable for most of the employees and the cabin went unused.
The Kaufmanns decided to replace the cabin with a fine summer estate. The Kaufmann's only son, Edgar Jr, was studying at Wright's school, the Taliesin Fellowship at the time and suggested Wright to his parents to design the home.
There was a beautiful waterfall on Bear Run and the Kaufmanns asked Wright to position the house for the most enjoyment of the waterfall. Imagine the Kaufmanns' surprise when Wright proposed building the house ON TOP of the waterfall. Wright's vision was that the home should be part of the waterfall not just a witness to it.
This contemporary home was completed from 1936-1939. The total cost was $155,000 (including $8,000 in architectural fees to Wright). Fallingwater is a true architectural wonder.
Edgar and Liliane both passed away in the early 1950's and Edgar Jr donated the estate to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy in 1963. Fallingwater was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976.
What would Fallingwater be worth today?
The images were taken by Lisa Loper and used with the permission of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.
~Lisa
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Fallingwater - Frank Lloyd Wright's Architectural Wonder and A Pennsylvania Treasure - Copyright © 2011, The Scott Loper Team, All rights reserved.
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The Scott Loper Team
Scott Loper - Associate Broker
Lisa Loper - Sales Associate
Gina Wherry - Sales Associate
RE/MAX Realty Group
439 Main Street
Harleysville, PA 19438
Ph: 215-256-1200 x-213
