Samara (house)
Encyclopedia
Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
, Samara, also known as the John E. Christian House, is located in West Lafayette, Indiana
. The home is an example of the Usonian homes that Wright designed. Samara was built from 1954 and 1956 and is still occupied by the original owner, John E. Christian.
where both worked, John as a pharmaceutical chemistry professor and Kay as the social director for the university. After much discussion they decided that Wright was the architect who suited the ideals for their home. Not knowing how to proceed, John phoned Wright directly at his office and was surprisingly able to speak directly to the famed architect. Over the next six years they worked together both with meetings in West Lafayette, Indiana and at Taliesin (studio)
, Wright's summer home in Spring Green, Wisconsin
.
The home was named after the Samara trees which Mr. Wright spotted on the property during his first visit. He worked a stylized design of the chevron-shaped leaves throughout the design of the home including the clerestory
windows, dining chairs and the living room rug.
The Christian family maintains the home according to the exacting specifications of its architect. As in many homes of Wright's design, the architect specified or designed the entire environment including the furniture, linens and landscaping. Upon moving into the home, the Christians were not able to purchase all of the specified custom details at first; however they made an agreement with Wright to continue adding to the home as budget allowed. They are still in the process of commissioning the remaining furniture today.
The color pallette of furniture and design details is brighter and more saturated than other examples of Wright's architecture. This was prompted by Kay Christian who requested brighter colors against Wright's wishes. Wright was finally convinced by his wife, Olgivanna Lloyd Wright
, who insisted that she would help the Christians with the color design. The result was a palette of vibrant lime green, magenta, and purple combined with more subdued shades of orange, yellow, and beige (see image at left).
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
, Samara, also known as the John E. Christian House, is located in West Lafayette, Indiana
West Lafayette, Indiana
As of the census of 2010, there were 29,596 people, 12,591 households, and 3,588 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,381.1 people per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 74.3% White, 17.3% Asian, 2.7% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.03% Pacific...
. The home is an example of the Usonian homes that Wright designed. Samara was built from 1954 and 1956 and is still occupied by the original owner, John E. Christian.
History
In 1950 John and Kay Christian decided to build a home near Purdue UniversityPurdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
where both worked, John as a pharmaceutical chemistry professor and Kay as the social director for the university. After much discussion they decided that Wright was the architect who suited the ideals for their home. Not knowing how to proceed, John phoned Wright directly at his office and was surprisingly able to speak directly to the famed architect. Over the next six years they worked together both with meetings in West Lafayette, Indiana and at Taliesin (studio)
Taliesin (studio)
Taliesin , near Spring Green, Wisconsin, was the summer home of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright began the building in 1911 after leaving his first wife, Catherine Tobin, and his Oak Park, Illinois, home and studio in 1909. The impetus behind Wright's departure was his affair with...
, Wright's summer home in Spring Green, Wisconsin
Spring Green, Wisconsin
Spring Green is a village in Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,444 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Spring Green.-Geography:Spring Green is located at ....
.
The home was named after the Samara trees which Mr. Wright spotted on the property during his first visit. He worked a stylized design of the chevron-shaped leaves throughout the design of the home including the clerestory
Clerestory
Clerestory is an architectural term that historically denoted an upper level of a Roman basilica or of the nave of a Romanesque or Gothic church, the walls of which rise above the rooflines of the lower aisles and are pierced with windows. In modern usage, clerestory refers to any high windows...
windows, dining chairs and the living room rug.
The Christian family maintains the home according to the exacting specifications of its architect. As in many homes of Wright's design, the architect specified or designed the entire environment including the furniture, linens and landscaping. Upon moving into the home, the Christians were not able to purchase all of the specified custom details at first; however they made an agreement with Wright to continue adding to the home as budget allowed. They are still in the process of commissioning the remaining furniture today.
The color pallette of furniture and design details is brighter and more saturated than other examples of Wright's architecture. This was prompted by Kay Christian who requested brighter colors against Wright's wishes. Wright was finally convinced by his wife, Olgivanna Lloyd Wright
Olgivanna Lloyd Wright
Olgivanna Lloyd Wright was the third and final wife of Frank Lloyd Wright and had significant influence in his life and work, due in part to her extensive Theosophical associations. She was a Serb Montenegrin dancer...
, who insisted that she would help the Christians with the color design. The result was a palette of vibrant lime green, magenta, and purple combined with more subdued shades of orange, yellow, and beige (see image at left).
External links
- Frank Lloyd Wright's SAMARA Official Website