Frank Lloyd Wright

DAVID AND GLADYS WRIGHT HOUSE 2004


Set of 13 photographs. Wright, David & Gladys Wright House (1950) 2004. Set of 13 photographs. Frank Lloyd Wright designed this home for his fourth child David, in March, 1950. Wright called the design "How to live in the Southwest", and was published in the June 1953, "House & Home." The lot was located in the middle of a citric grove, so Wright designed the living space to float above the tree line. David owned a company that manufactured and distributed concrete block. The decorative blocks were designed specifically for this home. Others were standard blocks manufactured by his company. David was born in 1895 and past away in 1997 at the age of 102. Gladys past away in 2008 at the age of 104. She was living in the home when these photographs were taken. Photographed on April 26, 2004 by Douglas M. Steiner. As originally designed by Wright, when visitors approach the home from the drive, they walk under the main level, across the garden court, past the pool, under the master bedroom which cantilevers over the ramp, to the base of the ramp. To the left is the massive circular column which houses the bath/changing room.		The second level of the column is the master bedroom fireplace. Although the column anchors the eastern end of the home, the main level cantilevers past it and seems to float above the ground. As you continue up the ramp, the outer side of the circular ramp is enhances with one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most elaborate built-in planters. It follows the full length of the ramp, and includes built-in lighting and a babbling brook. As you reach the top of the ramp you reach the entrance on the main level. To the right of the entrance is a balcony and circular ramp, which wraps around the kitchen to the rooftop sundeck above the living room. Upon entering the living room, floor to ceiling windows are on the left. Glass corners are mitered. A set of doors open out to a balcony overlooking the garden court. The dining room on is one the right, and behind the fireplace on the right is the kitchen. The three floor to ceiling double doors on the right open to a circular balcony that wraps around the dining room and all three bedrooms. The gallery on the left lead to the three bedrooms. Windows open and overlook the garden court.


Ground Level.		Main Level.

1) Viewed from the Southwest, 2004. The circular kitchen is on the left of the main level. The solid wall with the three half-circular windows is the dining room. The living room is to the right. Three double doors, behind the curtain, open out to the long circular balcony. Between the living room and the master bedroom on the far right are two additional bedroom and two bathrooms. The circular ramp on the left, which wraps around the kitchen, leads from the outer entrance on the main level to the rooftop sundeck above the living room. 10 x 7.5 color photograph. Photographed by Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2004.37.0614-1)

1B) Detail viewed from the Southwest, 2004. The circular kitchen is on the left of the main level. The solid wall with the three half-circular windows is the dining room. The living room is to the right. Three double doors, behind the curtain, open out to the long circular balcony. The circular ramp on the left, which wraps around the kitchen, leads from the outer entrance on the main level to the rooftop sundeck above the living room.

1C) Detail viewed from the Southwest, 2004. The circular kitchen is on the left of the main level. The solid wall with the three half-circular windows is the dining room. The circular ramp on the left, which wraps around the kitchen, leads from the outer entrance on the main level to the rooftop sundeck above the living room.

2) Viewed from the Southwest, 2004. The circular kitchen is on the left of the main level. The solid wall with the three half-circular windows is the dining room. The living room is to the right. The circular ramp on the left, which wraps around the kitchen, leads from the outer entrance on the main level to the rooftop sundeck above the living room. The ramp which leads up to the entrance on the main level can be seen in the background. 8 x 8.5 color photograph. Photographed by Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2004.68.0614-2)

2B) Detail viewed from the Southwest, 2004. The solid wall with the three half-circular windows is the dining room.

3) Viewed from the West, 2004. The entrance to the main level is on the left. The large circular kitchen is in the center. The solid wall with the three half-circular windows is the dining room. The living room is to the right. Three double doors, behind the curtain, open out to the long circular balcony. The circular ramp in the center, which wraps around the kitchen, leads from the outer entrance on the main level to the rooftop sundeck above the living room. 10 x 7.5 color photograph. Photographed by Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2004.37.0614-3)

3B) Detail viewed from the West, 2004. The large circular kitchen is in the center. The solid wall with the three half-circular windows is the dining room. The circular ramp in the center, which wraps around the kitchen, leads from the outer entrance on the main level to the rooftop sundeck above the living room.

4) Viewed from the Northwest, 2004. The master bedroom is on the left, the main entrance is in the center, the large circular kitchen is on the right. The circular ramp on the right, which wraps around the kitchen, leads from the outer entrance to the rooftop sundeck above the living room. 10 x 7.5 color photograph. Photographed by Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2004.37.0614-4)

5) Viewed from the Northwest, 2004. The master bedroom is on the left, the main entrance is in the center, the large circular kitchen is on the right. The circular ramp on the right, which wraps around the kitchen, leads from the outer entrance to the rooftop sundeck above the living room. 10 x 7.5 color photograph. Photographed by Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2004.37.0614-5)

6) Viewed from the Northwest, 2004. The master bedroom is on the left, the main entrance is in the center, the large circular kitchen is on the right. The circular ramp on the right, which wraps around the kitchen, leads from the outer entrance to the rooftop sundeck above the living room. 10 x 7.5 color photograph. Photographed by Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2004.37.0614-6)

6B) Detail viewed from the Northwest, 2004. The master bedroom is on the left.

