Fallingwater & Ohiopyle 5/22/2011

Fallingwater is the great historical vacation home of the Kaufmann family that was built by Frank Lloyd Wright between 1936 and 1939.

The day started off with some mild rainfall.

"Fallingwater is a synthesis of "organic architecture"; it integrates man with nature, as Wright taught to his students at his Taliesen Studio. Fallingwater was constructed of sandstone quarried on the property and was built by local craftsmen. It follows the concept of integrating environmental factors, function, native materials, construction process and humans (the client)."

My mom and me

Nature abound us from every angle at Fallingwater.

Birds made a nest on Fallingwater. Nature so perfectly blended with Fallingwater, and Fallingwater perfectly blended with nature just how Frank Lloyd Wright intended!

This staircase led right into the main living room.

Final cost:  $155,000 

Next, we headed up the road to Ohiopyle!

Youghiogheny River 

We decided to take a quick hike in Ohiopyle State Park along the Ferncliff Trail.

There were multiple vantage points of the river. Ohiopyle is widely known for its whitewater rafting.

The water level was up quite high in places.

Drive through Laurel Highlands while heading home. The day turned out beautifully, we were greeted with sunshine and blue skies all afternoon.

Today,  my mom and me headed to the famed Fallingwater.  Fallingwater is located in southwest Pennsylvania's Laurel Highlands about 90 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh. Fallingwater was the famed vacation home of the Kaufmann family of Pittsburgh  built by the famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. (The Kaufmann family owned an upscale department store in the 1930's, it is now part of the Macy's chain of department stores). The home was built from 1936-1939 but it became famous even before it's completion, making it to the cover of "Time" magazine in 1938. Frank Lloyd Wright and the Kaufmann's became acquainted through their son Edgar Kaufmann Jr  who was fascinated by Wright's work and even studied with him at Wright’s school, the Taliesin Fellowship. The home was owned and used by the Kaufmann family until 1963, when it was entrusted by Edgar Kaufmannn Jr., to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.

I felt that the house was perfectly integrated into nature. It was amazing how the house made you feel as though you were apart of something much larger. Through the sounds of the waterfall and  the cozy cave like feel of the architecture, I felt like I was an integral part of all things that surrounded me. I hope to carry that feeling with me always so that I might remember what an important role I play within my environment. That I might help to conserve the natural resources that surround me always.

Next, we headed to Ohiopyle. Ohiopyle State Park encompasses approximately 20,500 acres of rugged natural beauty within the Laurel Highland mountains. We went on a short hike on the Ferncliff Trail. The trail was muddy and the waters of the Youghiogheny River were quite high up the bank in some places. I couldn't have asked for a better day!!

Links:

http://www.fallingwater.org/ 

Fallingwater Recreation Film 

http://www.casas.com/architect/franklloydwright/fallingwater0.htm 

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/ohiopyle.aspx 

Directions to Fallingwater:

      From Pittsburgh:

• Take the Parkway East (I-376) to I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) at Monroeville.
• Continue east on the Turnpike to Exit 91 (Donegal).
• Turn left on to Route 31 east.
• Go 2 miles, turn right on to Route 381 south.
• Follow Route 381 south for approximately 17 miles to Fallingwater.

Directions to Ohiopyle:

          From Pittsburgh:  

From the PA Turnpike, take Exit 91, Donegal. Turn left onto PA 31 east. Travel about two miles, turn right onto PA 711 and PA 381 south. Travel ten miles to Normalville, turn left onto PA 381 south for 11 miles to Ohiopyle.