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Prairie Architects, Inc. |
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Wingspread Conference Center Racine, Wisconsin |
Wingspread arose as a synthesis of the desires of Herbert Johnson and his family, their appreciation of Frank Lloyd Wright's theory of a Zoned House, and Wright's genius in creating an immense residence at once grand and intimate. Johnson and his children found the house to be a source of congenial living, despite Irene Pucells's frustration at being unable to assert her individuality of the building's decor. The construction of the house was an exercise both in patience and frustration for Johnson. Budget overruns and lack of detailed instructions were a constant source of irritation and concern to both the owner and the contractor. Not many revisions were made once construction had begun, the notable exception being the addition of the Crow's Nest after roof framing had already been completed. During the family's residency, only a handful of alterations were made to the house. One was the raising of the window sills at Mrs. Johnson's dressing room and bathroom 18-inches, which altered the rhythm of windows of the North Elevation, Wright's preferred perspective. Most modifications were made to the building primarily to maintain and increase the family's comfort, such as the replacement of the heating system. In 1948 Wright designed a pool house and service entry that were added to the house. Johnson always appreciated the importance of protecting the integrity of the building and even after the building had been turned over to the Johnson Foundation for use as a conference center, he continued to focus closely on all proposed modification to Wingspread and its grounds. However, with the advent of conference center use, major alterations were made to Wingspread in 1962, including a second overhaul of the heating system, installation of air conditioning, and the remodeling of all four wings of the house. |
History |
Theory Wingspread was an essay in Wright's theory of continuity, in which he treated the exterior of the building as one continuous skin, with structural components underlying that concept. The monochromatic color scheme of rosy red brick with only neutrals of grey cypress and black flat roofs furthers the language of continuity. The form of the spiral is woven into the fabric of the building and the layers of spiraling approach to the building converge on the hearth, the literal heart of the home. |
Prairie Architects, Inc. -- 103 South Third Street -- Fairfield, Iowa 52556 |