6C) Detail viewed from the Northwest, 2004. The main entrance is in the center, the large circular kitchen is on the right. The circular ramp on the right, which wraps around the kitchen, leads from the outer entrance to the rooftop sundeck above the living room. The balcony is seen in the foreground.

6D) Detail viewed from the Northwest, 2004. The large circular kitchen is on the right. The circular ramp on the right, which wraps around the kitchen, leads from the outer entrance to the rooftop sundeck above the living room.

7) Viewed from the Northeast, 2004. The circular ramp in the foreground rises to the upper main level. The cantilevered master bedroom is on the left. Just to the right of the massive master bedroom fireplace chimney are the windows in the gallery. The large windows in the center are the living room. Glass corners are mitered. A set of doors open out to a balcony overlooking the garden court. The entrance is on the right at the top of the ramp. The circular ramp on the far right, which wraps around the kitchen, leads to the rooftop sundeck above the living room. 10 x 7.5 color photograph. Photographed by Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2004.37.0614-7)

8) Viewed from the Northeast, 2004. The circular ramp in the foreground rises to the upper main level. The cantilevered master bedroom is on the left. Just to the right of the massive master bedroom fireplace chimney are the windows in the gallery. The large windows in the center are the living room. Glass corners are mitered. A set of doors open out to a balcony overlooking the garden court. The entrance is on the right at the top of the ramp. The circular ramp on the far right, which wraps around the kitchen, leads to the rooftop sundeck above the living room. 10 x 7.5 color photograph. Photographed by Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2004.37.0614-8)

8B) Detail viewed from the Northeast, 2004. The circular ramp in the foreground rises to the upper main level. The cantilevered master bedroom is on the left. Just to the right of the massive master bedroom fireplace chimney are the windows in the gallery.

8C) Detail viewed from the Northeast, 2004. The circular ramp in the foreground rises to the upper main level. The large windows on the left is the living room. Glass corners are mitered. A set of doors open out to a balcony overlooking the garden court. The entrance is on the right at the top of the ramp. The circular ramp on the far right, which wraps around the kitchen, leads to the rooftop sundeck above the living room.

8D) Detail viewed from the Northeast, 2004. The circular ramp in the foreground rises to the upper main level. The entrance is on the right at the top of the ramp. The circular ramp on the far right, which wraps around the kitchen, leads to the rooftop sundeck above the living room. Wright’s signature red tile is visible just to the right of the front door.

9) Viewed from the Northeast, 2004. The circular ramp in the foreground rises to the upper main level. The cantilevered master bedroom is on the left. On the right of the massive master bedroom fireplace chimney are the windows in the gallery. 10 x 7.5 color photograph. Photographed by Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2004.37.0614-9)

10) Viewed from the Northeast, 2004. The circular ramp in the foreground rises to the upper main level. The cantilevered master bedroom is on the left. Just to the right of the massive master bedroom fireplace chimney are the windows in the gallery. The large windows on the left are the living room. Glass corners are mitered. A set of doors open out to a balcony overlooking the garden court. The entrance is on the right at the top of the ramp. Wright’s signature red tile is visible just to the right of the front door. 10 x 7.5 color photograph. Photographed by Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2004.37.0614-10)

11) Viewed from the Southwest, 2004. The large circular kitchen is on the left of the main level. The solid wall with the three half-circular windows is the dining room. The living room is to the right. Three double doors, behind the curtain, open out to the long circular balcony. Between the living room and the master bedroom on the far right are two additional bedroom and two bathrooms. The circular ramp on the left, which wraps around the kitchen, leads to the rooftop sundeck above the living room. Camelback Mountain can be seen on the far left in the background. 10 x 7.5 color photograph. Photographed by Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2004.37.0614-11)

12) Viewed from the Southwest, 2004. The large circular kitchen is on the left of the main level. The solid wall with the three half-circular windows is the dining room. The living room is to the right. Three double doors, behind the curtain, open out to the long circular balcony. Between the living room and the master bedroom on the far right are two additional bedroom and two bathrooms. The circular ramp on the left, which wraps around the kitchen, leads to the rooftop sundeck above the living room. Camelback Mountain can be seen on the far left in the background. 10 x 7.5 color photograph. Photographed by Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2004.37.0614-12)

12B) Detail viewed from the Southwest, 2004. The large circular kitchen is on the main level. The solid wall with the three half-circular windows is the dining room. The living room is to the right. The circular ramp on the left, which wraps around the kitchen, leads to the rooftop sundeck above the living room. Camelback Mountain can be seen on the far left in the background.

13) Viewed from the Southwest, 2004. Behind the curtains, are three bedrooms and two baths. The master bedroom is on the far right . 10 x 7.5 color photograph. Photographed by Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2004.37.0614-13)

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