American Modernists - Guided by Nature

Online lecture suggesting the American modernists where less influenced by the past as those in Europe, and more embracing and inspired by the natural world around them. Much of North America was untouched by agriculture when compared to that of there European counter parts.

‘No house should ever be on a hill it should be of the hill. Belonging to it. Hill and house should live together and each be the happier for it’ - Frank Lloyd Wright

 Fletcher Steele

First discussed was  Fletcher Steele and his influential Naum Keag garden design. Influenced by the art deco exhibition in 1925, there are many flowing curves that reference the surround hills and the cascade a modernist interpretation on the baroque style garden.

Frank Lloyd Wright 

Falling water, Pennsylvania, a house placed within the landscape and of the landscape. Suggests a harmonious connection between the natural world and contemporary technology. The balconies where originally planned to be gold leafed to reflect the woods and colours around, but it was decided against due to the economic downturn at the time. There is no 'garden' as such and any land that had to be changed due to construction was quickly planted up with native trees.

Lawrence Halprin

‘Modernism is a holistic approach to the matter of making spaces for people to live in’

Involved local people, artist and environmentalist when working. Love Joy Plaza - created a fountain that reference the water in the landscape. Barren rock forms of the high sierra. Very loud masking the traffic noise. Promotes interaction by the general public.  Wilderness transplanted into the city.

Richard Haag

Gas works Seattle 1966 - hired to rework site.

Gas works were crucial to the cities growth, awe inspiring. He viewed them a history to be preserved, the gas towers mirroring those of the city high risers across the water.  Instead of using chemicals to clean the site he was one of the early pioneers of phytoremediation. No irrigation system for the grass, brown in summer etc. The old toxic waste dump transformed into interactive hill.