As we reported last month, one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s more unusual architectural specimens, the David Wright House (designed for his son), is in imminent risk of demolition by developers.
While any Frank Lloyd Wright deserves to be preserved in our opinion, this quirky house, which Neil Levine, architectural historian and Harvard professor, went so far as to describe as “one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most innovative, unusual and personal works of architecture” offers us an important glimpse into Wright’s development. Because of its circular spiral plan (completed six years before the Guggenheim), concrete-block detailing, and interior design, the house was (and still is) considered to be one of Wright’s most “remarkable and praiseworthy” efforts since Fallingwater.
Although the situation is dire, work done by the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy has awarded a temporary demo delay while the City of Phoenix decides whether to bestow historic preservation and landmark designation upon the house. This is where you come in. An online petition to the City of Phoenix has been set-up; as of right now, they’re 360 signatures short of their 1,000 person goal.
For almost 40 years no intact Wright building has been intentionally demolished. Let’s make sure we don’t start with this one. Sign the online petition (and then share it on Facebook, twitter, etc.), now!
For more information or to get involved, check out the SAVE WRIGHT page. For more images (including sketches) of the David Wright House, check out the gallery after the break…
I hoping taht this is how you save the house im having a hard time to were to sign the petition.
Hi Desiree -
You can find the link here: http://www.change.org/petitions/city-of-phoenix-save-the-david-and-gladys-wright-house
Luckily, they’ve gotten about 2,000 signatures just today! Let’s hope it makes a difference!
-Vanessa
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I`m too late? Hope it helped, it would be a crime to demolish it!
Architecture that’s a building and its environment whether someone likes it or not.
Too bad that in US some don’t get it and what more that’s a cultural heritage what makes the nation.
Vote given, hopefully it will count
I do hope that this house can be saved.
You are an idiot!
SAVE THE HOUSE!!
The petition has gotten just about 4,000 votes since we published this article. Well done everyone, hopefully this message gets through!
I hope it won’t be demolished. Wright was and is the greatest American architect who ever lived, and any work of his is worthy of preservation for the future edification of architecture and design students worldwide.
I strongly support not demolishing this building because of its historic value to the world.
It would be a crime to destroy this building for a mere profit. Let us all rally not NOT raze the roof!
I am sure that the developer would be happy to save himself the demolition costs if someone were to offer to buy the building, dismantle it, and rebuild it on another site. This has been done with other FLW buildings.
Wow. The developers don’t even have the least bit of respect to America’s and one of the world’s greatest architects?
Damn money-hungry bastards.
Definitely signing the petition. You just can’t destroy a FLW building, ever.
There is no link to the petition which I came here to sign.
this is the most absurd thing I have ever heard. For many years I have had students do projects based on this model. I have had them do research, and I must tell you, their lives were changed forever. Many of them went on to college and are the backbone of Boise and Nampa culture. We do not have much here in the state of Idaho, but money does not speak for us. There would be such an out roar that you could hear it in Mexico and , it would definitely be coming directing into your deaf ears. I will do anything I can to help. Please let me know.
We are not a wealthy state, but I put my money where my mouth is. This is going to be the most COSTLY BLUNDER . You will be having historical buffs and baby boomers coming at the sellers right and left. I would like a personnel personal write- up on all the people that are involved……. REALTORS, SELLERS,BIDDERS, THE CITY COUNCIL REGULATIONS…..etc.
Any building of houses designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright must be considered precious art. He and all of his creations must be considered precious art. We would not trash the Mona Lisa just to get the wall space!
This note is to the developer. Make the F.L. Wright house the center piece of your development. If you do that you will be more successful and will be remembered for your work just as Wright is today. Destroy the F. L. House and you and your development will only be remembered for gross negligence and failure will be always following!
Milton Chris Carris
Wer sich irgendwann mit Frank Lloyd Wright befasst hat , weiß, wie sehr er mit seinen eigenen Schwächen umging. Um so mehr kann er als einer der grössten Architekten, nicht nur Amerikas , bezeichnet werden. Seine Gebäude sind auf jeden Fall schützens- und erhaltenswert. Gerade die USA sollten sich so etwas leisten können !!