Friday, July 15, 2011

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT…THE ROSENBAUM HOUSE

Wednesday, July 13 – We drove up to the Florence, AL area today to do some sightseeing at two locations. First stop was the Rosenbaum House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

You actually enter from the back of the home…very different. 1-outside

It is the only Wright-designed structure in the state of Alabama and has been called one of the purest examples of Wright's Usonian design. Wright’s Usonian style (named for the United State of America) was offered as a low-cost home for middle income families.

The house was build in 1939 for Stanley and Mildred Rosenbaum, who were the sole owners and occupants of the house until 1999. It is now owned by the city of Florence and has been restored to it's original beauty, and is operated as a museum.

Front of home.
22-back-of-house

The house is constructed of cypress, glass and brick. The flat roofs and large overhanging eaves, the expanses of glass and the flowing space are all hallmarks of the Usonian style and are found in this house.

2-outside

Main room. Windows were a big part of Wright's homes.
5-main-room-windows

4-main-room

The eating area was so unique. The table is built in. Dad sat at the head, then the four boys, and mom sat back in the corner. That made her closer to the kitchen.
9-eating-area

Typical of many of Wright's projects, the house also includes furnishings designed by the architect. His choice of wood was plywood…very interesting.
11-table

12-chair

The house originally contained 1,540 square feet, but when the Rosenbaum household grew to include four sons, the family called upon Wright to design an addition. In 1948, 1,084 square feet was added, containing a larger work space (kitchen), a guest bedroom, storage space and a dormitory for the boys.

Hallway to addition. All the hallways were very narrow.
13-narrow-hallway

Look how narrow the doorways are.
15-paul-in-doorway

Yes, you read correctly…boy's dormitory. They actually slept in these bunkbeds until they went away to boarding school around age 14.
3-boy's-room

The front yard, which we thought was the backyard, is lovely.

21-back-of-house

The every room has an entrance out to the garden.
24-windows-to-garden

20-yard

23-garden

We were fortunate to have the Museum Director as our tour guide. She was a personal friend of Mildred Rosenbaum and was very knowledgeable about the family and the home. The tour lasted about 40 minutes and only cost $5. It was an exciting tour, and one we would recommend.

We had another fun happy hour.  We sit outside in front of the MH's and everyone circles around…..no campfire though….LOL.   Everyone brings something different each night to share. Marsha is getting a lot of new recipes. YUM!

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see ya'll back real soon. Have a great day!